Manchester City Council
Business Support Officer Level 1 - Communication and Language Support
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Working Hours: 17.5 Hours Per Week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday)
Contract Type: Part-Time, Temporary for 18 months
Working style: Onsite - Employees carry out their job primarily from a physical workplace, such as an office
Closing date: 11.59pm, 17 August 2026
Interview Method: Face to Face
Applicants must have existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
This Role Is Subject To
- Legal right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.
- 2 References - where possible we require 3 years' history.
- Proof of Manchester Residency - Roles at Grade 1 to 3, traineeships, or apprenticeships will initially only be advertised to Manchester residents and internal candidates. An applicant is classed as a resident of Manchester if they live within the boundaries of the City of Manchester; i.e. Any Council Tax liability for their home would be with Manchester City Council. To check if you fall under the Manchester City Council boundary please visit - https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
- Qualification - Language Proficiency evidence of one of the following languages: Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish or Pushto
- DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance - this post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice which can be viewed here. We have a policy on the Employment of Ex-Offenders and it is available upon request.
About The Service
M-Four Communication & Language Support Service (M-FOUR CALSS) helps Manchester City Council communicate better with people from ethnic minority and disabled communities. Our goal is to remove language and cultural barriers so everyone can access council services and information equally.
What We Do
- We provide interpreters for over 60 spoken languages and British Sign Language (BSL).
- We translate documents and publications into different languages, Braille, and other accessible formats.
- We work with all council departments to make sure information is available to everyone.
- We train and manage a team of interpreters, translators, and language specialists, working with universities and other partners to promote careers in language services.
- We aim to make Manchester a leader in language and cultural diversity.
Why It Matters
Our work supports the Council’s vision of equality for all and contributes to the city’s growth—socially, culturally, and economically. We help ensure everyone has an equal chance to benefit and contribute to life in Manchester.
About The Team
The Multilingual Business Support team plays a key role in achieving these goals and supporting council policies.
This Business Support role sits within M-Four Translations, a vital service supporting Manchester City Council’s commitment to inclusive and accessible services. You will play a key part in booking Interpreting and translation requests, ensuring residents can access council services regardless of language barriers.
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment where your work directly supports vulnerable communities and frontline services across the city, helping to improve communication, equality, and service delivery.
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This role is essential to the effective delivery of the M-Four Translations service. By accurately processing bookings, liaising with interpreters, and supporting service users, you will ensure that communication runs smoothly across council services.
Your work will directly contribute to timely and professional language support, enabling services to operate efficiently and ensuring residents receive the support they need without barriers.
We would love to hear from you if you have experience of:
- Multi-tasking and have experience of working under pressure, organising your workload and meeting deadlines
- Ability to engage with stakeholders to identify information needs and to know how to obtain relevant information
- Handling enquiries/queries (written or verbal) from a wide range of people — internal and external customers, and freelance vendors — in a friendly and professional way.
- Working independently to resolve queries and knowing when to escalate to management when required, following the organisations process and timelines.
Essential Requirements For The Role
- The ability to speak in at least one one the following languages : Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish or Pushto and evidence this with a proficiency qualification.
- Working with various organisation and stakeholders, using the right language when needed.
- Looking for ways to develop yourself and improve the service.
- Promoting diversity and inclusion in everything you do, making sure everyone gets fair treatment and equal access.
- Numeracy and literacy to a level that you can undertake calculations and respond to emails and enquiries.
Desirable Requirements That Would Be Useful In This Role
- Experience of working on Microsoft packages in preparing spreadsheets and responding to email accurately and confidently.
- Experience of Business Support and Administration.
- Being flexible when things get busy or priorities shift.
- Completing paperwork and correspondence to a good standard and on time.
We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.
Working for Manchester isn’t just a job - it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.
Our Manchester Is Our Vision For a Fairer, Greener, And Healthier City - a Vision Shaped By The People Of Manchester. It Guides Everything We Do At The Council And Is Brought To Life Through The Our Manchester Behaviours
- We take time to listen and understand
- We work together and trust each other
- We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
- We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
- We’re proud and passionate about Manchester
Benefits We Offer
- Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks during our annual leave purchase period.
- A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
- Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
- Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
- Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
- A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
- Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.
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Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council
At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.
Support During the Process
- Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
- Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.
Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Requirements
We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term condition
- Have you completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme or any MCC positive action programmes?
When You Join Us
We’re a Disability Confident Employer, Offering
- A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
- Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
- A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.
For more information about the role or any adjustments, email jobs@manchester.gov.uk.
What We Will Need From You If You're Successful
In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider to be eligible for sponsorship
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