Business Engagement Officer

• Permanent, Full Time
• $97,099 per annum plus Superannuation
• Join the Business Engagement & Development team

Hume City Council is embarking on an exciting new phase of engagement with its local business community through the employment of new Business Engagement Officers with an emphasis on place management.

This role will involve working with retail and hospitality businesses in the Sunbury and Tullamarine corridor of Hume, which includes Gladstone Park, West Meadows and Greenvale.

You will be part of a small team, reporting to the Coordinator Business Engagement and Development whilst also collaborating with other Council Departments to support the delivery of placemaking projects and place activities within the designated activity centres and shopping strips.

You will also be required to assist in the coordination and promotion of the Hume City Small Business Grants Program and the Shopfront Improvement Grant Program.

The role has a strong emphasis on place management, however a small portion of the role will include supervising a 12-month pilot Volunteer Greeter Program (at the Sunbury Global Learning Centre).

People with strong place management/retail and customer service experience along with a developed understanding of key challenges and needs of retail and hospitality businesses, are strongly encouraged to apply, even if you feel you don't fully meet all the criteria.

What you'll be doing:

• Contribute to various communications prepared by the Economic Development Department, including the bi-monthly e-newsletter with relevant content regarding retail and hospitality businesses as required, and in collaboration with Council's Senior Visitor Economy Advisor as appropriate.
• Provide regular updated content for the retail and hospitality component of the Economic Development pages on the Hume City Council website as required, and in collaboration with Council's Senior Visitor Economy Advisor and relevant officers from the Strategic Projects and Places (SPP) Department.
• Respond to business enquiries in a timely manner. This includes connecting to all resources available from the Economic Development Department as well as other departments across Council as applicable.
• Support the delivery of Council's Footpath Trading Guidelines.
• Assist in the coordination and promotion of the Hume City Small Business Grants Program and the Shopfront Improvement Grant Program. This will include being trained on the SmartyGrants system and assisting the Coordinator Business Engagement and Development as required, with the various administration tasks associated with the two Grant Programs.
• Provide support to the Coordinator Business Engagement and Development as required.
• Regular, on the ground business engagement primarily with businesses in Shopping Centres (including Centre Managers), Activity Centres and shopping strips throughout Hume.
• Work collaboratively with the Place Making Officers in the SPP Team to support the delivery of placemaking projects and place activation activities within Hume.
• Develop and maintain relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including businesses to support the delivery of placemaking and place activation projects and activities.
• Ensuring that the Volunteer Greeter Program is appropriately supported and open to the public from 10a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday to Friday except for agreed public holidays
• To supervise the Volunteer Greeter Program Administration Officer and Casual staff member in effective delivery of the Volunteer Greeter program.

The skills and experience you'll bring to the role:

• Knowledge of the retail and hospitality sector and local government's capacity to positively influence change.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with small and medium business owners, managers and employees, various Council Departments and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills including computer, technology and administrative skills and the ability to prepare reports, recommendations, presentations and other relevant correspondence.
• Demonstrated customer service skills and the ability to respond to challenging situations and innovate when the opportunity arises.
• Demonstrated experience supporting a Volunteer program.
• Demonstrated experience managing a small team.

Required Certifications & Qualifications 

• Degree or Diploma in Business, Marketing, Economics or similar with some relevant experience; or lesser formal qualifications with substantial experience in Business Support, Economic Development and Business Research.
• Current Drivers Licence

Why Hume City Council?

A leader in local government, we're committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative work environment that is guided by our values:

We're better, every day: We give things a go and value progress over perfection. We have permission to go for it and are expected to reflect and learn.

We're in it together: At Hume, everyone matters. We Welcome and include all. Respect and safety are expected.

We show up: We empower and trust others and own our work. We rise to the challenges and are expected to do what we say we will.

All for Hume: We strive to achieve our best for the Hume Community. We are proud and passionate about working towards better outcomes and expect they are at the centre of everything we do.

We offer a competitive salary package, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

A child safe organisation and an equal opportunity employer. Council encourages people of all ages, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply.

All candidates will be required to undertake background and probity checks including Reference Checks, Working with Children Check, and a Criminal Record Check.