Free School Meals Team Leader

• Suffolk County Council
• Address:Endeavour House 8 Russell Road Ipswich IP1 2BX (Hybrid working options available)
• Salary:28598 per annum (Grade 4 with performance-related pay progression)
• Hours:37 hours per week flexible working options available
• Contract:Permanent

At Suffolk County Council every role is a chance to create positive change. As a Free School Meals Team Leader in the School Admissions Team youll see the direct impact of your work on the people and places that make Suffolk special. Join us and turn your passion for progress into action.

Reimagine the possibilities.

Your role and responsibilities

As our Free School Meals Team Leader youll play a vital part in supporting children and families across Suffolk. On a typical day you will:

• oversee free school meal applications and be responsible for the distribution of workload ensuring accuracy and compliance with policies and deadlines

• supervise and support the Team encouraging a positive team ethos and carrying out day-to-day performance management and appraisals

• be involved in the processing of school applications and preparation of appeal documentation to ensure statutory deadlines are met

• deliver high standards of customer service to families schools and other services offering accurate advice and resolving complex queries

• collaborate with colleagues and partners building strong relationships and networks

• contribute to the development of procedures and continuous improvement of our services.

Were excited to welcome someone who is passionate about making a difference and ready to thrive in a collaborative supportive environment.

What you will need

We hope youll bring:

• a suitable qualification at Level 4 or equivalent experience in a relevant area

• good working knowledge of Microsoft Office especially Excel and the ability to maintain accurate records and databases

• strong organisational planning and communication skills

• experience working with large data sets and analysing information to draw conclusions

• the ability to supervise motivate and develop a team

• a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people

• a positive proactive approach and willingness to learn and grow.

If you dont meet every requirement but share our values and motivation wed still love to hear from you.

You can view a full list of requirements in theJob and Person Profile (Word)If you believe you can succeed in this role apply. Even if you dont meet all requirements still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

Youll join a friendly dedicated team responsible for ensuring Suffolks children and young people have access to education and support. Were proud of our collaborative spirit and our commitment to making a real difference for families across the county. Hybrid working is supported and our office base is at Endeavour House in Ipswich.

Empowering Everyone

Were big believers in potential possibility and the power of different ideas. Were always searching for ways to encourage respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation as shown in ourWorkforce Equality Report.

For more information

Please contact Lucy Nicholas (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling or emailing .

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (Word).

Step 2 - Click Apply Now to start your online application.

Step 3 -Upload asupporting statement indicating how you meet each of the criteria in the Person Profile sectionof the JPP.

• You should use theSupporting Statement template.(word)

• Please use Arial font size 11 and keep your statement to a maximum of two sides of A4.

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage please contact our Recruitment Team by emailingor calling.If you are invited to the next stage of selection you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.

Closing date:11.30pm 22 October 2025.

Interview date: 6 November 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid