Traffic Control Officer

Job Description

Position Details

Campus Services

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £25,618 to £27,126

Grade: 3

Full Time, Permanent

Closing date: 30th November 2025

Our offer to you

People are at the heart of what we are and do.

The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.

We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.

We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.

Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.

The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.

Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham

Background

With over 35,000 students and around 9,000 employees The University of Birmingham campus includes over 200 buildings split between its main campus at Edgbaston and smaller campus at Selly Oak and has circa 3,500 parking bays on the man site alone. In addition to our staff and student population we have numerous external visitors to campus and the University is host to a number of large, high profile events adding to the challenge for parking requirements. As a result the potential implications for parking congestion are obvious and therefore the management of our car parking stock is key.

The role of the Traffic Control Officer is crucial to the effective traffic and parking operations across the University. Parking is limited and can become a very emotive issue. The ability to be tactful, polite; professional and act in a firm and fair manner is essential to this role.

Car Parking Services form part of the Facilities Services Directorate within Campus Services.

Role Summary

The main responsibility of this role is to provide a professional customer focused; effective and efficient traffic management and enforcement service by patrolling the University campus either on electric bicycle, foot or the department van; monitoring, preventing and enforcing breaches of the University Traffic Regulations.

Traffic Officers will be working as a team of 4 within Car Parking Services. A flexible attitude to working patterns is essential as hours of work may be between 07:00 and 18:00 hours on a flexible rota basis. This includes some weekend and evening patrols on an adhoc basis.

Main Duties

• To patrol campus car parks in a professional and knowledgeable manner. Monitor car parking spaces, investigating any irregularities or breaches of the University Traffic Regulations including the issue of Parking Charge Notices using hand held computerised devices.
• To be familiar with the University Traffic Regulations and its terms and conditions of parking and be able to advise others accordingly. Become fully familiar with the campus layout and car parking areas. Be familiar with other agreed internal procedures.
• To report any malfunctions of lighting, barriers or access control in the car parks or around campus or any other risks related to travel and parking.
• To provide traffic control at University events. This may occasionally be at weekends in support of large University events such as Open Days and Welcome events. You will be paid overtime at the standard University rates for Professional Services Staff.
• To promote a positive image of the University by providing directions and information to visitors, staff and students, communicating effectively and politely with these groups at all levels.
• To assist with the induction training, familiarisation and mentoring of new staff.
• To ensure that uniform and other equipment issued is maintained in good order and to report any defects immediately to the Car Parking Services Senior Administration Coordinator.
• Perform other such duties and undertake further training as may be required commensurate with the role at the request of the Senior Administration Coordinator.
• Cycle training will be mandatory and the post holder will undergo a cycle proficiency test.
• External enforcement training courses may be applied with Officers given the chance to attain a Parking Enforcement qualification.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications, Experience

• Excellent customer service skills are essential so previous experience in a customer focused role is required however previous experience in car parking patrol or a similar role is not essential.
• The ability to work without constant supervision but within a framework of approved guidelines.
• You should be able to work as part of a team, have effective communication skills and the confidence to deal with difficult conversations.
• You should have basic computer skills; use of e-mail; be proficient in the use of hand held devices and radio communication systems. Training can be provided for University-specific systems.
• The post will require a good level of physical fitness due to the need to constantly travel across the campus on bicycles and on foot.
• You will be required to hold a full, clean driving licence.

Planning and Organising

An organised individual with the ability to work well within a small but very busy team and independently to meet service objectives.

You must be able to work well under pressure, with a proven ability to adjust to changes in work schedules and environment.

Prioritising daily tasks to ensure effective traffic management within a given zone is essential.

Problem Solving and decision making

Without reference to others:

You would be expected to make competent decisions in relation to car parking enforcement.

After consulting others:

In some instances you would be required to seek advice from the Senior Administration Coordinator or other Management staff if a decision appears beyond your remit, competence or authority.

Situations that require a higher level of strategic or policy decision will need to be referred upward to a Manager.

Internal and External relationships

Daily liaison with:

Senior Administration Coordinator; Other Traffic Officers; Car Parking admin staff; Security Control team; Car Park users

Other ad hoc relationships:

Preferred Enforcement Company; Other supplier representatives; Campus Services Senior Management Members

Informal enquiries to Rebecca Harris, email:

View our staff values and behaviours here

We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.

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