GMSS Operator - Greater Manchester Shared Service Contract Type - Permanent This is a hybrid role with a mix of home and office-based working at Trafford Town Hall in Stretford. Our HR and Payroll Transactions Team process approximately 8,000 salary/contractual changes every month, from a diverse customer group of Council staff, Police staff and officers, Leisure Services staff, Schools and Colleges, teachers and staff. You will be responsible for the day-to-day processing of changes relating to the employment lifecycle and payroll, received via email and our online portal. This role would suit a individual with a keen eye for detail and an understanding of relevant statutory obligations and policies. Our ideal candidate has: No candidate will meet every single desired requirement. If your experience looks a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can bring value of the role, we’d love to learn more about you. Further details are contained within the job description and person specification. The job description has been signposted to indicate at which stage of the process each criteria will be tested. Any appointment made to this role will be subject to the appointable candidate being vetted under Greater Manchester Police clearance processes. A requirement of the vetting process is a minimum of 3 years residency in the UK. For an informal conversation about the role please contact Carol McBurnie, Service Delivery Manager, on 07580 697942. About the benefits You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your development will be encouraged. The post includes a generous paid annual leave allowance plus bank holidays. To help you balance your work commitment with other priorities, you will be able to complete your contracted hours flexibly within agreed parameters. Whilst there may be a requirement for you to visit our offices on a regular basis, post holders will also have the option to complete some of their working week at home, if desired. Successful candidates will also have access to our pension scheme, with substantial employer contributions, and to a range of other benefits. About the company Greater Manchester Shared Services provide payroll and HR support to over 20,000 internal and external customers, including teachers, staff, police officers, leisure trusts and volunteers. With over 18 payrolls per month, tailored to meet the needs of our customers, our aim is to provide first class payroll, pension, and transactional HR services to the workforce. Created in 2017 as the result of a pioneering partnership between Trafford Council and Greater Manchester Police. Our shared ambition is to create a compelling alternative to private sector payroll and pension administration. Our services are delivered by a workforce which is second to none; well qualified individuals with a passion for customer service and outstanding technical knowledge. The core values which are embedded within our service delivery model are: Innovation; Leading the way Greater Manchester Shared Services needs to hold and process information about employees, workers and other individuals as appropriate, for various reasons. With the General Data Protection Regulations coming into force we have in place a new privacy notice for staff, contractors, volunteers, trainees, those on work experience and job applicants. Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year. Employment could affect your benefits, find out more here. Turn2us Benefits Calculator.
Location - Trafford Town Hall
Grade Band 3
Salary £25,183 to £27,269 per annum
Working hours - Full Time
Integrity; doing the right thing
Individual; everything starts with you
Integrated; together we will
To find out more, please click here:
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/about-your-council/data-protection/privacy-notices/Service-Level-Privacy-Notices/Recruitment-Employment-Privacy-Notice.aspx
Location
Talbot Road, , Trafford, M32 0TH,
Job ID
1173
Supporting You Through Every Step of Your Journey
We want every candidate to feel welcomed, informed and confident when applying for a role with us.
This section brings together everything you need to succeed - from guidance on writing an authentic application to and understanding how to use AI responsibly.
You’ll also find information about our Greater Manchester commitments, including our inclusive employment schemes and standards, as well as tools to help you explore your potential pay, benefits and entitlements. We’re here to ensure you have the support you need at every stage.
Working for a local authority in Greater Manchester
Local authorities across Greater Manchester are proud to be part of a shared commitment to widening access to employment and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
These commitments span a number of long‑standing schemes and initiatives designed to open doors, remove barriers and ensure all applicants feel valued and respected throughout their employment journey.
Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter
Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment
Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards
Greater Manchester People Inclusion Standards
Your Pay, Your Benefits, Your Future
Explore easy‑to‑use tools that help you understand your take‑home pay and how different employment situations may affect the financial support available to you and your household.
Calculate Your Take‑Home Pay
Use this salary calculator to estimate your net pay after tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions.
Estimate your Income Tax for the current year (Gov.uk)
Check Your Benefits Entitlement
See how changes in employment, hours or salary may affect your benefits and household income.
Turn2us Benefits Calculator
Applying Authentically With AI: Our Greater Manchester Approach
Across Greater Manchester’s local authorities, we want to hear your genuine experiences, skills and motivations, expressed in your own words.
To keep our recruitment process fair and inclusive, please complete your application personally and follow the instructions carefully. AI can be used to support you - for example, to help structure your answers or as a reasonable adjustment - but your application should still reflect your authentic voice. If you do use AI as a support tool, a brief explanation helps us ensure an equitable selection process.
Applications that depend too heavily on AI‑generated content may not progress to shortlisting.
This guidance outlines acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI, along with suggestions for using it in a way that supports you while keeping your application true to you.
What Is AI and How Do We Use It Across Greater Manchester?
AI refers to technology that can create or refine content, such as text, ideas, summaries, or planning. It can help improve productivity, problem-solving, and creativity.
We’re open to using innovative digital tools where they can help us work smarter and deliver better services for our residents. However, every use of AI is carefully considered to make sure it is ethical, responsible, and aligned with public-sector values.
When it comes to recruitment, we take a human-centred approach.
This means:
A trained hiring manager reads every application
Shortlisting is based on objective criteria required for the job
Interviews are conducted in person or via teams by the hiring manager for the role
All hiring decisions are made by hiring managers, not algorithms
AI does not make decisions in our recruitment process and our managers are being upskilled to spot AI in applications, particularly when this might have been used in a way that doesn’t feel genuine. If something in an application raises a question or concern, we will test this out with assessments or at the interview stage to confirm authenticity.
Our aim isn’t to catch anyone out but to make sure we’re getting to know the real you, giving every candidate a fair chance and finding the right person for the role.
Using AI in Your Application
When it comes to job applications, what matters most to us is you. We want to see your personality, your experience, and what excites you about joining our team.
We recognise that AI can be a helpful tool to support accessibility during the application process. If you choose to use AI for support, please read the instructions carefully and make sure your application is written in your own words, reflecting your genuine skills, knowledge, experience and enthusiasm.
We’re looking forward to hearing your story.
How to use AI Effectively and Responsibly
Your application is your chance to show us:
Who you are
What you can bring
The values you hold
Why you want to make a difference
AI can help you organise your thoughts or improve clarity but it cannot express your unique voice, experiences, or motivations.
AI is most helpful when used to:
Help you structure the information you are providing to evidence the criteria
Give examples of how to use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
Proof-read to highlight grammar or spelling errors
Provide inspiration if you're finding it difficult to find the right words to explain something
But remember: your honesty, lived experience, and motivations are irreplaceable.
Do’s and Don’ts for Using AI in the Recruitment Process
Do:
Use AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement
Ask AI to help tidy up your writing or clarify structure
Use it to brainstorm examples, then rewrite them in your own voice
Reflect on AI suggestions and adapt them to match your experience
Use AI to help with research, but express your understanding yourself
Don’t:
Copy and paste AI-generated content directly into your application
Let AI exaggerate or invent experience you do not have
Rely on generic statements that don’t reflect the specific role requirements
Remove your individuality, we want to hear your voice
