Job Description
Prospective officers and staff must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members of the public, and that therefore their right to privacy can be fettered in certain circumstances. This is to ensure that members of the police are fully aware and accountable for the unique powers entrusted to them and the standards of professional behaviour they swear to uphold.
About the Role
An opportunity exists to join our Vehicle Recovery Unit working within Corporate Asset Management as a Commercial Services Officer. The Vehicle Recovery team deal with over 25,000 vehicle recoveries per year. The role is critical in ensuring the timely identification and disposal of seized vehicles. At any one time, you could be dealing with numerous enquiries involving identifying vehicles, organising examinations and contacting third parties. You will be part of a professional, dedicated, team and will need to be flexible in your approach to your duties. As a Commercial Services Officer, you will be responsible for conducting enquiries into active seizures and authorising the disposal of vehicles either through depollution or repatriation with owners/insurance companies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
* To triage all incoming demand, related to recovery of approximately 25,000 vehicles and either action or escalate as appropriate in accordance with legislation.
* To communicate with key stakeholders to ensure that all ELVIS records are appropriately completed/updated in a timely manner.
* To answer requests for information, via telephone/email/letter from internal departments, external agencies and key stakeholders.
* To undertake all necessary enquiries/lines of investigation to establish the true identity of a vehicle and the rightful owner
* To upload and input information into force systems to ensure an accurate and audit able record of events and activity.
* To authorise disposals: determining the most lucrative disposal method.
* To review and process financial submissions to ensure the timely payment/ recuperation of fees and charges.
* Assist the Corporate Asset Management department to support the Force in its mission to serve and protect the people of the West Midlands.
* To work to productivity, efficiency and performance targets linked with service level agreements.
* To support the continuous improvement of the Commercial Services function against agreed service levels using relevant systems.
* To arrange for transportation of vehicles to the auctioneers and to complete an online valuation before agreeing a sale 'reserve'.
ESSENTIAL:
* Experience in a customer facing environment.
* Ability to engage with stakeholders and customers at all levels
* Ability to engage in difficult conversations and challenge information given
* Work collaboratively with internal and external departments/stakeholders to build good working relationships.
* To be able to work as part of a team with the minimum of supervision.
* Effective communication skills - Confidence to communicate in both written and verbal format
* Ability to work under pressure with competing demands/ Proven Organisational Skills. Must be able to manage your own
* workload, organise and priorities tasks in accordance with business needs and Service Level agreements.
* Proven ability and knowledge in computerised systems such as Microsoft word and excel.
DESIRABLE:
* Knowledge of West Midlands Police inventory systems
* An understanding of financial processes including raising purchase orders and receipting invoices
* Understand Knowledge of Road Traffic legislation especially in relation to the recovery and disposal of vehicles
* Knowledge of Police Computer systems e.g Oracle, My Service Portal and CX along with Outlook, Control Works & Elvis
* Previous employment experience in a Shared Services environment/ working within Vehicle Recovery
Hours: 0800 - 1600 with flexi-time
Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting and Counter Terrorism Clearance scrutiny prior tocommencing their role, this will include a full background & financial disclosure as part of the vetting process.
Medical: Appointment to this role will be dependent upon successfully medical checks, which may include a drugs test and if required a fitness test.
Interviews: W.C 20th October 2025
Contact: For further information regarding the role, please contact careers@westmidlands.police.uk
Benefit Statement: By choosing to join West Midlands Police you will receive an enhanced benefits package including:
* Fair remuneration with progression opportunities and access to a very competitive pension scheme.
* Enhanced annual leave in addition to public holiday entitlements.
* Discounts across travel, parking, daily costs of living and leisure activities.
A comprehensive wellbeing package including 24/7 support, free eye tests and flu jabs
West Midlands Police is a Disability Confident Leader - the highest level an organisation can achieve under the scheme run by the Department of Work and Pensions. As part of our commitment we operate a 'Disability Confident Interview Scheme' - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.
It is important to note that there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the essential criteria for the job. For example: in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. In these circumstances, the employer could select the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job, as they would do for non-disabled applicants.
"Diversity and Inclusion Vision: Maximise the potential of people from all backgrounds through a culture of fairness and inclusion to deliver the best service for our communities