Customer Service Assistant

City of Portsmouth College; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution is seeking a Customer Service Assistant for their North Harbour Campus. The role involves providing excellent customer service, maintaining professional communication with visitors and staff, and handling inquiries effectively. Candidates must demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills and flexibility under pressure. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and numerous benefits, including annual leave and a generous pension plan.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Generous Local Government pension

Access to staff development programs

Free car parking

Discounts at college facilities

Qualifications

• Previous experience in customer service or administrative support is beneficial.
• Ability to work error-free in a highly pressurised environment.
• Flexibility to adapt under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide reception duties and cover for key College events.
• Deliver excellent customer service to visitors, students, and staff.
• Act as a communication link during emergencies.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Customer focused mindset

Problem solving abilities

Computer literate

Job description

Job Title: Customer Service Assistant

Location: North Harbour Campus

Salary: Full Time Equivalent £24,145.56 - £24,837.69 per annum

Hours of work: 37 Hours per week, 52 Weeks per year, Full-Time, Permanent

Job share arrangements for two part-time positions may be considered

About us

At City of Portsmouth College, we aspire to be the employer of choice in the Portsmouth area, with a progressive, supportive, and rewarding workplace culture and one that offers competitive benefits for its staff. By joining us, you will personally be part of the change we are driving and will play a pivotal role in supporting the growth and development of our brilliant students, turning them into future leaders and innovators. Everyone at the College is part of the bigger picture and together, each role makes an impact and in turn a difference to our students learning journey.

We have an unrivalled curriculum of courses on offer for students of all ages and stages covering A-levels, Apprenticeships, Vocational & Technical courses. We also offer Higher Education, Online learning and Community courses that appeal to the needs of the local community.

What we offer

• Annual Leave: 25 days total and closure for winter shutdown period in line with Hampshire County Council school holidays & statutory bank holidays
• Pension: Generous Local Government pension. Further information can be found at www.hants.gov.uk/hampshire-services/pensions/local-government
• Learning & Development: Programmes by The Community Adult Education Department
• Staff Development: Access to the College staff development programmes and CPD
• Onsite Discounts: City of Portsmouth College Hair Salon & 50% off at the City of Portsmouth College Sports Centre
• Online Discounts: Unidays, Student Beans, and Totum with a City of Portsmouth College email address
• Parking: Free car parking across all campus sites (apart from Arundel)
• Blue Light Card: providing several discounts for clothing, electrical goods, food and days out, even concert tickets!

About The Role

This highly professional, flexible, pro-active customer service role requires the Customer Service Assistant to undertake the high-level priorities of the post, and flexibly prioritise the needs of the role. They must be highly adaptable, constantly demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills and be unflappable under pressure, and be very capable of working error free and pro-actively within a highly pressurised environment. As the first point of contact for high level partners and visitors they must display excellent and continuously professional verbal communication skills, and high levels of emotional intelligence. Consistency, approachability and helpfulness are key and a positive self-reliant manner. Regular training is essential, as is self-motivation to continually be improving the quality and efficiency of the role through training and using new technology.

The Receptionist must continuously display an exemplary, flexible mindset especially when under pressure, and cope with unanticipated change. Discretion is essential at key times, with a can do problem solving attitude to seek long term sensible solutions. Workload anticipation is vital on a daily, monthly and annual cycle.

A willingness to own, problem solve and suggest new approaches and systems will also be important regarding customer service.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide reception duties
• Provide additional reception cover for key College events such as Open Evenings, Awards events and College events
• Provide excellent customer service to all visitors, students and staff, dealing with enquiries to resolution as required and providing a helpful service for all
• Act as a central communication link in an emergency and as liaison point for staff
• Deal with incoming queries, including telephone calls and e-mails to the college

To be successful in this role, below is what we would need from you

• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Strong interpersonal skills, maintaining an approachable demeanour to aid a positive first impression and rapport building
• Customer focused mindset with a commitment to providing exceptional service
• Problem solving abilities in order to resolve issues independently or collaboratively with colleagues
• Previous experience in customer service, administrative support or a similar role would be beneficial but not necessary
• Computer literate

Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are central to the work of the College. This underpins the vision of the College to transform lives through providing exceptional education and training.

The College's commitment to Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is reflected in the continued successful promotion of these strands through the curriculum, enrichment activities and the range of direct and indirect student support services.

Pre Employment Checks

The College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and two references.

We reserve the right the close the job advert when we have had successful applications, and it may not run for the full duration of the advert.

We do not accept CV's from agencies for these roles.