Retail Services Assistant

Durham; North East; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution is seeking a Retail Services Assistant to join their Operations Directorate. This part-time role offers administrative and operational support within the Retail Merchandise team, aimed at enhancing the overall experience for students and staff. Candidates should be team players with strong communication skills and a passion for customer service. Enjoy a competitive salary and numerous benefits including generous leave and health support. Be part of a supportive and inclusive environment at Durham University.

Benefits

27 days annual leave

Discounts at local retailers

On-site nursery available

Employee Assistance Programme

Health and wellbeing support

Generous pension schemes

Qualifications

• Experience working in a team environment.
• Demonstrates good spoken and written communication skills.
• Possesses basic digital skills relevant for the role.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent service to students and staff.
• Carrying out routine tasks using established procedures.
• Assist team members in delivering a great experience for visitors.

Skills

Good spoken and written communication skills

Basic digital skills

Basic numeracy and literacy skills

Experience of working in a team

Ability to manage time

Ability to follow instructions

Evidence of personal development

Job description

Job Description

Retail Services Assistant (Job Number: 25001806)

Operations Directorate

Grade 1: £12,928.50 pro rata to £23,205 per annum.

Open-Ended/Permanent – Part Time

Closing Date

26-Jan-2026, 11:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

We welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, neurodiversity and long‑term health conditions, and we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process.

We will make adjustments to support the recruitment and interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

If you are unable to complete your application via our recruitment system or would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you in the application process, please get in touch with us on [e-mail]

About the University

At Durham University, we are proud of our people, because they are at the heart of our globally outstanding institution, which is a key part of our local community. We inspire our people to do extraordinary things and we invite you to join our fantastic team.

We promote and actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion. It is crucial that everyone can be themselves and can flourish in an environment where everyone respects each other and is treated fairly. We want our people and wider community to feel happy, secure and proud to be a part of Durham.

The Department

The Operations Directorate: Elevating the Student and Staff Experience

The Operations Directorate is dedicated to providing a world‑class experience for our diverse student and staff community, which is essential to our students’ learning journey. Our passionate team delivers services and facilities across 15 colleges, including catering, housekeeping, reception, security, and maintenance.

All staff within the Operations Directorate share the responsibility for supporting environmental and social sustainability initiatives, including water and energy conservation and recycling as outlined in operating procedures. These resources create a safe environment where our students can live, work, dine, socialise, and thrive together.

Within the Operations Directorate, we have three key areas:

• University Catering: Our robust catering team of 500 ensures fresh, exciting, and diverse dining experiences throughout our colleges, catering to the unique needs of our University Community, which includes students, staff, and visitors, and offer expert advice on bar management.
• College Operations: With over 200 dedicated professionals, we provide residential services within the colleges as well as supporting student and non‑student‑led events.
• Retail Services: Our branded retail catering and merchandise outlets offer an enticing array of menus and high‑quality products thoughtfully presented to enhance the shopping experience for our students and staff whilst building positive relationships via efficient service and attentive staff.

The Role

This role is an exciting opportunity that will strengthen the department’s capacity to pursue and capitalise on new commercial opportunities, driving revenue growth and strategic partnerships. The role will involve administrative and operational tasks to help support the Retail Merchandise team within the Operations Directorate.

Our ideal candidate is passionate about building a career in retail and customer service. You should be a team player who has a flexible attitude and the drive and enthusiasm to learn and succeed.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University: you will also receive access to the following fantastic benefits:

• 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year, a total of 39 days including time off between Christmas and New Year.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle‑to‑work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discounts with local bus and train companies.
• Discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high‑street retailers, IT products such as Apple, the cinema and days out at various attractions.
• On‑site nursery is available and access to holiday camps for children aged 5‑16 throughout the year.
• Lots of support for health and wellbeing including discounted membership for our state‑of‑the‑art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24‑7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• The opportunity to take part in staff volunteering activities.
• Family‑friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, which are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications, to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
• Generous pension schemes.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply

• Good spoken and written communication skills.
• Basic digital skills including the ability to use the internet and email.
• Basic numeracy and literacy skills.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Ability to manage time to meet deadlines.
• Ability to follow instructions, spoken or written, accurately.
• Evidence of personal development to maintain skills or the desire to take part in development activity.

How to Apply

We prefer to receive applications online. When you apply you need to submit a CV and/or a statement that tells us your experience and gives examples of how you meet the criteria above and/or submit the application form and include the information within the form.

We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e‑recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.

Who to contact for more information

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role or if you are struggling to complete the application process, please contact [e-mail] and the team will be happy to help!

Typical Role Requirements

Service Delivery

• Provide an excellent service to our students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role by carrying out your tasks using the relevant procedures (which we will provide training for).
• Learn how to use everyday equipment from more experienced colleagues.
• Follow instructions from more experienced colleagues to deliver set tasks.
• Log and store routine information.
• Learn and adhere to general health, safety and security procedures.
• Learn the correct processes and methods to undertake the role of Trainee Retail Merchandise Assistant.

Carry out basic administrative tasks.

Teamwork

• Help and cooperate with the rest of your team.
• Support other team members to carry out their tasks when asked.
• Bring any problems to the attention of more senior colleagues.
• Assist team members to deliver an excellent student, staff and visitor experience.

Communication/Personal

• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
• Use digital devices and apps (such as email) to communicate with students, your colleagues and anyone else you come across as part of your role.
• Be a committed colleague to our core values and behaviours.
• Communicate with managers, supervisors, other staff, students and visitors in person or using electronic tools and applications.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.