Customer Service Administrator
Location: Bishopgate House, Darlington, DL1 5QE
Rate of Pay: £15.09ph, Weekly Pay
Working Hours: 37 hours per week - Monday to Thursday: 8:30am – 4:30pm - Friday: 8:30am – 4:00pm
Working Arrangements: Hybrid – 3 days per week in the Darlington office, 2 days per week working from home
Contract Duration: 3 months, with a possibility for extension

About the Role:
The Department for Education is seeking Customer Service Administrators to join the team at Bishopgate House in Darlington. These temporary roles support essential operations by providing high-quality administrative and customer service assistance to both internal and external stakeholders, including local authorities and schools.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the first point of contact for external customers (e.g. local authorities and schools), handling incoming and outgoing telephone calls.
• Manage high volumes of telephone communication, particularly during peak periods.
• Process Service Request Forms (SR Forms) submitted by external stakeholders, resolving queries or escalating them when necessary.
• Deliver an efficient, customer-focused Service Desk support service in line with departmental and Data Operations standards and procedures.
• Ensure all service delivery meets performance indicators, service level agreements, security requirements, and complies with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.
• Collect and process complex survey returns, analyse the source of data errors, and contact relevant data providers to obtain accurate information.
• Ensure data handling meets quality standards and timescales set by internal customers.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Comfortable and confident handling high volumes of telephone calls.
• Strong administrative skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (e.g. Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and work collaboratively.
• Able to take ownership of tasks and follow through on commitments.
• Problem-solving mindset with resilience under pressure.
• Strong time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to produce high-quality work and support colleagues in achieving shared goals.

Home Working Requirements:
Applicants must have the facilities to work from home for part of the week. This includes:

• Secure and reliable internet access
• A private and comfortable working environment suitable for handling sensitive information (e.g. not a shared space)

How to Apply:
If you are proactive, organised, and thrive in a customer-focused administrative role, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity to support the vital work of the Department for Education.