Customer Service Assistant

Are you looking for a job with a real purpose? About the role The Open University (OU) is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education with a mission to widen access to higher education and transform lives through education. The university is looking to recruit full time Student Recruitment and Support Advisors, within their Student Recruitment contact centre based in Walton Hall, Kents Hill, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA. This is an exciting opportunity for customer service professionals to join the OU’s frontline team. Student Recruitment & Support Advisors are the first point of contact for students and enquirers seeking information about study at the OU. The Advisors help to ensure students and enquirers have the information they need to make the right study choices for them and are able to enrol and pay using their chosen method. They also support students studying with them, by providing information and triaging queries to other departments within the university. What you’ll need to do The role involves significant telephone work (both inbound and outbound) as well as email, letter, webchat and other mediums as necessary.

You will need to be confident working with different systems and information as the OU make use of multiple databases to maintain student, company and enquirer details.

You will receive full training for the role from dedicated Trainers who will use high quality materials, followed by regular support, coaching and development from your Team Manager and established team members to build your confidence and knowledge within the role.

Are you? Passionate about delivering an exceptional level of customer service

An effective communicator with sufficient IT skills that allow you to support students with a range of enquiries

A motivated self-starter who can adapt to the needs of an operation

Able to thrive in a collaborative working environment and enjoy being part of a highly experienced and supportive team

Able to bring energy to your role on a daily basis and always striving for excellence

Excited about the prospect of working for a highly respected organisation in which you will be able to make a difference to students lives

The Benefits u00A310.71 per hour, increasing to u00A311.34 after 12 weeks.

Full training and support programme, including mentorship by an assigned Trainer.

Gaining experience of working within a large organisation. The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education.

A comprehensive training programme that will help develop skills for the role and also aid wider skills development.

Working within a friendly, supportive and inclusive environment and where a positive culture and staff welfare is important.

This is not a traditional commercial call centre environment – the OU place more emphasis on the quality of the interactions you will have with their students and enquirers, rather than quantity.

There could be potential for a temporary member of staff to be made permanent, following successful completion of accreditation process.

Dates and key information The role will commence on Thursday 5 May 2022 and run until Friday 23rd September 2022. Full commitment to the length of the contract is required.

For the first seven weeks, this role will be based in the office so that successful candidates receive full training and support to ensure they are prepared and confident within the role. After this period, it is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adapted where candidates can work from home occasionally if they wish. Therefore, candidates will need to live within a reasonable commute to their OU office. The OU will supply all necessary IT equipment, including laptop, headsets etc.

This role is full time working 37 hours, successful candidates will be required to work to a flexible working pattern which will be between the current opening hours of 8.00am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday. There are no late or Saturday shifts at present, however this could change in line with business needs.On the occasions that you do chose to work from home, you will need to ensure you have broadband internet speeds of at least 10Mbit/s download and 2Mbit/s upload.

If you want further information, please apply online or contact Angela Hoxley on . Please note that leave will be restricted during the initial training period and during the last week of August/first two weeks of September as this is the peak operational period