Hybrid Ask4Help Assistant bei University of Northumbria at Newcastle

ABOUT THE ROLE

Ask4Help is Northumbria University’s professional, sector-leading frontline service, which provides our students with information, guidance, advice and support throughout their time with us.

We operate a 24/7 service across multiple locations and channels of contact: in-person at our City and Coach Lane campuses; by phone using specialist contact-centre technology, and online via the University’s Student Portal. Our staff are skilled at working across all of these channels, and are committed to delivering a high-quality service under the ethos of ‘Every Student Counts’. 

As an Ask4Help assistant, you will deal with inbound contact from students and other service-users, and work within agreed parameters to provide resolutions to enquiries and requests. You will receive training to enable you to assist students with a wide range of topics, including: study skills and library usage; careers and employment; welfare and finance; academic progression; and access to wellbeing services like our Mental Health and Accessibility and Inclusion teams. Working across these different areas provides an excellent opportunity to develop an in-depth working knowledge of Higher Education and create strong relations with teams throughout the University.

Further information is available in the job description.

Please note that this role involves shift-work, and you will be required to work at our City and Coach Lane Campuses, work on some Bank Holidays, and wear a telephone headset.

We are currently recruiting to fill a part-year, nightshift role.

• This role will require you to work on rotation, with three nights on-shift followed by six nights off.
• Each shift will run from 23:00 to 08:10 the following morning.
• You will be expected to work 36 weeks of the year, with 16 non-working weeks to be taken over the Christmas period (approx. 2 weeks), and a break over the summer from the end of May to mid-September (approx.14 weeks).
• Your salary will be approximately 44% of the full-time equivalent.

ABOUT THE TEAM

Ask4Help is part of the Student Engagement Team, which in turn is part of the Student, Library and Academic Services department within Northumbria University.

We are a friendly, dynamic and inclusive team, with a strong commitment to providing students and stakeholders with the highest levels of customer service and satisfaction. We hold Customer Service Excellence (CSE) accreditation from the UK Cabinet Office, which requires us to consistently achieve high standards in service provision. Our focus is on enabling a successful student journey; from application and enrolment through to completion, award and beyond.

As a member of our team, you will work within an open-plan environment, based in the University’s Student Central locations, and will receive unwavering support from your colleagues and line managers. 

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in the role you will be able to demonstrate outstanding customer service skills, a high level of self-motivation, excellent communication skills that enable you to deal with challenging situations, and the ability to act on your own initiative. We use a customer relationship management system, alongside various digital reference tools, to ensure consistency in enquiry responses, and you should therefore be comfortable and proficient in the use of IT systems as part of your regular duties. 

Further information about the role, and about the essential criteria you will need to demonstrate, is available in the person specification.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact [email protected].

To apply for this vacancy please click 'Apply Now'. Your application must include an up-to-date CV, and a covering letter / personal statement which outlines your suitability for the role according to the criteria described in the job description and person specification.