Job Description

Customer Specialist
Permanent, Part Time
25,081 pro rata
Location: Colchester
Working Style:
Closing Date: 4th August 2025
Our Citizen Contact Centre team are recruiting 2 Customer Specialists to join their dedicated team We are currently recruiting to the following positions.

• 1x Part Time Permanent 18 hr contract to be worked over 3 x 6 hr days per week.
• 1x Part Time Permanent 28 hr contract

Actual salary earning based on 18 hours per week - 12,201 per annum
Actual salary earning based on 28 hours per week - 18,980 per annum
As an anywhere worker, you may be able to work from home or remotely most of the time, for certain tasks or limited days or hours. The successful candidates will need to attend the office during the training period, once training has been complete you may be able to work from home and attend the office at least once every 3 weeks. Please note this may change depending on business needs.
As part of our inbound contact centre team, you will be the first point of contact for residents, providing prompt and efficient responses to a variety of council service queries. Your role will be crucial in promoting a positive image of Essex County Council through various communication channels, including email, telephone, and social media.
What's in it for you?

• Healthy work life balance; flexible and hybrid working options.
• Wide range of learning and development opportunities.
• IT equipment and home-working equipment supplied.
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra.
• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme.
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards.
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group.
• Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave.

The Experience You Will Bring
Essential:

• Experience of providing customer service across a large organisation.
• Well-developed working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including Microsoft Teams.
• A strong telephone manner with the ability to communicate well orally and in writing.
• Good typing skills with the ability to work at speed and to criteria accurately.
• Ability to communicate, both verbal and written, in a manner which is easily understood.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and other professionals.
• An empathetic and resilient approach to work.
• A willingness to learn and gain knowledge.

Desirable:

• Experience of receiving calls from the public or working in a Public Sector customer service role would be advantageous.

Interview Details
Interviews will be conducted via an Assessment Day at Rowan House, Colchester week commencing 21/7/25. The layout of the day will be as follows:

• Customer Service assessments from 10am until 12pm.
• Candidates who meet the benchmark on these assessments will be invited to stay for a competency-based interview, which will take place the same day between 1pm and 4pm.
• Interview times to be confirmed on the day for those who meet the benchmark.

We have a target start date for these positions as August 26th 2025, pending successful completion of Essex County Council Employment Vetting.
To read more about us please visit:
Why Essex? Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England's oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.
We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk
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