Customer Services Assistant

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue; Old Warren; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave (pro-rata)

Flexible working

Onsite gym

Parking facilities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is seeking a Customer Services Assistant to join the Facilities team at Service Headquarters, Calcot, Reading. This part-time role (24 hours/week) supports a welcoming reception and a range of administrative duties in a busy public service environment.

You will handle visitors and calls professionally, provide admin support, manage sign-in and passes, and assist with procurement and security tasks. A positive, customer-focused approach is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in a reception or busy customer service environment.
• Excellent communication with people at all levels.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative.

Responsibilities

• Provide a professional reception service to visitors and callers.
• Greet visitors, manage sign-in, issue passes and provide site information and evacuation instructions.
• Provide administrative support to the Facilities Department (raising purchase orders, receipting invoices).
• Assist with creating identification cards and issuing security access fobs.
• Manage car parking permits and reservations; support departmental resilience arrangements.

Skills

Reception experience

Customer service

Communication skills

MS Office

Independent/initiative

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

Customer Services Assistant

Permanent Part-Time / Job Share

Salary: £18,856 - £21,482 (FTE £29,071 - £33,119) per annum,

Grade 3

Hours: Part Time - 24 hours per week, Monday – Wednesday (08:30hrs – 17:00hrs)

Location – Service Headquarters, Calcot, Reading

Excellent annual leave allowance of 25 days pro-rata, flexible working, onsite gym, parking facilities and a Local Government Pension Scheme are available

Other information about our benefits can be found here

About the role:

This is a great opportunity to work for a public service organisation committed to supporting the communities of Berkshire. We are looking for a professional and customer-focused individual to join our Facilities team as a Customer Services Assistant.

Reporting to the Customer Services Officer, you will assist in delivering an efficient and welcoming reception service at Service Headquarters. You will ensure visitors and callers receive a positive experience and that enquiries are dealt with professionally, courteously and efficiently. Alongside reception responsibilities, you will provide a range of administrative support functions to the Facilities Department.

This varied role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with people, thrives in a busy environment and takes pride in delivering excellent customer service.

About you:

We are seeking a motivated and engaging individual who enjoys working with others and has a positive, solutions-focused approach to their work. You will be confident communicating with a wide range of people and be able to balance competing priorities whilst maintaining high standards of customer service.

Specifically, we are seeking individuals with experience working within a reception, customer service or busy administrative environment. You will be organised, able to work independently using your own initiative and possess excellent Microsoft Office skills.

The key focus of this role (Key Responsibilities and Deliverables) is:

• Providing a professional and customer-focused reception service for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
• Greeting visitors, managing sign-in procedures, issuing visitor passes and providing site information and evacuation instructions.
• Providing administrative support to the Facilities Department, including raising purchase orders and receipting invoices.
• Supporting the production of identification cards and issuing security access fobs.
• Managing car parking permits and reservations and assisting with departmental resilience arrangements when required.

Key role requirements (knowledge, skills and experience):

• Experience of working within a reception or customer service environment.
• Excellent communication skills with people at all levels, both internally and externally, whilst remaining tactful and diplomatic.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative.

Application and selection process

The successful candidate will demonstrate and promote behaviours in line with the Job Profile/Person Specification and our Behaviour Competency Framework as attached.

The Behavioural Competency Framework allows us to easily identify the behaviours that drive successful performance and enables us to deliver an effective service. The behaviours detailed within the job profile will be assessed throughout the selection process.

Appointment is conditional upon undertaking a Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Rechecks will be required in line with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy.

Closing date for applications is 23:59 hours 22 November 2026.

It is anticipated that the assessment/interview process will run week commencing 30 November 2026. Candidates should ensure they are available during this period.

Anticipated start date: Early January 2027.

Please note that is your personal responsibility to check whether by applying / accepting this position it would result in any Annual Allowance implications. A breach in the Annual Allowance threshold could result in a Tax charge.

Please view our Applicant Privacy Statement attached on application.

Our Commitments:

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service values your individuality, your diversity and your dignity. All are welcome here. Inclusion, diversity and equality are principles which guide our decisions and will be visible throughout the Service, and we will continually work to improve in these areas.

We are committed to creating an inclusive culture of dignity and trust where everyone feels safe and comfortable to bring their whole self to work.

Simply: The communities we serve are varied and diverse, we should be too.

All applications are considered on merit alone. We are a Disability Confident Leader – if you meet the essential criteria of the role, you will be guaranteed an interview if you choose to opt into the Offer of an Interview Scheme (formerly known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme).

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and all employees must share this commitment.

Please view our Safer Recruitment Statement attached on application.