Technical Communications Desk Assistant (DV Cleared)

Salt Creating Futures Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Salt Creating Futures Ltd is seeking a Technical Communications Desk Assistant in Westminster. The role is office-based, 5 days a week, with an initial 3–6 month contract and a day rate of £350–£375.

You will deliver a professional communications service to government colleagues, handle calls from external contacts, and set up conference calls with senior attendees. The role focuses mainly on customer service and call handling, with around 90% contact-centre tasks and 10% first-line technical

Qualifications

• Current DV clearance is required.
• Experience in customer service, call handling or service desk environments.
• Excellent telephone manner and listening skills.
• Patient, professional and customer-focused.
• Confident communicating with senior staff and VIPs.
• Attention to detail when recording messages and routing calls.
• Ability to stay calm under pressure and manage urgent enquiries.
• Discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Willingness to learn standard IT systems and basic support procedures.

Responsibilities

• Answer internal and external calls promptly and courteously.
• Direct callers to the right person or team and take accurate messages.
• Provide discreet service to government colleagues, officials and VIPs.
• Handle calls from external contacts, including press, using established procedures.
• Set up and coordinate conference calls with senior attendees.
• Follow procedures to ensure accurate conference call setup and connections.
• Provide basic first-line technical assistance within training remit.
• Record enquiries and escalate complex issues to appropriate teams.
• Follow information security and confidentiality rules at all times.
• Support colleagues during busy periods and give clear handovers.

Skills

DV clearance

Customer service

Call handling

Telephone etiquette

Discretion

IT systems familiarity

Tools

Call management systems

Job description

Technical Communications Desk Assistant

*** Current Developed Vetting (DV) clearance is essential. Applicants who do not currently hold DV clearance should not apply.

*** Applicants must be resident in the UK and already have the right to work in the UK. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Location: Westminster, London
Working Pattern: Fully office-based, 5 days per week, including weekend cover on a rota
Contract: Initially 3–6 months, with a strong likelihood of extension
Day Rate: £350 - £375 per day
Start Date: Immediate

The opportunity

Salt is recruiting for a Technical Communications Desk Assistant to join a high-profile central government environment in Westminster.

This is an excellent opportunity to deliver a professional communications service supporting government colleagues, parliamentary personnel, senior officials and VIPs. You will also handle calls from external contacts, including members of the press, ensuring enquiries are directed appropriately and handled with discretion.

The role is approximately 90% customer service and call handling, with around 10% first-line technical support. The emphasis is on clear communication, careful coordination and dependable service. A key responsibility will be setting up and supporting conference calls involving senior officials and high-profile internal and external attendees.

Substantial on-the-job training will be provided to help you learn the systems, established procedures and requirements of the environment.

The team requires additional support during periods of high activity and ahead of planned retirements, helping maintain service continuity while replacements are recruited and trained. Contracts will initially run for 3–6 months, with extensions considered highly likely, although not guaranteed.

Key responsibilities

• Answer internal and external calls promptly, professionally and courteously, establishing the nature of each enquiry
• Direct callers to the appropriate person or team, taking accurate messages and ensuring clear handovers where required
• Deliver a responsive and discreet service to government colleagues, parliamentary personnel, senior officials and VIPs
• Handle calls from external contacts, including the press, following established routing and escalation procedures
• Set up and coordinate conference calls involving senior officials and high-profile internal and external attendees
• Follow agreed procedures to ensure conference calls are arranged accurately and participants are connected appropriately
• Provide basic first-line technical assistance within your training, access permissions and agreed remit
• Record enquiries and actions accurately, escalating issues requiring specialist support to the appropriate team
• Follow information security, identity verification and confidentiality procedures at all times
• Support colleagues during busy periods and provide effective shift handovers to maintain continuity of service

Essential skills and experience

• . Current Developed Vetting (DV) clearance
• . Previous experience in a customer service, call handling, switchboard, communications desk or service desk environment
• . Excellent telephone manner, with clear verbal communication and strong listening skills
• . A customer-focused approach, with patience, professionalism and a commitment to helping others
• . Confidence communicating with people at different levels of seniority and adapting your approach appropriately
• . Strong attention to detail when recording information, routing calls and coordinating arrangements
• . Ability to remain calm, organised and courteous when handling urgent enquiries or competing demands
• . A discreet approach to sensitive information and an understanding of the importance of confidentiality
• . Confidence using everyday IT systems and the ability to learn communications platforms and basic support procedures
• . Willingness to follow established processes, recognise the limits of your remit and escat...
• . Genuine interest in the customer service and communications responsibilities of the role and the environment in which it operates

Desirable experience

• . Experience within central government, the Ministry of Defence or another public sector organisation
• . Experience supporting senior officials, executives, VIPs or other high-profile users
• . Experience arranging conference calls or supporting telephone and virtual meeting services
• . Familiarity with first-line IT support, call management systems or service desk tools
• . Experience working in a secure or politically sensitive environment

Training and role expectations

Comprehensive on-the-job training will support you in learning the team’s systems, procedures and service standards. Strong customer service skills, sound judgement and a willingness to learn are more important than advanced technical expertise.

This position would suit someone who enjoys communications and service delivery within an IT-based government environment. Applicants should be motivated by the day-to-day responsibilities and the opportunity to contribute in this unique setting. Technical troubleshooting forms only a small part of the role, so developing advanced technical skills is not its primary focus.

The position offers an opportunity to build trusted working relationships and gain experience within Westminster. Other contract opportunities may arise over time, but future assignments or progression cannot be guaranteed.

Working arrangements

• . Fully office-based in Westminster, London, working 5 days per week
• . Shifts of 8.15 hours per day, starting at either 07:45 or 10:45
• . Following an initial onboarding period of a few weeks, weekend cover will form part of your five working days per week
• . Availability to start immediately or at short notice is preferred
• . Further details about the working environment and specific duties will be shared with suitable applicants during the recruitment process

Role flexibility

This job description summarises the principal duties and responsibilities of the role. It is not exhaustive and may be updated from time to time to reflect business requirements, organisational changes and the development of the role.