Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Be the first point of contact for residents, answering queries via phone, email, and social media.
- Company: Join Essex County Council, a dynamic organisation serving a diverse community across 1,300 square miles.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 26 days annual leave, and access to discounts through Essex Rewards.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your skills in a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Customer service experience and strong communication skills are essential; Microsoft Office knowledge is a plus.
- Other info: Interviews will be held on an Assessment Day with a target start date of August 26th, 2025.
View more categories View less categories Sector Corporate Services ,Customer Services Job role Officer Contract Type Part Time
Our Citizen Contact Centre team are recruiting 2 Customer Specialists to join their dedicated team We are currently recruiting to the following positions.
- 2x Part Time Permanent 18 hr contracts to be worked over 3 x 6 hr days per week.
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
- 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.
- Experience of receiving calls from the public or working in a Public Sector customer service role would be advantageous.
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: Climate, Environment and Customer Services
Company
Why Essex?
Essex County Council covers 1,300 square miles 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.
We celebrate difference and work to ensure that no one is disadvantaged when accessing services, employment or public life in Essex. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We’re also committed to interviewing all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
We recruit creative, ambitious, talented people, and free them up to think – and deliver – big.
We’ve made substantial changes in recent years, reorganising how we’re structured and how we work, so we can protect the most vulnerable and enable our economy to grow. Join us and you’ll be trusted to take control, manage change and make a lasting impact. You’ll be able to call upon external partners and suppliers to help you deliver. More importantly, talented, trailblazing colleagues – including many industry-leaders – will be right by your side to share ideas, knowledge and experience.
Here are some of the things we have in place to give our employees a sense of belonging, involvement and recognition.
Employee Networks:
- Ethnically Diverse Employee Network (EDEN)
- Carers Forum
- Disabled Employees Network
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Network
- Parents Network
- Women’s Network
- Men’s Network
- Young People and Apprentice Network.
You Make The Difference’ Awards– giving employees the opportunity to nominate individuals or teams who go above and beyond for our residents.
Employee Surveys – where we listen to the voices of our people and take action on what we hear.
Employee Panels – giving you the opportunity to feed back on a range of policies and initiatives, network with colleagues and influence far-reaching changes.
Learning and Development
We have developed diverse learning opportunities to support our people to grow both personally and professionally. This includes:
- A large suite of online training and tools
- Dedicated learning events such as ‘LearnFest’ – our flagship annual celebration of learning
- Apprenticeships for both new and existing colleagues
- Financial support to achieve professional qualifications
- Support from subject matter experts
- The opportunity to share your own expertise to up-skill colleagues
- Leadership and executive coaching
Rewards and Benefits
- Family Friendly flexible Working
- Generous holiday and special leave allowances (including the option to purchase extra holiday)
- Life Assurance of three times annual salary
- Volunteering leave (up to 4 days per year)
- Employee wellbeing and counselling
- Travel discounts & season ticket loans
- Learning and Development opportunities/coaching & mentoring
- Payment of professional fees for approved professions
- Lease car scheme (dependent on business needs)
- Up to £8,000 relocation package (subject to terms and conditions)
You’ll also have access to MyReward, a unique platform for Essex County Council employees to gain various discounts and savings.
At Essex County Council we are committed to supporting the wellbeing of our people. We work closely with our employees to provide wellbeing support based on their needs. We strive to enable the right environment, conditions, and behaviours so individual and organisational wellbeing is embedded in everything we do.
Website https://workingforessex.com/ Telephone 0845 743 0430 Location County Hall
Market Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1QH
United Kingdom
Create a job alert and receive personalised job recommendations straight to your inbox.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Customer Specialist employer: Essex County Council
Contact Detail:
Essex County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Customer Specialist
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Essex County Council's values and mission. Understanding their commitment to community service and inclusivity will help you align your responses during the assessment day, showcasing that you're a good fit for their culture.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your customer service skills by simulating common scenarios you might encounter in a contact centre. This will prepare you for the assessments and demonstrate your ability to handle various queries effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your Microsoft Office skills, especially Teams, as this is crucial for the role. Being proficient will not only help you during the assessments but also show your readiness to adapt to their working environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare thoughtful questions about the role and the team dynamics at Essex County Council. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you stand out during the competency-based interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Customer Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant customer service experience and skills that align with the role of Customer Specialist. Emphasise your ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, as well as your proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for customer service and your understanding of the role. Mention specific experiences where you've successfully handled customer queries and how you can contribute to promoting a positive image of Essex County Council.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, focus on key skills mentioned in the job description, such as strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and resilience. Provide examples of how you've demonstrated these skills in previous roles.
Prepare for Assessment Day: Since interviews will be conducted via an Assessment Day, prepare by practising common customer service scenarios and competency-based questions. Familiarise yourself with the format of the day to ensure you're ready to showcase your abilities effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council
✨Understand the Role
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Customer Specialist. Familiarise yourself with the types of queries you might handle and the communication channels you'll be using. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and enthusiasm during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Prepare examples from your past experiences that highlight your customer service skills. Think about situations where you resolved issues or provided exceptional service. Be ready to discuss how you can apply these skills in the context of Essex County Council.
✨Practice Effective Communication
Since the role requires strong verbal and written communication skills, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. You might want to rehearse common interview questions and answers with a friend or family member to build confidence in your delivery.
✨Demonstrate Empathy and Resilience
The job requires an empathetic approach to customer interactions. Prepare to discuss how you've handled challenging situations in the past, showcasing your ability to remain calm and supportive under pressure. This will reflect your suitability for the role.