Customer Services Assistant

The University

At Durham University, we are proud of our people, because they are at the heart of our globally outstanding institution, which is a key part of our local community. We inspire our people to do extraordinary things and we invite you to join our fantastic team.

Across the University, we have a huge variety of roles and responsibilities, which together make us one large and successful community. Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.

At the University we promote and actively champion equality, diversity and inclusion. It is crucial that everyone can be themselves and can flourish in an environment where everyone respects each other and is treated fairly. We want our people and wider community to feel happy, secure and proud to be a part of Durham. We are looking for the same values in you.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. For more information on our EDI strategy and values, click here

The Role

The Customer Services Team is part of University Library and Collections. We provide front-line (face to face and virtual) customer, visitor and enquiry services across our department. This includes visitor services at our museums and visitor attractions: Palace Green Library, Oriental Museum and Durham Castle, as well as user services in our Libraries and study spaces 7 days a week, including 24/7 opening during part of the academic year.

Customer Services Assistants play a vital role in delivering a high quality experience to our customers. Work can include engaging with customers in a reception role enabling entry and exit to the library and supporting with User Experience (UX) activities, through to shelving returned library materials; processing new books to moving materials between sites. The role is key in maintaining an excellent work and study environment, conducting furniture checks, ensuring the replenishment of multi-functional devices and keeping the buildings tidy and safe for our customers

Customer Services Assistants work Monday to Sunday, working early morning, day and evening shifts as part of a standard rota, covering between 7.45am and 10pm, including Bank Holidays at any of our Library and Collections sites. Working pattern to be agreed locally but will include weekend working every week.

Library work involves considerable manual handling and physical activity, for example: packing and lifting books, lifting boxes, and pushing trolleys. Appropriate training will be provided.

Any role holders who hold the appropriate UK driving licence may be required to drive University vehicles including manual transmission vans.

Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.

The Department

In January 1833 Bishop William van Mildert donated 160 volumes to find the University Library, located on Palace Green. Today the University Library and Collections offers spaces, collections, expertise and services supporting education, research, the wider student experience and cultural and educational outreach. Collections and services operate across a wide estate of libraries, archives, museums, galleries and exhibition spaces, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Palace Green. Our nationally and internationally recognised collections span early books, archives and manuscripts, museum objects and art, print and electronic materials and include a repository of digitised materials, research outputs and research data.

We are an ambitious and developing team with a focus on providing the best experience for our students, researchers and the wider community. We are valued partners working with students, professional services and academics across the University, and professionals and organisations regionally, nationally and internationally.

The University Library and Collections is made up of six sections: Collections; Customer Services; Education, Learning and Engagement; Research and Systems; Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions; and Finance and Administration.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

•    You’ll receive 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days pro rata. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
•    No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered.  We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
•    You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions. 
•    Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
•   We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.  
•    We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volun