Receptionist

Job summary

Help create a welcoming, safe and well run workplace for everyone.

We’re looking for someone to join our Business Support team in our Bristol office, helping to make sure colleagues and visitors have a positive experience from the moment they arrive.

This is a varied, people-focused role where you’ll be at the heart of the office. You’ll work with colleagues across the Planning Inspectorate, provide a helpful and friendly service, and play an important part in creating an environment where people can work safely and effectively.

You’ll be joining a collaborative team where your ideas are welcomed and where you’ll have opportunities to learn, develop and get involved in improving the way we work.

If you enjoy working with people, providing a great service and being part of a team where no two days are quite the same, we’d love to hear from you.

The Planning Inspectorate has a long and proud history in ensuring a fair planning system for England. The work we do has a significant impact on people’s lives, the communities where they live and the economy.

We want our colleagues to be able to work more flexibly and more collaboratively, exploring new and innovative ways to improve the way we provide services.

For further information on the Planning Inspectorate, please visit our careers page at Civil Service Careers

Job description

In this varied, people focused role, you’ll help ensure our Bristol office is a welcoming, safe and well organised place for colleagues and visitors.

You’ll manage the reception desk, providing a friendly first point of contact and supporting the day to day running and security of the office. This will include welcoming building users, managing access arrangements and working closely with the building management team to resolve day to day issues.

You’ll also provide practical business support across the office, including helping with room bookings, security passes, post, stationery and other services that keep the workplace running smoothly.

As part of the wider Business Support team, you’ll build positive working relationships across the Planning Inspectorate, provide a helpful and responsive service, and look for opportunities to improve how we work. You’ll also have responsibilities around health and safety and emergency procedures, with appropriate training provided.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. Internal rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

This role is being advertised at AO Grade which has a salary of £29,230.

Working hours:

Standard working week is 37 hours, part time at 30 hours or above, flexible working hours policy available.

Office Attendance

This role is contractually based at our office in Bristol, 10-minute walk from Temple Meads train station. Excitingly, we're relocating to a brand new office in December, while maintaining excellent transport links with Bristol Temple Meads station still just a 10 minute walk away.

Person specification

We will assess your application against the Essential Criteria listed:

Essential Criteria

• Experience of delivering excellent customer service.
• Experience of developing and maintaining positive and constructive relationships with others.
• Good problem solving and decision-making skills, with a proactive and creative approach.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Good IT skills including Microsoft Office.

For guidance on how to structure your application please visit: About the application process , Civil Service Careers

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• The lead sift statement lets you focus on the lead criterion for this role. Use your statement to give clear examples of how your experience meets the lead criterion below. We will assess your application against this statement first.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,230, Planning Inspectorate contributes £8,467 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Flexible working options, including flexi-time, part-time, compressed hours and home working if suitable for the role.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• 25 days annual leave increasing by 1 day per year up to 30 days after 5 years, plus 1 privilege day to mark the King’s birthday. In addition to the normal bank holidays.
• Generous family friendly policies.
• Fast and modern IT kit which utilises Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, enabling seamless working from home and collaboration across teams

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

Complete the online application form on Civil Service Jobs which requires the following information:

• A CV: The CV section lets you share your job history. List your jobs, how long you worked at each, and briefly describe your roles and duties. Make sure to show how your experience matches the essential criteria of the job you're applying for. Type or paste this information into the 'Employment History' box in the online application. You can't attach your CV.
• A Personal Statement (500 words max): The personal statement lets you explain why you're a good fit for the job in more detail. Use it to show how you meet the essential criteria listed in our advert and connect your answers to the Success Profile elements we're looking for
• A Lead Sift Statement (250 words max): The lead sift statement lets you focus on the lead criterion for this role. Use your statement to give clear examples of how your experience meets the lead criterion below. If we receive a high number of applications, we may assess your application against this statement first.

• Experience of delivering excellent cus