Funding Services Helpdesk Advisor - Swindon, United Kingdom - UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

Verified Company

Swindon, United Kingdom

3 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

UK Research and Innovation

Salary:
£25,702

Hours:
Full time

Contract Type:
Open Ended

Location:
Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire

Closing date:
Thursday 13th April 2023

The Funding Service (TFS) helpdesk is a small dynamic team working within UKRI funding services. We support the research councils to deliver grants administration services.

The team will liaise and work closely with the SBF programme and UKRI funding services teams as well as the UKRI research councils to ensure that queries are resolved in a pro-active and timely manner.

Additionally, the role will include reviewing research council Opportunity guidance documents, onboarding university and research organisation administrators to TFS, as well as supporting the SBF Programme with any adhoc activities.

All work must be managed in line with UKRI guidelines and service level agreements (SLA's) which enable UKRI funding services to meet overall targets and objectives.

Activities will depend upon the area that the job holder occupies as agreed with line management, and the role will be supplemented by SMART objectives.

Depending upon the volumes and business requirements staff can be redeployed to ensure business continuity and performances are met.

Responsibilities
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Customer Service

Resolve complex customer issues in line with policies, procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) or business rules.
Provide clear and concise responses to questions, enquiries or associated activities, as well as being able to explain the rationale for UKRI policies.
Manage customer expectations by keeping customers informed of outstanding issues.
Administrative tasks to support the Simpler and Better Funding (SBF) programme.

-
Teamwork / Leadership

Build and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues.
Provide support and adequate cover within the immediate team and to other areas where necessary.
Train in other disciplines to enhance flexible working.
Provide training to others where appropriate.

-
Operational

Maintain process and data accuracy, quality, and productivity to meet performance targets.
Ensure data security.
Identify processes requiring improvements as part of continuous improvement.
Report any operational issues by raising the appropriate awareness.

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Technical Skills

Microsoft Office (including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel).
Telephony.
Backoffice systems (TFS/Oracle.
Customer Relationship Management system (Salesforce)

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Influencing

Understanding the differing needs of key stakeholders.
Use a range of influencing styles to achieve desired outcomes.
Demonstrate good negotiating skills with key stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes and buyin.

About you

Essential:

GCSE level or above/relevant experience
Experience of a customer service environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Good analytical and problemsolving skills
Proficient in information technology (IT), including a good working knowledge or MS Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Proven ability to work flexibly in a small team, demonstrate good teamwork and support for other team members

Desirable:

Study for relevant NVQ or equivalent
Knowledge of grants processing
Ability to quickly familiarise themselves with new systems

Key Responsibilities & Activities:

Liaise with clients and customers where issue resolution is dependent on their input or action (e.g. policy related enquiries).
Proactively resolve complex queries and errors investigating and reporting any TFS system related issues, with suggested solutions to the functional specialist leads or process owners.
Contribute to the maintenance of an effective and efficient TFS platform.
Where appropriate identify any standard responses for users of TFS.
Where appropriate identify trends based on customer feedback and analysis of contact data to drive improvement and increase service standards.
Provide support to other customer service teams and operational teams if and when required, including any other activities within scope of the role which may be required and requested by the funding services senior managers.
Contribute to meetings and projects where appropriate that are for the benefit of continuous improvement.
Attend customer / supplier / research organisation visits assisting and delivering training and awareness sessions which contribute to building an effective working relationship between UKRI and its clients.
Share, help and mentor staff from other areas to increase knowledge and expertise across the funding service teams for more flexible working.
Provide support for system releases at appropriate times including assisting with 'User Acceptance Testing' (UAT).

Key Information

There are a number of systems and associated information to enable the grants customer advisors to carry out their role.

Instruction will be provided