Role: Corporate services assistant Based: Durham Department: Finance and corporate services Contract: Permanent Working Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday Salary: £25,000 - £26,000 dependent on experience plus Chamber benefits ROLE OVERVIEW You will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of our finance and corporate services operations. You will provide comprehensive support to the finance and corporate services team, assist the HR officer with recruitment processes and ad hoc documentation and act as a community host within our Durham office. You will also support the executive director – finance and corporate services with governance tasks, work alongside the service and facilities officer on property and operational matters, maintain accurate records and contribute to the overall efficiency of the department. In addition, you will take responsibility for maintaining a welcoming, safe and hygienic office environment, including coordinating office supplies, supporting visitors and ensuring the space runs smoothly day to day. This role requires excellent communication skills, strong organisational abilities and a passion for delivering exceptional customer service. It also requires a consistent office presence, with a minimum of four days per week based at our Durham office. WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING Responsiblities for the successful candidate include: Community host and office operations: Provide an enthusiastic, warm and memorable welcome to occupants and visitors. Manage relationships with occupants. Understand their business and curate relevant introductions. Ensure compliance with health, safety and building requirements. Take responsibility for ensuring the shared areas of the building are clean, neat and presentable at all times. Carry out daily walk-throughs to identify defects, potential issues and opportunities for improvement, raising these with the property and facilities team. Ensure consumables (including breakfast items) are kept in-stock and readily available for service users. Keep occupants informed of any building-related matters which may affect their BAU. Respond to intercom calls, greet and direct visitors and manage mail and deliveries. Act as building keyholder and alarm contact. Support building works and manage work permitting. Serve as fire warden and first aid as required. Carry out other ad hoc administrative tasks to support the property and facilities team. Corporate services support: Assist with planning and delivering team away days, quarterly all-colleague events and events such as the Christmas Party and Summer Social. Support workplace wellbeing initiatives, including contributing creative ideas for the Better Health at Work Award and helping to organise and facilitate them. Assist the HR officer with recruitment by coordinating interview schedules, managing candidate communications, maintaining records and supporting wider employee lifecycle administration. Provide diary management support, including scheduling appointments, meetings and events; booking travel and accommodation; arranging venues; preparing agendas; coordinating attendees; and taking minutes when required. Maintain accurate and organised records, both physical and electronic, for easy retrieval and reference. Assist with data entry, update databases and ensuring records are accurately entered and maintained in the various systems and databases. Work collaboratively with other administrative team members and departments to provide cross-functional support and ensure seamless operations. WHAT WE NEED TO SEE The Chamber team is passionate about the North East, our business community and our members. We work hard to achieve outcomes for our business and our members. Skills and experience are important but what is important above all else is character and willingness to learn and achieve. It is vitally important that we find the right person who fits into our beliefs and culture here at the Chamber. Some of the other skills and experience that we are looking for include: Qualifications Minimum of 5 GCSE’s or equivalent, including Maths and English. Skills and Experience Proven experience in administrative or office support roles. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail. Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). Customer service-oriented mindset with a professional and friendly manner. Strong problem-solving abilities and adaptability. Familiarity with office equipment and basic office software. Ability to plan, organise and prioritise workload to meet performance expectations. Ability to maintain and promote good working relationships internally and externally. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Ethical and principled approach to work, committed to upholding integrity and compliance standards. Proactive and self-motivated, taking initiative to identify and address risks and compliance issues. Resilient and adaptable to changing regulatory environments and project requirements. Health and safety conscious, valuing the well-being of employees and stakeholders Other requirements Ability to work in flexible locations (Durham and Newcastle) and flexible hours where needed. Must hold, or be willing to obtain, qualifications as a First Aider and Fire Warden. Comfortable working independently and as a team. Drive and enthusiasm in supporting the North East and our business community WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER We have a great culture at the Chamber and supporting a healthy work life balance is important to us. We actively promote a professional, engaging, friendly and supportive environment, with our people and our members at the heart of everything we do. We offer several benefits including: 25 days annual leave, increasing with each year of service, up to 30 days plus public holidays each year. An additional days leave on your birthday. Life assurance four-times basic salary. Contribution to one professional membership each year. Employee assistance programme. A motivating, encouraging environment to work, based out of our modern offices in Newcastle city centre and on the edge Durham city centre with on-site car parking. Flexible working supporting work life balance, with a mix of home and office working. Salary exchange pension scheme with 4% Chamber contributions. Long service and colleague awards. Salary sacrifice schemes, such as: cycle to work and car leasing. Health cash plan paid by the Chamber and provided by Westfield Health. Colleague events including summer social and Christmas party.