Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) seeks to appoint a Junior Receptionist/Office Assistant.

Due to its expansion and increasing workload, B4RN is looking for a bright and enthusiastic candidate to join a small, friendly and active team in a busy office. Good computer skills are essential for this post.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
• Reception: answer and forward phone calls, enquiries and messages; welcome visitors to the office; sign deliveries; generally keep the reception area tidy and welcoming.
• Administrative support to the Office Manager and the Technical Team.
• Basic accounting procedures using Sage Accounts (training will be given if needed).
• Routine clerical tasks such as filing, scanning, printing and photocopying.
• Help to promote B4RN and organise events.

Requisite Skills:
• Good IT skills and being confident using Microsoft Office applications, especially spreadsheets, are essential.
• Knowledge of accounting procedures and familiarity with the Sage Accounts package would be useful but not essential.
• Most important are a methodical and thorough approach to work, a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, flexibility and a willingness to learn.

Working Conditions:
• The position is full time.
• Start date: as soon as available.
• Salary depending upon experience.
• Pension Scheme.

If you wish to apply for the post please send your CV and a covering letter to Kristina Fournier, B4RN, Station Yard, Melling, LA6 2QY, or email to k.fournier@b4rn.org.uk. The closing date for applications is 8th July 2018.

Download a copy of this offer here.

Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) seeks to appoint a Customer Service Manager.

We are looking for an organised, community minded, and enthusiastic person ideally with a technical background in IT Support management or equivelant to oversee our customer technical support function, managing our dedicated team of first line support staff and volunteers.
B4RN provides a very personal support service to our customers which is extremely important to us, our team take great pride in providing the best possible service, support, and overall care to our customers, consistantly going the extra mile above and beyond expectations.
In order to continue providing this level of support we must bring structure alongside flexibility into the team, with a vision to keep the community engagement aspect a high priority. So if you enjoy overcoming technical challenges and talking to people on a daily basis, then this is the position for you!

Responsible to: Chief Operating Officer
Immediate Subordinates: First Line Support Team
Salary: £28,000 to £32,000

Main Function
• Manage the overall function of customer technical support and its associated systems.
• Direct and coordinate the first line support team, providing training and guidance.
• Communicate service updates, outages, and information to our customer base via social media, telephone, email, website, and forum.
• Liaise and assist the Network Engineering team in the resolution of major faults and issues.

Special Conditions
• The company’s customer support commitments will require participation in a rota-based system in order to operate the support desk outside of standard office opening hours.
• This post requires the ongoing possession of a full, valid driving licence.

Main Duties
• Manage and train first line support staff in the resolution of common faults and queries, providing an efficient and professional customer service for our customers.
• Administration of our Helpdesk systems, keeping accurate records of discussions and correspondence with customers.
• Investigating and solving problematic issues requiring in depth fault diagnosis and liaison with equipment vendors and service suppliers via their associated support teams.
• Produce reports to track fault trends advising senior management of common issues requiring intervention.
• Produce written information for customers in the form of help files, wiki entries or as frequently asked questions, involving use of computer packages and software.
• Develop and improve our customer service procedures, policies and standards to ensure a professional and responsive service to our customers.
• Coordinate the communication of service outages alongside senior management and the network engineering team in order to keep our customers informed of major and minor issues affecting service.
• Keeping ahead of developments in customer service by reading relevant journals, going to meetings and attending courses.
• To maintain high levels of professional conduct, including but not limited to, cooperative engagement in tasks set, the exercising of initiative to suggest, through line management, improvements to the service provided, and clear and professional styles of communication at all times.
• To assist in the evaluation and testing of new technologies, as directed.
• Such other duties appropriate to the grade as may be directed by the COO and/or CEO.

If you wish to apply for the post please send your CV and a covering letter to Tom Rigg, B4RN, Station Yard, Melling, LA6 2QY, or email to t.rigg@b4rn.org.uk. The closing date for applications is 8th July 2018.

Download a copy of this offer here.

Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN) seeks to appoint a Regional Community Liaison and Planning Coordinator.

We are looking for a driven, professional, and enthusiastic person to coordinate our network deployment in East Anglia. This is a excellent opportunity to become involved with local communities, focus their passion and vision to deploy Next Generation Access Fibre-To-The-Home broadband in their areas. The position will be based in East Anglia and will involve a great deal of communication on many levels, so if you are organised, professional, and enjoy talking to people, this is the position for you!

Responsible to: (Head office) Community Liaison and Planning Coordinator
Immediate Subordinates: None
Salary: £28,000 to £32,000

Main Function
• To develop B4RN’s Next Generation Access, Fibre-To-The-Home network in the East Anglia region.
• Raise awareness of B4RN and its ethos in the regional area.
• Identify and engage with interested local community groups.
• Assess feasibility of proposed projects taking on board strategy, guidance, and direction from Head Office.

Special Conditions
• This post requires the ongoing possession of a full, valid driving licence.
• A company vehicle will be provided as transport for all B4RN activities.
• This is a home-based role and will require some out of hours working (evening presentations) and travelling.
• Good colour vision for map, route, and services identification and interpretation.
• Must be computer literate and competent with the Microsoft Office Suite and other applications such as Google Earth.
• This is initially a one-year fixed term contract with the potential to become a permanent position subject to satisfactory performance.

Desirable
• Knowledge of East Anglia’s rural communities.
• Committed to improving rural broadband.
• Experience in the voluntary sector.

Main Duties
• Act as the main point of contact between volunteer groups and B4RN Head Office.
• Present individual business cases for new proposed projects to Head Office.
• Develop and supply network plans based on B4RN systems, methods, and constraints.
• Have the ability to engage with volunteers in a rural environment, work independently, be organised, and self-motivated.
• Carry out public presentations with confidence and accuracy, with the ability to handle a wide range of questions and queries.
• Co-ordinate and support local community groups, support parish meetings, meet on site with landowners and volunteers.
• Deliver appropriate training to volunteers based on material supplied by Head Office.
• Administer and document wayleaves in the regional area.
• Manage regional materials stores in terms of physical access, stock control and health and safety.
• Manage our brand awareness in the regional area, ensure the correct message is given including posters, banners, websites, and general information material.
• Such other duties appropriate to the grade as may be directed by the COO and/or CEO.

If you wish to apply for the post please send your CV and a covering letter to David Ryall, B4RN, Station Yard, Melling, LA6 2QY, or email to d.ryall@b4rn.org.uk. The closing date for applications is 8th July 2018.

Download a copy of this offer here.