Supporter Services Assistant

Supporter Services Officer

Salary - £23,948 to £26,133 per annum

Full time, 12 months’ fixed term contract

About the role

Our supporters are really important to us which is why we want to do everything we can to make their experience of being part of the Practical Action team a positive one. Our Supporter Services Team work tirelessly to deliver the highest level of service possible to our supporters at all points of contact, including email, phone, and postal channels. So whether it’s processing donations or answering enquiries, our aim is to make sure our supporters know how vital they are to us and for them to feel valued.

About you

As a Supporter Services Officer you’ll be part of a busy team delivering an outstanding multi-channel contact service to Practical Action’s existing and potential supporters and donors. You will have a passion for people and will always be looking to go the extra mile to help others.

Previous experience of processing financial transactions and delivering high levels of customer service is essential and you’ll enjoy talking to supporters over the telephone, via email or letter. You’ll be a real team player and be able to work closely with colleagues in the Supporter Experience and Stewardship team and the wider Supporter Experience and Digital Division.

This is a demanding role that requires high levels of supporter relationship management, engagement and dynamism as well as an attention to detail, especially when it comes to income processing and database management. So, if you share our passion, are energetic and think you have the right skills and experience to join our Supporter Services team, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Working Relationships

The post-holder will report directly to the Supporter Experience Manager and will regularly collaborate with the rest of the Supporter Experience, Insight, Trusts and Major Donor and Digital teams.   The post-holder will be expected to liaise effectively with other staff and teams across the Marketing Directorate.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Supporter Relationship Management

• To provide the best possible experience for our supporters, at all points of contact, including email, phone and postal channels.
• To keep informed and up to date about all relevant activities of Practical Action in the countries of operation, retaining and managing information needed to respond to supporters.
• To make outbound telephone calls and emails as required to new supporters, follow up queries, verify details or thank donors, acting as an ambassador for Supporter Services and Practical Action at all times.

Income Processing / Database Management

• To deal with incoming and outgoing post, all donations made online via the Practical Action website and other charitable giving platforms, ensuring all donations are handled accurately and in line with agreed procedures.
• To process cash donations effectively and accurately onto our database. 
• To produce and send out letters of acknowledgement to supporters, personalising these communications appropriately.
• To set up Direct Debits/Standing Orders, handle upgrades and other changes to committed gifts, issuing appropriate communications to supporters.
• To accurately process and commit Direct Debit claims.
• To manage Gift Aid on supporter records. This will include setting up new declarations, ending and cancelling declarations and sending out notifications to supporters.
• To deal with new supporters’ welcome communications.
• To liaise with supporters regarding cancellation of donations.
• To update supporter information on the database such as personal details, communication preferences, and other indications of interest or activities to ensure that all our donor information is up to date.
• To undertake manual data entry where required, and to work to avoid the need for duplication of data entry, and ensure automation where possible.
• To pull information required, download and process third party donations ensuring that they are compliant with GDPR.

Compliance

• To keep abreast of all legislation relating to charitable giving such as PCI DSS, Institute of Fundraising guidelines and best practice, Data Protection and Gift Aid Regulations.
• To ensure data is managed to appropriate standards of data protection and security.
• To be aware of and consistently using organisational policies and procedures

Team Working

• To undertake and participate on projects as directed by the Supporter Experience Manager.
• To work closely with the team to review and improve practices and procedures, implementing positive changes and improving efficiency.
• To contribute to organisational meetings e.g. Stand Up, team away days etc.
• To be proactive in joining cross functional working groups.
• To work closely with the finance and fundraising teams to ensure that all processes are working to the highest standard.
• To undertake other tasks that may be reasonably requested by the Supporter Experience Manager and Head of Supporter Experience and Digital.

PERSON PROFILE

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• Relevant experience in a customer or supporter service environment with experience of processing financial transactions and using a CRM database.
• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent, including English and Mathematics

Skills, Abilities and Competences

• Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent call handling skills and the ability to respectfully, honestly and transparently adjust communication to audience recognising the importance of diversity
• Able to use a CRM database
• Able to work across a team following business controls and systems
• Good understanding of the Microsoft Office suite (word, Excel etc. at advanced level)
• Ability to multitask and be able to manage changing priorities
• Ability to work on own initiative to solve problems
• Understanding of data protection legislation
• Prepared to learn or already have an understanding of gift aid legislation, Payment Card Industry, Data Security Standards compliance and charity sector guidelines and best practice.

Why join us?

• The opportunity to work for an organisation that is making a positive difference to the lives of people worldwide, a friendly and supportive culture, working with values-driven and highly engaged colleagues are just some of the reasons we think Practical Action is a great place to work.
• Our open plan offices are located in the centre of Rugby near to the train station.
• In addition, we offer the following benefits:
• Flexible working/hours – full-time roles are contracted at 35 hours per week.
• 27 days’ holiday in addition to public holidays.
• A pension scheme that new employees can join from day one of employment – (rules apply) employer contributes 10.5% of salary and the employee contributes a minimum of 5%.
• Life assurance (3 x annual salary).
• Cycle to Work scheme.

About us

We are an international development organisation putting ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world.

We help people find solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems. Challenges made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. We work with communities to develop ingenious, lasting, and locally owned solutions for agriculture, water and waste management, climate resilience, and clean energy. And we share what works with others, so answers that start small can grow big.

We’re a global change-making group. The group consists of a UK-registered charity with community projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, an independent development publishing company, and a technical consulting service. We combine these specialisms to multiply our impact and help shape a world that works better for everyone.

Additional information

Practical Action believes that having a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace culture based on respect will enable us to be an effective organisation. We seek to create an inclusive workplace in which people are accepted as individuals, regardless of their differences and where they feel their contribution is valued.  Practical Action is an equal opportunities employer, and we encourage applications from under-represented groups.

We stay committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse working environment and believe that people from different backgrounds or cultures give us different perspectives, and the more perspectives we have, the more successful we will be. By building a culture where everyone feels heard, respected, and valued we give everyone working with us the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Practical Action is committed to safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults and as such candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks including criminal checks and terrorist financing.

Please note that should we recruit a suitable candidate before the closing date, we will close applications earlier than the specified date.

The successful applicant must have the pre-existing right to both live and work in the UK.

Closing date for applications: Friday 26th July 2024

Interviews: It is anticipated that interviews will take place in the week commencing 5th August 2024.

HOW TO APPLY

If you want to work for a charity with significant people ambitions, then we would like to hear from you.  To apply, please submit a copy of your CV and a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role.