Receptionist
Description
- Job grade: Administrative Officer
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: PINS - Corporate Services - Commercial and Business Support
- Type of role: Administration / Corporate Support
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
About the job
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
- 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
Selection process details
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 customer service.
All shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.
Interview
If you are shortlisted, you will:
- Be asked to attend an interview to have a more in-depth discussion about your experience and suitability for the role
- Interviews will be a blend of behaviour and experience questions
Candidates who pass the shortlist stage will receive full assessment details with their interview invitations.
Other Information
Shortlist Date: w/c 9th November 2026
Interview Date: w/c 16th November 2026
Interviews will be held at The Planning Inspectorate at our office in Bristol, 10-minute walk from Temple Meads train station.
The Planning Inspectorate does not fund travel and subsistence for candidates to attend interviews.
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for a period of 9 months from which further appointments can be made.
Future Matches
Candidates who demonstrate strong potential and future readiness but score just below the required level at interview may be considered for alternative positions. These roles may be at a lower grade but align with their skills and offer opportunities for growth.
We encourage all candidates to make themselves familiar with the role and what we will be assessing you against which is detailed in the Person Specification.
ID and Documents
If the job needs specific qualifications or memberships and you get the job, you'll need to send scanned or photographed images of them before you start.
We must check that any successful candidates are allowed to work for the Civil Service before we employ them. If successful, you will be asked to do a right to work check using identity document validation technology (IDVT) through the services of an Identity Service Provider (IDSP), Civil Service Jobs. If we are unable to confirm your right to work and through the IDVT we will need to do a manual right to work check using original documents with you in person.
Visa Sponsorship
The Planning Inspectorate cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates, we do not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.
Disability Confident Interview scheme/Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service values diversity and offers equal opportunities. We have a Disability Confident Interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the job's minimum criteria. We will also provide reasonable adjustments to all where possible. For more information please see Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Chelsea Hale
- Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response, you receive you should then contact, Chief People Officer, via the Recruitment Team (PINS.Recruitment@planninginspectorate.gov.uk).
If you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Planning Inspectorate, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commission. https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/
Attachments
| Employee Value Proposition (EVP) Opens in new window (pdf, 534kB) |
Share this page
- Gmail