17 December 2023 , 12:21
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King Charles is looking to hire a professional phone answerer.
The permanent role will be based at Buckingham Palace and involve 38 hours a week of work. The successful candidate will be paid a salary of £26,000 - and will be making more to answer fewer calls than the same role did seven years ago. The Royal Telephone Operator will help answer 4,000 telephone calls that come in every week - or 208,000 a year - to the royal residence.
When the same job was advertised seven years ago, however, the money offered was only £23,000. But the number of calls coming in was almost double - 7,000 a week or 364,000 a year.
Buckingham Palace where the new employee will work (Jam Press)The old job advert was in 2016 when Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne. Applicants for his role will need some previous experience working on a switchboard or reception. They will also need basic computer skills and be a "confident and professional communicator.”
Job hopefuls will need to be able to work weekends. They will have to be prepared to pick up the phones between 8am and 10pm. But there are a range of perks including free lunches while working and a generous 15% pension scheme. Applications for the vacancy close on January 2.
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The job advert reads: “It’s being part of a busy team at the heart of the organisation. It's feeling inspired to deliver to the very highest standards, and it's the pride in being part of a dedicated team. This is what it feels like to work for the Royal Household.
The job description and application. form for the role (Jam Press)“As a Telephone Operator, you’ll join the busy switchboard operation responsible for handling calls to the Royal residences. With around 4,000 calls every week, you'll join a dynamic team at the heart of the Royal Household. Answering and processing calls for a number of Royal residences, you will provide an efficient and friendly service to external callers, and a range of internal colleagues across multiple locations."
The job advert adds: “Dealing with day-to-day queries will be a big part of your role. Through structured training, you will learn to handle each call appropriately, and you will quickly become familiar with this unique and varied organisation.”
The requirements for applicants states: “With previous switchboard or reception experience, you are a confident and professional communicator who feels at ease liaising with a range of people. Customer-focused in your approach, you will be adept at helping callers and ensuring their queries are dealt with quickly and efficiently. Basic IT skills are also needed so that you can navigate the computerised switchboard system, and keep accurate records of the large volume of calls received.
The blue drawing room in Buckingham Palace where the applicant may spend some of their time (Jam Press)“Above all, your flexible and proactive approach to work means you will enjoy working within a small and dedicated team. Shifts will be scheduled on a five-week basis. Candidates will be expected to work five days out of seven and be flexible to work two weekends in every five-week period.
“Morning shifts can start from 8 am and evening shifts can finish at 10 pm. The Royal Household also supports flexible working, both onsite and remote.”
Regarding the benefits it continues: “We know that to deliver our best work, we need to feel at our best. That’s why at the Royal Household we offer a generous benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and life priorities.
A salary of £26,000-a-year is being offered for the royal phone operator at Buckingham Palace (Jam Press)“Enjoy 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days plus bank holidays dependent on the length of time you have worked for us. Our excellent non-contributory pension plan, we’ll contribute 15% and you can contribute more if you wish is highly valued by our employees, as is complimentary lunch on-site to keep you fueled throughout the day.
“Flexible and hybrid working varies across different roles, and we’ll discuss the options available to you that will suit both your job requirements and individual preferences. We also offer a range of leave options to support your life priorities, such as parental pay and leave and volunteering days, as well as benefits to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
“Other benefits include 20% off at our Royal Collection Trust Shops and complimentary admission tickets across all our locations, along with many more exclusive employee discounts”
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