Escalations Specialist - Snr Associate at Sutherland, Kingston

Escalations Specialist - Snr Associate at Sutherland in Kingston. Full-time. Est. up to $40k. Apply with swipeandhired.

We are One Sutherland — a global team where everyone is working together to create great breakthrough solutions. Our workforce has thrived in an environment of diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate our diversity and embrace it whole-heartedly. Sutherland is an equal opportunity employer. We promote a positive work environment by conducting ourselves professionally and helping each other achieve our goal of One Sutherland Team, Playing to Win.
Sutherland was founded 35 years ago (1986). Since then, we have become a leading global provider of business process and technology management services offering an integrated portfolio of analytics-driven back office and customer-facing solutions that support the entire customer life cycle.

Sutherland is seeking a motivated and passionate person to join us as an Escalations Specialist . We are a group of driven and hard-working individuals. If you are looking to build a fulfilling career and are confident you have the skills and experience to help us succeed, we want to work with you!
Role Overview
As a Customer Escalation Specialist , you serve as the highest level of direct customer support and the final line of resolution for complex, high-friction, and escalated interactions, including high-value transactions and B2B large-scale orders. You will act as the ultimate brand ambassador, stepping in when standard procedures have been exhausted or when interactions become highly volatile. This role requires an elite combination of critical thinking, emotional intelligence, autonomous decision-making, and advanced technical troubleshooting to achieve single-contact ("one and done") resolutions, transforming dissatisfied customers into loyal brand advocates.
Key Responsibilities

• Complex Problem Solving & Ownership: Take full end-to-end ownership of highly complex, unresolved, and multi-contact customer issues passed down or escalated across multiple agents, particularly for high-value transactions and enterprise B2B bulk orders. Apply sharp critical thinking to thoroughly investigate long interaction histories, resolve operational bottlenecks, and achieve "one and done" complete resolutions without defaulting to further escalation or follow-up steps.
• Customer Communication & Call Control: Strike an effective balance between deep empathy, active listening, strategic probing, and firm boundary setting. Maintain complete command of call flow and duration while steering volatile conversations toward productive resolution without overpromising or making unauthorized commitments.
• Research & Resourcefulness: Conduct rigorous, independent research across internal knowledge bases, policy documentations, and tracking tools to ensure absolute accuracy before delivering definitive customer resolutions.
• Judgment & Decision-Making: Exercise high-level business acumen and structured decision-making to balance immediate customer satisfaction, company policy guidelines, and long-term business impact. Issue refunds, credits, fee waivers, or complex policy exceptions autonomously within high authorized financial thresholds to safeguard high-value account relationships.
• De-escalation & Retention: Apply structured de-escalation frameworks to manage high-friction, emotionally charged interactions, effectively neutralizing customer frustration while upholding brand integrity and professionalism.
• Performance & Quality Metrics: Maintain high operational efficiency and composure during consecutive difficult calls, driving down Dissatisfaction (DSAT) metrics, maximizing Customer Satisfaction (CSAT), and minimizing post-call wrap-up times.

Candidates should possess the following qualifications and experience:

1. Specialized Role Experience : Background as an Escalation Representative, Retention Specialist, Customer Care Tier 2/3, or SME.
2. Financial Authority: Demonstrated experience issuing refunds, credits, waivers, or complex policy exceptions up to authorized thresholds without real-time supervisor sign-off.
3. Language & Accent: High level of English proficiency (B2 equivalent) with neutral accent adaptability for North American clients.
4. Emotional Resilience: Ability to modulate tone under pressure, maintaining composure and professionalism during high-conflict or abusive calls. High intrinsic motivation and emotional stamina for resolving persistent, high-conflict customer friction daily. Ability to remain completely calm, empathetic, and objective under intense pressure.
5. De-escalation Frameworks: Expertise in using structured communication frameworks during aggressive customer interactions.
6. Problem-Solving & System Navigation: Capability to look beyond emotional language to identify root causes, navigate multiple backend systems simultaneously, and deliver definitive resolutions.
7. Boundary Setting: Ability to set firm, polite boundaries, control call duration, maintain high CSAT, and effectively handle demands for management escalations.
8. Stamina & Efficiency: Proven ability to manage back-to-back difficult calls while maintaining low DSAT scores and minimal post-call processing delays.
9. Analytical & Root-Cause Thinking: Leverage strong diagnostic aptitude and analytical critical thinking to cut through emotional static, synthesize facts from disparate backend systems, pinpoint systemic or operational root causes, and systematically solve complex friction entirely on the first contact.
10. Sound Decision-Making & Resourcefulness: Exceptional balance of independent research skills and critical decision-making, ensuring accurate, equitable resolutions that protect both the customer relationship and corporate interests.

Our most successful candidates will have: ·

• MUST have 1 year of BPO/Customer Service experience handling escalations, customer retention or SME support required.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• A minimum of 3-4 CXC/GCE/City & Guilds subjects inclusive of English Language, or a U.S. high school diploma or GED. CXC/CSEC, City & Guilds. I, II, III; GCE A, B, C; SSC 4, 5; JSCE Pass; NCTVET or HEART Level 1, 2, 3; and CCSLC - Competence & Mastery. ( Must have proof of qualifications)

• Must have a valid (not expired) government issued ID, TRN and NIS card.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check and drug test as needed .
• Must have flexible availability to work any day and any assigned shift weekly.(Weekends and Public Holidays).
• Must be able to train and / or work onsite at our Red Hills Road site.
• Demonstrated ability to perform at a high level, to support our high volume of inbound calls.
• Experience in customer service is an asset and preferred.
• Good systematic problem solving ability , using sound business judgment, and following through on commitments to customers.
• The ability to quickly and accurately identify and assess individual customer needs and take appropriate action steps to satisfy those needs.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• A passion for helping customers and exceeding their expectations with high integrity.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to tailor styles to the audience
• See through the eyes of the customer.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to translate Customer communication rapidly and effectively on live voice or chat interactions. proficient reading skills required.
• The ability to project patience, empathy, caring, and sincerity in written words or voice tone, depending on channel.
• Ability to effectively organize, prioritize, multi-task and manage time.
• Multi-tasking skills, showcased through the use of several applications; experience working with CRM applications preferred.
• Basic PC keyboarding skills; basic Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) experience required.
• Ability to type over 30 WPM with 80% accuracy.
• Must be very tech savvy with strong abilities in handling troubleshooting techniques and resolving technical issues.
• Inspire confidence and positively influence the behaviour, actions, and thoughts of others.

Our employees enjoy:

• Competitive compensation packages inclusive of base pay, incentives, over-time and shift differentials for certain shifts.
• Annual merit increase based on performance.
• Paid Training.
• Discounts for several corporate and retail partners for services and products once Sutherland ID is presented.
• Excellent training and supervisory support - to help you feel comfortable servicing our customers.
• Competitive Salary with attractive and attainable PBI structure.
• Paid vacation and sick leave annually.
• Exceptional Health and Life Insurance Plan
• Lunch benefits and subsidy.
• Onsite lunch concessionaire at reduced rates.
• Transportation/ Shuttle Services - Free transportation home for shifts that end after 9:00 pm and pick-ups for shifts that begin before 6am
• Free On-site medical suite with nurse and medical doctor.
• Daily Refuel Plan - Robust and dynamic schedule of activities to keep employees energized both at home and in the office.
• Paid referral program
• Career development & growth opportunities for advancement.
• Excellent Reward and recognition programs.

As your prospective employer, we need to process your Personal Data as needed to evaluate your qualification for the position you are applying for with Sutherland. During the recruitment process, your Personal Data may be transferred outside of Jamaica and disclosed to third parties in the normal course of the recruitment and/or employment process or as needed to comply with applicable laws. This may include transferring information to our affiliated Companies for purposes connected to your employment with the company or to the management of Sutherland’s business.