Lodge Porter / Receptionist

Application Deadline: 30 November 2026

Department: Lodge

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Central Oxford

Reporting To: Andy Higgs (Lodge Manager)

Compensation: £26,707 - £33,002 / year

Description

The Lodge Porter / Receptionist is responsible to the Lodge Manager. By the nature of the work in the Lodge it is impossible to specify all the duties that may be required to be undertaken. Instructions are subject to common sense and guidance from the Lodge Manager or Deputy Lodge Managers.

Key Responsibilities

Duties of the Lodge Porter/Receptionist include the ability to:

Take appropriate and timely steps to initiate procedures following injury, accident, criminal activity, bomb alerts or fire, adhering to emergency procedures.
Monitor the day-to-day control of security within the college through patrols and supervision of the entry and exit points either directly or via CCTV. Highlight and review suspicious incidents on CCTV as required.
Record details pertaining to fire alarm activations.
Provide reports to the Home Bursar following incidents of significance in the college or grounds.
Maintain a record of all keys issued.
Provide the safe custody of all monies, valuables, personal possessions and stores committed to the care of the Lodge.
Assist the arrival and departure of guests staying in college accommodation, and help to provide a positive visitor experience.
Receive, sort, store, and forward, as appropriate, all mail and parcels.
Act with politeness, firmness and fairness when dealing with members of the college and the public.
Uphold the college rules relating to the admission of the general public and control the access of vehicles to the college grounds.
Receive admission fees from visitors, and cash up the daily takings.
Receive telephone calls to the college, and transfer calls as necessary.
Support Degree Days and the associated robing arrangements.
Assist in the training of new Lodge staff.
Receive and arrange the distribution of deliveries arriving at the Lodge for onward transmission to other departments.
Control bookings for the squash courts, the music practice room, and college punts.
Register college cycles.
Book taxis for college business.

Any other tasks, duties and responsibilities not listed above which can reasonably be expected to be performed or undertaken by a Lodge Porter/Receptionist.

Emergency Services
Porters will maintain a good liaison with police, fire and ambulance services. Porters must be conversant with fire regulations at the college and comply with them.

Conduct
Porters are required to be sober, punctual and alert at all times whilst on duty. Any Porter arriving for duty under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to remain on duty. No Porter is to leave his/her post without express permission of his/her supervisor. Personal appearance is important, and unless instructed otherwise, uniform and tie must be worn at all times.

Health & Safety
The safety of College staff and visitors is vital and Porters must be conversant with the H.A.S.A.W Act. The nature of security work makes it impossible to issue instructions to cover every eventuality, therefore all instructions are subject to common sense and interpretation and guidance from the Lodge Manager/Home Bursar or the nominated supervisor.

The successful applicant will need to be physically fit because there is a requirement to be able to move about the college site at speed, particularly during an emergency. There will also be a requirement for occasional work at heights.

The above list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive and you may be required to carry out alternative tasks as instructed to ensure an efficient service at all times.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

The successful applicant will possess the following attributes:

Friendly and welcoming.
Good interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to work flexibly, independently, and as a member of the Lodge team.
Be able to attempt to problem solve spontaneous incidents.
Good standard of personal presentation.
Be able to deal with confidential and sensitive issues.
Fluent level of written and spoken English.
Experience of night work/shift working.
Excellent time management.

Desirable

Security, Porter or Customer Services background.
Experience of working within a university or college environment.
Experience of working in customer service.

Qualifications

All porters are expected to hold a First Aid at Work certification. Training will be provided if the successful candidate does not already have the qualification.

Benefits

Hours of Work
Porters work 12-hour shifts (7.00 am to 7.00 pm and 7.00 pm to 7.00 am) on a 16-day rota (4-day shifts, 4 days off, 4-night shifts, 4 days off, throughout the year. This includes weekends and bank holidays.

Porters are expected to work overtime to cover sickness and holidays.

Salary
Grade 4 of the College pay scale £26,707 – £33,002 per annum depending on experience, plus Oxford Location Allowance of £1,730 per annum.

Other Benefits

Membership of contributory pension scheme.
Free lunch may be provided.
Car parking may be available.
Use of sports facilities.
Optional contributory Healthcare Scheme.
Bus pass purchase scheme.
Generous holiday entitlement.
Cycle to Work Scheme.

The College provides for maternity leave on a basis that exceeds the statutory provisions. This is a day one entitlement and there is no qualifying period, women are eligible for 26 weeks’ maternity leave on full pay, followed by 13 weeks of leave on Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and 13 weeks of unpaid maternity leave. Arrangements are available for Adoption Leave, Shared Parental Leave, and Paternity Leave. Magdalen College has a priority claim on places in the University nurseries.

Following the offer of the position, appointment will be subject to enhanced DBS clearance.

Key Responsibilities

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Benefits

About Magdalen College

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