Night Lodge Porter
Department: Lodge
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Part Time
Location: Brasenose College
Reporting To: Lodge Manager
Compensation: £26,400 - £27,838 / year
Description
We are looking for a Lodge Porter (Nights) to join our friendly team on a fixed-term, part-time basis until 31st December 2025. This is a people facing role and you will have excellent verbal communication skills and the ability to deal with a range of people. You will be able to remain calm under pressure and have a high degree of common sense.
Night Porters are required to carry out regular patrols at our residential sites in central Oxford and deal with any security and behavioural issues tactfully and professionally.
There is a rolling shift pattern of 4 nights on, from 9pm through to 7am, (10 paid hours per shift), followed by 4 rest days. Occasionally you may be required to work beyond the regular shift times, for which additional overtime hours will be paid.
Please note, that this advert will close once the vacancy is filled. Early applications are encouraged
Duties and Responsibilities
The role will include, but is not limited to, the following tasks and responsibilities:
Customer service:
* Provide a warm, friendly and professional welcome to the College, ensuring visitors are acknowledged quickly and helped in a timely fashion.
* Be sympathetic to the support and welfare needs of the student body; providing a friendly, approachable and safe environment for students to get information or signposting to the appropriate support resources.
* Dealing with a wide and varied flow of people at different levels. Professionalism, tact, diplomacy, discretion and a friendly approach are always required, as well as an awareness of the need for confidentiality where circumstances dictate.
* To act as a point of information for college members during term time, to conference & events guests during vacation and to visitors throughout the year. Able to quickly provide, or know where to find information, and to be knowledgeable about the College history, the local area and tourism attractions.
* Handling telephone calls to the main switchboard, displaying a warm and professional welcome by phone and able to competently handle enquiries, deal with any requests independently, where possible or, if unable to assist, then to probe for further information and direct the caller to the appropriate person. Taking and communicating messages where required.
* Ability to work proactively, to foresee any potential issues and to think strategically about contingency plans and communicate them effectively; able to comprehend the ‘bigger picture’ and how the activities and interactions of a busy College operation relate to the Lodge operation.
* To deal with any unforeseen situations calmly and be able to use your own initiative to resolve minor issues confidently but be aware of limitations and know when to escalate. To effectively communicate to the guest, in the first instance, and to relevant departments as required.
* To be confident in handling complaints. Able to remain calm and composed to resolve any complaints quickly and to ensure all relevant departments are made aware of both the issue and the action taken to resolve it.
Safety & Security:
* Support the Lodge Manager to ensure a continuous safe and secure environment - highlighting any potential risk and impact on the College to the Lodge Manager.
* Be first aid trained, proficient in fire prevention and H & S regulations and act as first responder to incidents, and to coordinate with emergency services or University Services where required.
* Carry out regular security patrols and deal with any security or behavioural issues appropriately and professionally. Being always vigilant and able to confidently, but tactfully and politely challenge anyone who appears to need assistance.
* Be fully conversant with the College Security systems and procedures. Able to deal with any emergencies in a swift and prompt manner following the College Fire and other emergency plans.
* Be responsible for providing written incident reports in line with college policy.
General operational duties:
* Ensure the Lodge area is clean, tidy and organised and promotes a professional and welcoming first impression of the college, sorting post, delivering parcels and assisting with luggage.
* To be IT proficient, particularly in the use of MS Office and be able to use the college booking system.
* To act as an information point and communicate relevant information across the appropriate departments, ensuring accurate and detailed handovers between shifts.
* Assisting tour party visitors within the College and ensuring the College is well presented for this purpose.
* Display a high standard of written and verbal communication, duties will include monitoring the Lodge email account and responding professionally and timely to incoming emails.
* Assist the Dean, Domestic Bursar, Sub Dean and Junior Deans in the enforcement of College Rules, ensuring that noise disruption is kept to a minimum and that procedures for managing noise or behavioural issues are complied with to minimise the impact on residents of the college.
* Ensure the Lodge issue keys/fobs accurately, complying with all procedures.
* Support the Maintenance team in making initial assessments out-of-hours in resolving maintenance problems, referring as necessary.
* To collect, cash-up and accurately record all monies paid by visitors or tour parties.
* To put up and take down flags as instructed.
* To take responsibility for overseeing parking arrangements within Radcliffe Square and Frewin Annexe on a day-to-day basis, as per college procedures.
To comply with any other reasonable request when required by the Domestic Bursar or Lodge Manager.
Person Specification and Criteria
Essential
* Good written and verbal communication skills.
* IT literate – able to use Microsoft Office.
* Ability to prioritise when dealing with a wide and varied workload.
* Able to use initiative to solve day to day problems or to react appropriately in the case of emergencies.
* Able to remain polite and calm under pressure, be self-motivated and organised.
* Able to demonstrate compassion and support in a high-pressure environment.
* Be confident working alone during unsociable hours with a high level of self-motivation and initiative and be able to work without direct supervision.
Desirable
* Knowledge of emergency procedures and First Aid. Awareness of basic maintenance.
* Experience using PMS (electronic booking systems).
* Experience working in an academic setting.
* Experience of working shifts.
Summary of Terms and Conditions of Employment
This is a fixed-term, part-time post until 31st December 2025. There will be an initial probationary period of 1month. The appointment will be conditional on verification of the successful candidate’s ‘Right to Work’ checks and subject to the receipt of satisfactory references and medical clearance through the University’s Occupational Health Services. The successful candidate will be required to complete a basic Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Salary: The salary will be paid on Grade 3 of the College pay scales, (Salary range £26,400 - £27,838 per annum) dependant on previous relevant experience
Hours of work: The rolling shift pattern is working four-night shifts, from 9pm through to 7am (10 paid hours per shift), followed by four rest days. A meal will be provided during the shift to be eaten while on duty, when the kitchen is open. The Lodge is open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
On occasions you may be required to work beyond the regular shift times, as the operation demands and to attend meetings/training; additional overtime hours will be paid in agreement with the Lodge Manager. This is to ensure the Lodge has sufficient cover 24 hours each day throughout the whole year.
The post-holder should be willing to cover at short notice in the event of sickness or emergency situations.
The post holder will be required to work the hours necessary to fulfil the job requirements and subject to operational needs. A willingness and ability to adopt a flexible approach to working hours and duties is essential according to the requirements of the College.
Benefits:
* Holidays - 23 days annual leave for a full annual year, plus Bank Holidays. The post holder may be required to work bank holidays; pay or time off in lieu will be granted as agreed with the Lodge Manager. Holidays should be booked in advance in accordance with college policy and should be avoided during peak periods both in relation to the academic term and the conference and events periods.
* Pension - Eligibility to the Oxford Staff Pension Scheme (OSPS). The successful candidate will be entered into this scheme automatically on joining, but on-going membership of the scheme is optional.
* Salary Exchange Scheme - Staff who join OSPS will also be enrolled into the Salary Exchange Pension Contributions Scheme on or around three months after joining Brasenose staff.
* Meals - Employees are provided with a free meal, when the kitchen is open, to be eaten while on shift.
* Employee Assistance Programme – free confidential telephone support service
* Sports Facilities – Access to the University Sports club
* University Card - for discounts in shops, cafes and restaurants and University Leisure facilities
Other Information: No smoking is allowed in any of the College sites.
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