REPORTING TO: Head of House
HOURS: 40 hours per week. Typical shift pattern: evening start, including overnight cover. Weekend and bank holiday working may be required according to the needs of the House and events programme.
ABOUT WAVERLEY ABBEY Waverley Abbey is a place of prayer, learning, hospitality and transformation. Set within beautiful grounds and historic surroundings, we welcome a wide range of guests, students, retreatants, visitors, partners and staff who come to Waverley for rest, learning, formation, community and encounter with God. Our hospitality is an important expression of our mission. We want every person who comes through our doors to experience welcome, peace, care and excellence. The Night Porter plays a vital part in this, helping to ensure that Waverley Abbey remains safe, secure, well-prepared and warmly welcoming throughout the evening and overnight hours. This is a practical, trusted and important role within the life of the House. The post holder will provide overnight presence, security, guest support and preparation for the following day, helping the whole site run smoothly and safely.
JOB PURPOSE The Night Porter will be responsible for the safe and effective overnight running of Waverley Abbey House and associated guest areas. This includes ensuring the building is secure, responding appropriately to alarms or incidents, supporting guests as needed, preparing rooms for the next day’s events or conferences, and assisting with early morning breakfast set-up. The role requires someone calm, reliable, hospitable and practical, with good judgement and the ability to work confidently on their own during overnight hours.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Security and Overnight Presence
> Provide a visible and reassuring overnight presence within Waverley Abbey House.
> Carry out regular checks of the building and agreed areas of the site during the shift.
> Ensure doors, windows and appropriate access points are secure.
> Lock up and open up areas of the building as required.
> Monitor the site for anything unusual, unsafe or concerning.
> Respond calmly and appropriately to any overnight issues, disturbances or emergencies. > Follow agreed procedures for reporting incidents, concerns or maintenance issues.
Fire Safety and Emergency Response
> Respond promptly to fire alarms and follow Waverley Abbey’s fire safety procedures.
> Support guests, residents or staff during any evacuation or emergency situation.
> Liaise with emergency services where required.
> Complete relevant incident reports and ensure the appropriate manager is informed.
> Maintain awareness of fire exits, fire panels, evacuation procedures and key safety points across the site.
Guest Care and Hospitality
> Offer a warm, calm and helpful welcome to guests, residents or visitors who may require assistance during the evening or overnight.
> Respond appropriately to guest queries, late arrivals or practical needs.
> Help create a peaceful, safe and hospitable environment in keeping with the values of Waverley Abbey.
> Escalate any guest concerns or safeguarding matters in line with Waverley Abbey procedures.
Event, Conference and Room Set-Up
> Prepare rooms for the following day’s events, meetings, conferences, retreats or teaching sessions.
> Set up furniture, refreshments, equipment or materials as required.
> Ensure rooms are clean, tidy, welcoming and ready for use.
> Liaise with the House, Events, Front of House, Food and Beverage or Housekeeping teams to understand next-day requirements.
> Support smooth handover between evening, overnight and morning teams.
Breakfast and Morning Preparation
>Assist with early morning breakfast set-up as required.
> Prepare guest areas, dining spaces or refreshment stations according to agreed standards.
> Ensure public areas are tidy, presentable and ready for the day.
>Communicate clearly with the morning team about any overnight issues or outstanding tasks. Health, Safety and Practical Support
> Follow all health and safety policies and procedures.
>Carry out basic practical tasks as needed, such as clearing areas, moving furniture, checking lights or reporting maintenance concerns.
> Ensure corridors, entrances and key guest areas are safe and free from hazards.
> Take reasonable care for the safety and wellbeing of guests, staff, residents and visitors. >Work within lone-working procedures and escalate concerns appropriately.
Communication and Handover
>Keep clear written records of overnight activity, incidents, tasks completed and anything requiring follow-up.
> Provide a helpful handover to the morning team.
>Communicate professionally and promptly with managers and colleagues.
>Work collaboratively with House, Hospitality, Events, Facilities, Housekeeping and Front of House teams.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
>Reliable, responsible and trustworthy.
> Calm and confident working overnight and, at times, alone.
> Good practical judgement and common sense.
> Warm, welcoming and able to offer excellent hospitality.
> Able to respond calmly to alarms, emergencies or unexpected situations.
> Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
> Able to follow procedures carefully and consistently.
> Physically able to carry out room set-ups, building checks and practical tasks.
> Flexible and willing to work evenings, overnight shifts, weekends and bank holidays as required.
> Previous experience as a night porter, caretaker, security officer, hotel porter or similar.
> Respectful of the Christian ethos, mission and values of Waverley Abbey.
Desirable
> Experience in hospitality, conference, retreat, hotel or residential settings.
> Fire safety or first aid training.
> Experience of working in a Christian retreat, charity, education or hospitality environment.
> Basic maintenance or practical facilities experience.
PERSONAL QUALITIES The successful candidate will be: > Steady, dependable and calm under pressure. > Hospitable, kind and approachable. > Practical and willing to help wherever needed. > Observant and attentive to detail. > Able to hold responsibility with maturity and discretion. > Comfortable working quietly behind the scenes to serve the wider mission. > Committed to helping Waverley Abbey be a safe, peaceful and welcoming place
CHRISTIAN ETHOS AND VALUES Waverley Abbey is a Christian organisation, and our work is shaped by prayer, hospitality, learning and transformation. All staff are expected to respect and work within the Christian ethos of the organisation and to contribute positively to our shared culture and values. The Night Porter will play a key role in helping Waverley Abbey live out its commitment to generous hospitality, excellent care and a peaceful environment where people can encounter God, rest, learn and be restored.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This role will involve overnight working, lone working, practical manual tasks and responsibility for the safety and security of the House during the night. Full training will be provided in fire safety, emergency procedures, site security, lone working, safeguarding and any relevant operational systems. The post holder may be required to undertake other reasonable duties in line with the nature and level of the role.
To apply please send your CV and covering letter, addressing why you are excited about our vision and how you’ll fulfill the brief (one pages max) to: [email protected] [email protected]
Pay: £26,620.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Can you commute to Waverley Abbey with your own transport? There is no public transport.
- Tell us why you are the best person for the job?
- This is a overnight and weekend role, is that something you are looking for?
Experience:
- Night Porter: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
