Purpose of Job
The Head Porter is responsible for lodge, Safety & Facility, playing a central, highly visible role in the daily life of Brasenose College. Based in and responsible for the Lodge as the primary student‑facing gateway to the College, the postholder ensures that the College operates as a safe, supportive, well‑run, and welcoming academic community.
The role combines leadership of the Lodge and front‑of‑house services, active engagement in student welfare and pastoral support, and oversight of daily maintenance activities on site, underpinned by sound safety and security functions across the College estate. The responsibilities all serve to ensure the continuation of an open and welcoming college for our wider college community, particularly our students.
The postholder will be a trusted, calm, and authoritative presence, contributing to student wellbeing, supporting the Dean and welfare team, and ensuring that the Lodge is a place where students, staff, fellows, alumni, and visitors experience professionalism, discretion, and care. The role requires excellent judgement, strong interpersonal skills, and a deep understanding of collegiate life, alongside operational competence.
Please note this role will have a multi-stage interview process.
Lodge Leadership, Student Experience & Welfare
- Lead and manage the Lodge as a 24/7 student-facing operation, ensuring a consistently professional, supportive, and inclusive service Conduct and maintain risk assessments within area of responsibility
- Act as a key point of pastoral contact, particularly out of hours, responding appropriately to student concerns and incidents
- Build trusted relationships with students through day-to-day interaction, visibility, and approachability
- Support the Dean and welfare teams with minor disciplinary, behavioural, and welfare matters, escalating appropriately
- Ensure Lodge staff are trained and confident in responding to welfare concerns, emergencies, and sensitive situations
- Maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgement in line with College and University guidance
- Contribute to a sense of safety, belonging, and community within the College
Welfare & Decanal Support
- Support the Dean with minor disciplinary and behavioural matters
- Build positive relationships with students and staff to support College community
- Act as liaison between welfare teams and the Domestic Bursary
- Escalate serious welfare concerns in line with college policy
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with university guidance
Security, Safety & Emergency Response
- Lead health & safety compliance across the day to day running of college
- Ensure the required compliance for legionella control and asbestos management documents and updated information is readily available within the lodge, ensuring regular audits and controls have taken place.
- Conduct and maintain risk assessments
- Record and report accidents, incidents, and near misses to the Health & Safety Committee, report regularly on safety and security to the committee.
- Liaise with the Domestic Bursar and departmental managers on inspections and audits
Fire Safety & Emergency Planning
- Manage all fire safety arrangements across the estate, planned evacuations and record keeping
- Implement and monitor fire safety systems, equipment checks, and remedial actions
- Develop, review, and maintain emergency procedures (e.g. fire and evacuation plans)
- Undertake fire risk assessments and liaise with Fire Service and external advisors
Security
- Oversee security arrangements across all College sites
- Implement and review crime prevention measures
- Manage operational aspects of CCTV (technical elements managed by IT)
- Maintain security systems including Salto access control and physical keys (with IT support)
- Investigate incidents in liaison with the Dean, senior staff, HR, and external authorities where required
Staff & Contractor Management
- Oversee and line manage the lodge manager/supervisor.
- Work closely with both the Clerk of works and Assistant clerk of works on infrastucture projects and day to day operations
- Ensure contractor safe working practices
- Oversee out-of-hours call-out systems for emergency response
Communication & Liaison
- Regularly meet with Dean/Sub Dean in support of Decanal/Welfare matters
- Communicate day to day maintenance works effectively to minimise disruption
- Liaise with internal stakeholders and external bodies (e.g. Alumni, Welfare, HODs, Council, Fire Service)
Financial Management
- Monitor and record Lodge expenditure
- Monitor and record day to day workshop expenditure
- Contribute to annual budget planning with the Domestic Bursar
- Authorise expenditure within agreed limits and maintain budgetary control
- Provide accurate financial information for invoicing and payments
Additional Responsibilities
- Provide DSE advisory support across the College
- Support departments in preparing risk assessments where required
- Ensure good record keeping is upheld, and regular audits are recorded from patrols and the required reporting and actions are complete
- Undertake additional duties as required by the Domestic Bursar
The job description may be subject to review in consultation with the postholder.
This criteria will be assessed at both application and interview stages.
Essential
- At least 3–5 years of management experience
- Experience of both providing welfare support and supporting welfare teams
- In-depth and up-to-date knowledge of UK health and safety legislation (e.g., HASAWA 1974, RIDDOR, COSHH)
- Experience conducting and documenting comprehensive risk assessments, fire safety audits, and emergency evacuation procedures
- Strong budget management, including procurement and cost-control experience
- Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and ability to work under pressure
- Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing
- First aid trained
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office packages such as Word and Excel
- Ability to prepare accurate records, reports and correspondence
- Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and discretion
- Experience running CCTV systems and access control and the role of the DPO Essential
- IOSH Managing safely
Desirable
- MHFA qualification
- Experience of working in a college, university or similar environment
- Experience at reporting at committee level
- A NEBOSH Diploma or a higher-level qualification in Facilities Management
Appointment: This is a permanent full-time post and there will be an initial probationary period of three months. 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 along with a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Hours of work: This is a permanent post, working 35 hours per week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday with a flexible approach across the working week for Security events or incidents which may occasionally include weekends.
Salary: Equivalent to Brasenose College salary scale, Grade 7 £39,594 – £47,949 p/a according to experience. Advancement up the scale is on merit.
Line Management Responsibilities: The Head Porter will line manage the Lodge Manager/Supervisor.
Benefits:
- Pension - Eligibility to USS Pension Scheme (University Superannuation Scheme). 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 are eligible for USS, and who join our pension scheme will be enrolled into the Salary Exchange Pension Contributions Scheme on or around three months after joining Brasenose. This scheme is financially advantageous both to the employee, and the College as the employer.
- Annual leave - The paid holiday entitlement for an equivalent full-time contract for a year is six working weeks (30 days) of annual leave (5 days to be taken over Christmas break when College is closed) plus 8 Statutory Bank Holidays. Annual leave shall be taken at mutually convenient times agreed in advance with the Domestic Bursar. The holiday year begins on 1 January and ends 31 December. For part years of service, the entitlement will be calculated as 1/12th of the annual entitlement for each completed month.
- Meals - Employees are entitled to take lunch free of charge in Hall when the kitchen is open.
- Welfare Support - Employee Assistance Programme; a free confidential telephone helpline and online medical guidance.
- Free annual flu jab.
- Travel Pass Loan - a discounted travel scheme is available with monthly deductions from salary.
- Cycle to Work Scheme/Bike Loan - monthly deductions from salary.
- Sports Facilities - access to the University Sports club.
- University Card - for discounts in shops, cafes and restaurants and University leisure facilities.
Recruitment Monitoring: This post is subject to recruitment monitoring to ensure that the selection process is consistent with the law and the College’s Equality and Diversity Policy and Code of Practice. You are asked to complete the Recruitment Monitoring Form which is completed through the online application process. The information supplied on the form will play no part in the selection process and will not be seen by any members of the shortlisting panel.
Data Protection: All data supplied by applicants will be used only for the purposes of determining their suitability for the post and will be held in accordance with the principles of the General Data Protection Act 2018. In accordance with the GDPR regulations 2018 please see the relevant privacy notice on the website.
https://www.bnc.ox.ac.uk/policies/privacy/
Brasenose College is an equal opportunities employer.
About Us: Founded in 1509 and located centrally in beautiful Radcliffe Square, Brasenose College stands as a distinguished institution at the heart of Oxford's rich academic history. Over the centuries, we have evolved into a beacon of intellectual prowess, consistently upholding a tradition of academic excellence. Brasenose College boasts a vibrant community of students and alumni, creating a network that stretches far beyond the halls of the College. Our influence resonates globally, with scholars and professionals alike contributing to various fields around the world.
We are a medium sized college with around 370 undergraduates, 210 graduate students and 130 support staff. Outside of the three 10-week terms, during Easter and summer, the College is exceptionally busy hosting international conferences and Bed and Breakfast guests.
