Receptionist/ Administrator
Central Services
Southampton
37 hours per week, Permanent
Monday – Friday
We are open to part-time applicants looking to work anywhere between 18.5 and 37 hours per week
Pay point: 20 (£25,947 per annum, pro rata for part time hours)
About Us
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.
Come join our Central Services team at SSJ as a Receptionist/ Administrator
The Impact You'll Make
As our Receptionist & Administrator, you are vital to keep our organisation running smoothly, ensuring our frontline teams can focus on what they do best. In this role, you will:
- Be the Welcoming Face of SSJ: Provide a warm, professional, and safe reception environment. You will greet visitors, partners, and service users with empathy—whether in person, over the phone, or via email.
- Keep Our Head Office Safe & Running: Take on key-holder responsibilities, perform regular Health & Safety checks (including fire drills), and liaise with engineers to maintain office equipment.
- Provide Vital Admin Support: Manage incoming/outgoing post, monitor central email inboxes, issue staff ID badges, track company vehicle obligations, and submit solar (FiT) meter readings.
- Protect and Organise Vital Records: Update and maintain accurate manual and computerised files, process donation and gift aid details, and manage the sensitive Client Record filing system.
Who we're looking for
We are seeking a motivated, positive, and resilient individual who aligns with our core mission. You will be a great fit if you are:
- Values-Driven: You are genuinely sympathetic to the aims of the Society of St James, committed to treating our clients non-judgmentally, with utmost respect and dignity.
- Calm Under Pressure: You can easily manage a demanding workload, prioritise tasks on the fly, and resolve difficult or sensitive situations in a calm, professional manner.
- A Proactive Collaborator: You love working as part of a supportive team, but you are equally confident using your own initiative and working with minimal supervision.
- Adaptable & Eager to Grow: You bring a flexible approach to your workday and are excited about opportunities to develop your skills through regular training and supervision.
Essential Qualities and skills
To succeed in this role, you will need to demonstrate the following:
Essential:
- Office Experience: Proven experience working in an administrative or business support role within an office environment.
- Strong IT Skills: Excellent computer literacy, with strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (specifically MS Excel and Word).
- Excellent Communication: A warm, professional telephone manner and strong interpersonal skills to deal with customers positively.
- Organisation & Accuracy: Sharp attention to detail (including accurate typing and proofreading skills) with the ability to take ownership of your work.
- Confidentiality: A solid understanding of data security and the issues surrounding confidentiality.
Desirable:
- An interest in the needs of homeless and other vulnerable people.
- Previous experience working for a housing association or within the voluntary/charity sector.
- Experience utilising databases like Salesforce or Microsoft Access.
What we can offer you:
SSJ recognises that our staff are our greatest assets. We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:
- 25 days pro-rata annual leave plus public holidays
- Flexible working options
- Buying additional annual leave
- Comprehensive induction and training
- Counselling, financial, personal support and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
- Electric Car Scheme
- Blue Light Card
SSJ are an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life
At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website at join.unitetheunion.org.
For an informal chat about this post, please contact: Julie Williams on 02380 634 596
Closing Date: Tuesday 28th July 2026
Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier.
Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Pay: £25,947.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discount
- Health & wellbeing programme
Application question(s):
- Have you worked in an administrative or business support role previously
- Are you confident in using Microsoft Office, specifically MS Excel and Word
- Do you have experience using Microsoft Access or Salesforce
Work Location: In person
