Information for the role of College Porter
Salary £28,841.06 per annum
Permanent full-time position on a shift rota (38 hours per week)
Do you have excellent communication skills? Are you seeking a people-facing role with plenty of variety?
We are seeking a College Porter to join a friendly established team. The Porters Lodge is the central hub of the College, acting as the first point of contact for all enquiries from external visitors, staff, students, and fellows. Daily responsibilities include providing a front-of-house service, welcoming visitors, managing telephone calls, sorting deliveries, and distributing mail around the College. Additionally, the Lodge responds to fire alarms, provides first aid, attends to student welfare calls out of hours, and is responsible for the security of the College.
Operating 24/7, the Porters Lodge is staffed by a dedicated team working on a rota basis. Shifts include early, late, night, and sleep shifts, covering Monday to Sunday, with an average of 38 hours worked per week.
We are seeking individuals who have:
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A demonstrable understanding of the work of a Porters Lodge
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Experience of dealing with members of the public and highly developed interpersonal skills
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A good level of computer literacy, including Microsoft Outlook and Excel
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The ability to maintain confidentiality of data
You will enjoy working as part of a team, be friendly and have a flexible approach to working hours and tasks. Comprehensive training and a full induction are provided to ensure you're fully prepared for the role. Please see the attachment above for more details.
In addition to the salary, we offer an attractive benefits package.A full list of benefits is available from the College’s HR Office. (Please note that those benefits which are non-contractual may be amended or withdrawn at our discretion).
About the College
Founded in 1800, Downing College in the University of Cambridge has a unique and magnificent setting among twenty acres of lawns and trees yet is located close to the centre of Cambridge. The open landscape has a superb collection of neo-classical buildings from the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Those living and working in Downing enjoy a beautiful environment unique in Cambridge in its spaciousness.
The College is composed of approximately 50 Fellows and 160 non-academic staff and its aim is to help all students to develop their academic ability and personal potential during their time here. We pride ourselves on being a friendly and informal community for Fellows, staff and students like. Set within this expansive and beautiful landscape, Downing also has a thriving conference business and provides customers with a choice of superior conference, meeting and theatre facilities.
Details of the role
The role of College Porter is a permanent post. Applications are invited from candidates who are able to work on a full-time shift rota basis, on average 38 hours per week. The shifts in the rota cover 24 hours per day and consist of early, late, night and sleep shifts to cover Monday to Sunday. The salary for this role is £28,841.06 (Step 32 on the College Salary Scale).
Application Process
To apply for this position click “Apply Now” on the advert posting on our website (Staff vacancies | Downing College Cambridge) and complete an application form. You are able to upload your CV in support of your application.
Closing date: midday on Thursday 13 August 2026. Please note that the closing date for this post may be brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.
Applications are welcomed from a broad range of backgrounds.
All applicants will be contacted once shortlisting has taken place.
The successful applicant will be asked to complete an Enhanced level DBS check. Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.
Applicants who declare a disability will be offered an interview if they meet the minimum criteria for the job.
We are pleased to be able offer this document in an accessible format, please contact HR ([email protected]) if you wish to receive this advert and role profile or an application form in a different, accessible format, e.g. large print.
For further information or in event of queries, please contact:
The HR Office
Tel: 01223 334820
Downing College
Cambridge
CB2 1DQ
