JOB DESCRIPTION – Head College Porter
Candidates are expected to spend time looking at the College website www.stclares.ac.uk which provides information about St Clare’s and the courses we offer.
Purpose of Role
The role of Head College Porter requires a degree of adaptability, as they have overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of Front of House operations and line management of a team of porters. Accordingly, it is essential that the Head College Porter is willing to be helpful and accommodating and be prepared to go ‘above and beyond’ to ensure the smooth running of daily operations.
Key Responsibilities
The post holder will be required to carry out or assist with the following duties:
- Supervision of a small team of porters:
- preparing and communicating rota arrangements to ensure sufficient cover
- ensuring team members are given instruction and training to carry out all tasks
- liaising with payroll to ensure any additional hours or other changes are managed according to deadlines
- managing team performance and conducting performance reviews
- encouraging the team to foster collaborative working relationships with others and also to identify and implement any improvements in the service provided
- Regularly auditing Salto and IVMS (CCTV) to ensure both are working correctly and escalating any defects in a timely manner
- Managing the use of College driveways in line with the policy
- Checking College vehicles daily, maintaining fuel levels and ensuring servicing is completed in accordance with logbook requirements and taking and recording bookings for such vehicles in accordance with the College’s Vehicle Procedure
- Preparing the College Hall and other venues around the College as requested in preparation for events and functions and clearing away afterwards
- Ensuring the campus looks its best by picking up litter and ensuring bins are emptied regularly
- Assisting with general maintenance as required, moving furniture and luggage, driving College vehicles including minibuses, picking up and delivering stores, and serving the community with any task necessary for the smooth running of the College
- Managing paper stocks and printer ink across the campus
- Keeping the Head of Estates updated on key issues on at least a weekly basis including liaison where additional cover is needed during holidays, sickness, or other absence of porters
Security
- Locking/unlocking College buildings and classrooms including setting and disabling alarms, as per the College Security schedule.
- Being vigilant and aware of issues and reporting irregularities, such as security breaches, facility and safety hazards, and emergency situations as appropriate
- Approaching suspicious persons and deescalating issues with professionalism, notifying the police of suspicious activity if necessary and completing incident reports as required
- Escorting visitors, students, and staff when requested on foot or using College minibus transport
- Issuing keys in accordance with the agreed procedures
- Chauffeuring duties; transferring casualties to hospital and to residence buildings
- Regularly updating access control software and hardware (SALTO) to ensure it is working as intended
- Liasing with external security providers as appropriate
Fire Safety
- Working within the College’s health and safety requirements and assisting in the achievement of health and safety compliance
- Carrying out regular fire system testing, keeping logbooks updated, assisting with emergency evacuations and dealing with planned and emergency fire alarm calls
- Supporting the Head of Estates to maintain Fire Action Plans and ensuring the fire safety infrastructure is fit for purpose and that any faults or issues identified are dealt with promptly
- Conducting investigations into fire incidents and liaising with the local fire service if appropriate
Front of House
- In the absence of the term-time Receptionist; welcoming visitors to the campus, notifying the receiving member of staff, dealing with general queries and ensuring the reception area promotes a professional image
- Managing mail and parcels, maintaining records, and organising distribution around the College
- Assisting with new student arrivals and other events such as open days and graduation
While every effort has been made to describe the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task necessary for the successful performance of the role may not be specifically identified. The College Porter may therefore be required to undertake other tasks and duties that are commensurate with the grade and nature of the role and/or in the reasonable discretion of the College.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Terms of Employment Full-time, permanent contract
Place of Work 139 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7AL
Hours of Work 40 hours per week over a variable shift pattern including days, evenings and weekends requiring 4 days work (10 hour shifts) followed by 4 days off.
Holidays 26 days’ annual holiday entitlement, plus bank/public holidays.
Some bank/public holiday working will be required when these fall on dates during the
College term (time off in lieu will be granted).
The College is closed annually from 24th December to 1st January inclusive. The Employee will be required to book holiday during this period.
Pension A contributory pension is offered through St Clare’s group personal pension scheme, following a 3-month deferment period. The employer pays 10% of gross salary and the employee pays 5%. Employee’s contributions above 5% may be made, but do not attract a matching contribution from the employer.
Life Assurance Death in service benefit is four times annual salary
Meal A free meal is provided in the College dining room or café on working days and when students are in residence.
Other Benefits
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Subsidised gym membership
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The successful candidate will have demonstrated the following essential (E) or desirable (D) skills and experience:
Occupational Requirements
- Aged over 21 years for vehicle insurance reasons) (E)
Education and qualifications
- GCSE Maths and English or equivalent (D)
- A full UK driving licence, held for a minimum of two years, with no more than three points (for vehicle insurance reasons). There will be compulsory training to drive vans and minibuses (E)
Knowledge, skills and experience
- An awareness of health and safety requirements (E)
- Experience of managing or supervising other members of staff (E)
- Experience of handling security issues in a similar environment (D)
- Experience of using Microsoft Office (E)
- Experience of working in a customer facing role (E)
- Experience of administrative work and/or accurate record maintenance (E)
Personal skills
- Capable of working on own initiative, adaptable and willing to support other teams and members of staff (E)
- An open and positive personality with good communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to deal respectfully with students, staff, and the public (E)
- Able to respond professionally with tact, sensitivity, and awareness to enquiries from a wide variety of stakeholders (E)
- Adaptable and willing to support other teams and members of staff (E)
- Able to prioritise own and the team’s workload and make decisions (E)
- Experience of dealing with confidential information (E)
- Able to work flexibly to meet deadlines, to work under pressure and to manage competing and changing priorities (E)
- A commitment to safeguarding students in line with College policies and procedures (E)
References and Pre-employment Checks
St Clare’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment and contracts are issued subject to satisfactory references and outcomes on all necessary pre-employment checks including DBS records and establishing the right to work in the UK. Some or all of these checks may have been undertaken before an offer is made.
Under the National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools, we are required to follow the guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education and undertake additional checks on employees.
References Full written references and phone references on quoted references may be obtained before or after interview. One referee must be your current or most recent employer. References must also include the last place of employment where you worked with children or vulnerable adults. References from friends or relatives will not be accepted. Please ensure referees know they will be contacted and will respond promptly.
Identity, right to work and
qualifications
Original documents confirming proof of identity, right to work in the UK and relevant qualifications will be required.
Note: We have a legal responsibility to ensure that all our employees have the legal right to live and work in the UK. If we make an offer of employment, we will need to check that you are eligible to work in the UK before you start work.
If you don’t already have the legal right to work in the UK, we strongly recommend that you use the Home Office website to review the legal requirements of working in the UK as this will give you an indication of whether you may be eligible to work in the UK.
Police checks / Police checks/Disclosure and Barring Service checks will also be undertaken for which
DBS employees/prospective employees are required to provide information and consent.
Candidates who have lived and worked abroad in the last five years will be required to seek good conduct references, or the equivalent, from the countries in which they worked, as a pre-requisite of employment.
Health questionnaire
Satisfactory completion of a health questionnaire
HOW TO APPLY
Applications Applications must be made using the College’s standard application form which can be found on the College website at https://www.stclares.ac.uk/ib-staff-vacancies-portal
CVs will only be accepted if accompanied by a St Clare’s application form.
Email Applications should be submitted by email to [email protected]
Post Alternatively, send to:
Recruitment, HR Department, St Clare’s, Oxford, 139 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7AL
Contact us Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01865 552031
Deadline for applications - Friday 24th July 2026 at 9am
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: Up to £36,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Summertown OX2 7AL: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
