Reception Assistant

University of Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in Toronto is seeking a Reception Assistant to provide reception and administrative support at the Student Success Centre. The role involves greeting visitors, assisting students, and managing inquiries. Candidates should have strong customer service skills and experience in a fast-paced environment. This is a term position expected to end in April 2026.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of relevant clerical, administrative and reception experience.
• Demonstrated professionalism and tact in interactions.
• Proficient in office administration tasks.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for general enquiries.
• Respond to enquiries and redirect as appropriate.
• Schedule appointments and book rooms.

Skills

Excellent customer service

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving abilities

Time management

Active listening

Communication skills

Education

College Diploma (2 years)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Outlook

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Description

About us

Student Life connects life to learning. We believe every student should have the opportunity to participate in university life actively and find connection and community while discovering new ways of thinking and being in the world. We provide resources, support and engagement opportunities that are inclusive and accessible, ensuring every student can build experiences that set them up for a lifetime of success.

Within Student Life, the cluster of Student Life Programs & Services supports students as they achieve personal, academic, career and civic goals. We engage students throughout their learning and development with the following units: Accessibility Services, Career Exploration & Education, Centre for Community Partnerships, Centre for Learning Strategy Support, First Nations House‑Indigenous Student Services, Multi‑faith Centre, Student Engagement, Student Success, Transition & Engagement and TCard Services. Together with staff, faculty, students, alumni, employers and community partners, we provide an integrated and coherent path to success that reflects our students' diversity.

In support of U of T’s vision, Student Life Programs & Services is committed to creating diverse, accessible, inclusive and welcoming spaces of opportunity that foster deepened engagement, learning, personal growth, and identity development for all students. We are committed to embedding these principles into all the work we do, reducing barriers so that students from all backgrounds and lived experiences can feel a sense of belonging in the communities they find here.

To align with our strategic priorities, we encourage individuals from Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities to apply.

Your opportunity

Reporting to the Assistant Director, Student Life Programs & Services, and supported by the Coordinator, Student Success Reception, the Reception Assistant provides reception and administrative assistance for the Student Success Centre, an integrated student‑services hub that includes the Centre for Learning Strategy Support, Career Exploration & Education, and Housing Services. The Reception Assistant is the front‑line receptionist and courteously greets and welcomes all visitors to the Student Success Centre, and performs general clerical duties supporting the staff.

The Reception Assistant supports students and recent alumni in learning about the many resources, services and programs available to assist in all aspects of identifying and achieving their learning goals, career development and housing needs. This includes registering students, orientation and booking into programs/services, providing appropriate, timely and accurate information and referrals to Career Exploration & Education, the Centre for Learning Strategy Support, Housing and other Student Life services.

In all interactions, the Reception Assistant is expected to interact knowledgeably and courteously with a variety of individuals including senior administrators, faculty, employers, staff, students, parents, guardians and community members. They are expected to provide quality customer experience to students, alumni, employers and the community in person, over the phone, by email and via an online chat tool.

Given the nature of the role, the Reception Assistant must be able to carry out a broad range of duties while exercising tact and good judgement. They must be able to adapt rapidly from one function to another while maintaining efficiency and accuracy, especially under pressure. This position requires excellent interpersonal, organizational and time management skills.

Your responsibilities will include

• Acting as the first point of contact for general enquiries
• Responding to enquiries within the defined scope of the role and redirecting as appropriate
• Resolving issues within the scope of the role and escalating problems as required
• Scheduling appointments
• Booking rooms and arranging appropriate accommodationsLiaising with contacts to ensure consistent administration procedures are followed
• Writing routine documents and correspondence
• Handling sensitive and/or confidential information

Essential Qualifications

• College Diploma (2 years) or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum two (2) years of relevant clerical, administrative and reception experience in a front‑line position working in a busy office environment.
• Experience providing excellent customer service to a wide variety of stakeholders and providing assistance and support to clients/students.
• Demonstrated understanding of how to engage customers, clarifying their needs through active listening and questioning techniques.
• Demonstrated professionalism and tact, ability to interact and communicate effectively with a diverse group including students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and referral abilities. Proven ability to provide helpful and diplomatic advice, triage support and sound judgement to manage escalated scenarios.
• Experience in developing and maintaining administrative and database systems required.
• Experience using Excel to develop databases and track information.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook, SharePoint and Teams.
• Excellent organization and time management skills and demonstrated ability to meet competing deadlines with a high degree of accuracy.
• Demonstrated initiative, attention to detail and ability to work in a busy office.
• Proven ability to prioritize own workflow, and demonstrated ability to coordinate efficient administrative processes.
• Ability to remain calm, professional and solutions oriented in instances where guests or the general public may be demanding or challenging.

To be successful in this role you will be

• Approachable
• Multi‑tasker
• Punctual
• Tactful
• Team player

NOTE: This is a term position ending April 2026.

Closing Date: 10/30/2025, 11:59PM ET

Lived Experience Statement

Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission. The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact [e-mail].