Reception Supervisor

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP in London seeks a Reception Supervisor to lead the reception team and ensure a warm, professional welcome for visitors. The role oversees the main desk, visitor management, meeting room bookings and hospitality, guiding a small team and coordinating across sites during planned relocation.

The ideal candidate has senior front-of-house experience, strong communication skills, and superb organisational abilities to manage competing demands with discretion and precision.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a senior front of house or reception role, ideally in a law firm or corporate setting.
• Experience supervising or leading a small team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a polished, professional manner.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving abilities to manage a changing workload.
• Ability to work under pressure and within a team environment.
• Proficiency in MS Office and familiarity with booking/visitor systems.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the reception team day to day and ensure adequate cover.
• Manage team performance, appraisals, training and development.
• Prepare rotas, approve holidays, record absence and recruit new receptionists.
• Deliver five-star service, greet visitors by name and record preferences.
• Cover reception during breaks, absences and peak periods.
• Maintain professionalism and discretion; protect confidential information.
• Register visitors and issue passes per security and data protection rules.
• Work with security and Facilities on access control, evacuations and safety.
• Manage meeting room bookings and setups, including multi-day requests.
• Prepare weekly conference room plans and coordinate with catering/AV/secretaries.
• Prioritise competing requests and communicate changes promptly to stakeholders.
• Ensure reception, client areas and meeting rooms are tidy throughout the day.
• Collaborate with Practice Groups and business services to support meetings and events.
• Review processes and propose improvements to Operations Manager; handle special projects.

Skills

Reception supervision

Front of house

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Team management

Meeting and visitor handling

Tools

Room booking software

Visitor management systems

MS Office Suite

Job description

Gibson Dunn is a leading global law firm, advising clients on significant transactions and disputes. Our exceptional teams craft and deploy creative legal strategies that are meticulously tailored to every matter, however complex or high-stakes. The firm’s work is distinguished by a unique combination of precision and vision.

The London office is seeking a Reception Supervisor to lead the reception team and make sure every visitor receives a professional, warm and efficient welcome. The role oversees the main reception, visitor management, meeting room bookings and associated hospitality, and is the first point of contact for partners, staff and clients on reception matters. The role leads a team of two receptionists at present, with reception staffed from 8:00 to 18:30. The role will support the London office across multiple sites and through a planned office relocation.

Responsibilities include:

• Supervise the reception team day to day, checking in with the team regularly and making sure reception always has appropriate cover.
• Manage the team’s performance, including appraisals, and support the team’s training and development.
• Prepare rotas, approve holiday, record absence, and recruit and induct new receptionists.
• Deliver a consistent, five-star service to every visitor, greeting regular visitors by name and recording their preferences.
• Cover the reception desk as needed, including during breaks, absences and peak periods.
• Act with professionalism and discretion at all times, respecting the confidential nature of the firm’s work.
• Make sure all visitors are registered and issued passes, in line with the firm’s security and data protection requirements.
• Work with building security and Facilities on access control, evacuations, incidents and health and safety.
• Manage meeting room bookings and set-up, including complex and multi-day requests, and accommodate last-minute changes calmly and efficiently.
• Prepare a weekly plan of conference room requirements, coordinating with catering, AV, secretaries and practice and business services teams, and manage changes with stakeholders as plans evolve.
• Prioritise competing requests effectively, and communicate changes clearly and promptly to partners, staff and the reception team.
• Ensure that reception, client areas and meeting rooms are clean and tidy throughout the day.
• Work with practice groups, Facilities, Secretarial and other business services teams to deliver client meetings and office events seamlessly.
• Review reception processes regularly, propose improvements to the Operations Manager, and handle special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in a senior front of house or reception role, ideally in a law firm, high-end hospitality or corporate environment.
• Experience supervising or leading a team.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a polished and professional manner.
• Strong organisational and problem solving skills, with the ability to prioritise a busy, changing workload.
• Ability to work well under pressure and within a team environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience with room booking and visitor management systems.

Experience:

• Strong client service orientation and the ability to manage internal stakeholders at all levels.
• A hands-on, can-do approach and the initiative to anticipate guests’ needs.
• Familiarity with the demands of a law firm and the standard of service expected by partners and clients.

Gibson Dunn will consider for employment qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of local law.

Gibson Dunn is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities. We strive to ensure an inclusive and accessible hiring experience. The Firm will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable participation in the application and recruitment process, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in an interview, or otherwise take part in the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note, this is a dedicated email inbox established exclusively to assist applicants with accommodation request related to the recruitment process. Inquiries about the status of an application or other non-accommodation matter will not receive a response.

Notice to Recruitment Agencies: Gibson Dunn does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies, headhunters, or vendors. Resumes sent to any Gibson Dunn employee or attorney, or submitted by an agency through the direct candidate application portal will not establish agency ownership of the candidate and Gibson Dunn will not be expected to honor an agency’s terms or pay any related fees. When a role is open for agency submissions, Gibson Dunn will notify our current agency partners and make the position available through our Agency Portal in Greenhouse. Only agencies that have been given portal access are authorized to submit candidates for consideration. Agencies without a current agreement that wish to be considered for future opportunities may contact [e-mail] . Please do not send resumes to this address.