Receptionist

Harris Federation; Greater London; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual loyalty bonus

Pension scheme

26 days annual leave

Wellbeing plan

Cycle to work

Discounts

Job summary

Harris Federation is seeking a professional receptionist to join the Head Office team. You will greet visitors, answer calls, manage meeting rooms, and support the Office Manager with basic admin tasks to ensure smooth daily operations.

Working with safeguarding and health and safety protocols, you will maintain accurate records, handle mail and couriers, and coordinate with staff and external partners to support the federation's aims.

Qualifications

• Experience in general administrative duties.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise and adapt to changing demands.
• Professional appearance and customer-service orientation.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors at Head Office professionally and according to safeguarding/health & safety protocols.
• Operate the telephone switchboard, direct calls, take messages and respond to inquiries.
• Maintain the reception and meeting rooms, report maintenance issues.
• Support the Office Manager with tasks including coordinating fire drills and servicing.
• Prepare refreshments for meetings and events.
• Update staff records and ensure accuracy for switchboard/Inventry.
• Manage incoming/outgoing mail and parcels; handle franking and supplies.
• Coordinate courier services and related accounts.
• Keep the academy contact sheet up to date with Principal and PA details.
• Build positive relationships with staff, contractors and external agencies.

Skills

Customer service

Telephone etiquette

Organisational skills

IT literacy

Teamwork

Education

GCSE or equivalent

Tools

Word

Excel

MIS systems

Job description

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a receptionist to work within the Harris Federation Head Office, undertaking Reception and other administrative duties within the CEO's team.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Greeting and receiving all visitors to Head Office in a professional manner, ensuring compliance with safeguarding and Health & Safety protocols
• Operating the telephone switchboard, directing calls to appropriate departments or staff members, taking messages, and responding promptly to enquiries from parents/carers and the public
• Maintaining the reception area and meeting rooms to a high standard, ensuring they are tidy, presentable and reset after use, and reporting any maintenance issues to the Office Manager
• Supporting the Office Manager with office maintenance tasks, including coordinating fire drills, liaising with engineers and managing heating/air con servicing
• Organising and preparing refreshments for meetings and events
• Updating employee records to reflect staff changes for switchboard/Inventry accuracy
• Managing incoming and outgoing mail and parcels, including maintaining the franking machine account and ordering supplies
• Coordinating courier services and managing related accounts
• Maintaining the academy contact sheet, ensuring Principal and PA details are current
• Building positive relationships with staff, contractors and external agencies to support the Federation’s objectives

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Flexibility and ability to respond to multiple demands and to prioritise
• The ability to work well with colleagues and visitors
• A high level of adaptability to changing demands
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
• The ability to plan and organise work to meet varying deadlines
• The ability to work on own and take initiative
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of delivering a high-quality service
• Experience of a range of general administrative duties.
• Good ICT skills and experience, including Word, Excel and management information systems (MIS)

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONSafeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans