Receptionist/Administrator

Queen Alexandra College; Metchley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On site car parking

Fitness Centre access

Cycle to Work Scheme

Job summary

Queen Alexandra College is seeking a Receptionist/Administrator in Harborne, Birmingham. You will greet visitors, answer calls, and provide high-quality customer service on the main reception, ensuring smooth daily operations and safeguarding compliance.

The role involves administrative duties, updating staff directories, and supporting training for students and volunteers. 37 hours per week, with safeguarding training and event cover as needed.

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above, or equivalent.
• Experience in reception, administration, customer service or similar role.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with a confident telephone manner.
• Good organisational and administrative skills; confident with Microsoft Office.
• Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Provide a professional Reception service and first point of contact for visitors and phone inquiries.
• Manage visitor and contractor sign-in/out, check ID, and guide on arrival.
• Follow safeguarding and security procedures and report concerns.
• Escort visitors and contractors across campus when required.
• Handle internal and external telephone calls, route queries appropriately.
• Maintain and update the internal telephone list and contact details.
• Record incidents using the incident management system and liaise with staff as needed.
• Provide training support to students and volunteers at the main Reception.

Skills

Reception experience

Customer service

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Data protection

Education

GCSE English and Maths (4/C or above)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Receptionist/Administrator

Application Deadline: 1 October 2026

Department: Human Resources

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Harborne, Birmingham, UK

Reporting To: Executive Assistant

Compensation: £24,493 / year

Description

Salary: £24,492.52 p.a

Hours: 37

Weeks: 52

Working alongside other Reception staff, to provide a first point of contact both for all external visitors arriving at the QAC Main Reception area and for telephone enquiries, delivering excellent customer service both face to face and over the phone. A key aspect of this role is to greet and check in all visitors to QAC, in line with safeguarding requirements.

Key Responsibilities & Safeguarding

• Providing a professional and effective Reception service for the Charity, demonstrating excellent customer service skills as a first point of contact.


• Managing visitor and contractor sign-in/out procedures, including checking photographic ID using QAC’s Visitor Photo ID system (EVM), providing relevant information on arrival, and ensuring appropriate parking arrangements.


• Following QAC safeguarding and security procedures and report any security or safeguarding concerns immediately.


• Escorting visitors and contractors across campus where necessary.


• Receiving and handling internal and external telephone calls using the Reception telephone system, ensuring queries are effectively managed and directed to the appropriate person.


• Working with the team to update and maintain the Charity’s internal telephone list, ensuring contact details are kept up to date.


• Logging incidents through the College’s 333 incident management system and contacting the appropriate staff where required.


• Reporting and recording incidents/accidents in line with QAC procedures, including producing basic reports of significant or extraordinary events, such as the summoning of emergency services.


• Supporting students and volunteers undertaking customer service, telephone and reception training and gaining work experience on the main QAC Reception.


• Flexibility to cover occasional events outside of normal working hours, e.g. Parents’ Evenings.


• Where required by the department, undertaking First Aid and Fire Marshal training and supporting the evacuation of individuals with a PEEP in Reception, where applicable.


• Taking initial delivery of post, including parcels and equipment deliveries, maintaining appropriate records of goods received and ensuring post is ready for external collection.


• Ensuring all Reception areas are maintained in a safe, clean and tidy condition and reporting any maintenance or cleaning issues.


• Undertaking Reception duties with due regard to confidential information and student, staff and QAC data, in line with Data Protection/GDPR requirements.


• Acting at all times in accordance with QAC Values of Respect, Excellence, Enabling, Collaboration and Inclusion and FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement).


• Complying with all QAC policies and procedures.


• Completing any training required for the role.


• Administration Duties:


• Collating and circulating the Weekly Events Calendar, ensuring it captures all visitors, events, student activities, transition reviews and on-call arrangements, in collaboration with staff across the College.


• Updating and maintaining written protocols and guidance for Reception duties, in collaboration with the wider Reception team.


• Producing accessible versions of the Events Calendar and other College information, including Braille and stripped text, in line with accessibility requirements and preferred modes of communication.


• Providing additional administrative support, with the agreement of the Executive Assistant, to College Management Team members. This may include administration, data collection and/or reporting to support College activities and requirements.


• Carrying out general administrative and clerical duties, including the use of Microsoft Office, as requested, with dedicated administrative time available as required to fulfil the duties of the post.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4/C or above, or equivalent


• Experience of working in a reception, administration, customer service or similar role


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including a confident and professional telephone manner


• Good organisational and administrative skills, with confidence using Microsoft Office


• Understanding of confidentiality, data protection and the importance of safeguarding


• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and build positive working relationships

For further information on person specification please read the job description attached

Benefits

Join Our Business Support Services Team

Behind every successful service at QAC is a dedicated team of professionals providing the essential support that enables our students, clients, staff, and visitors to thrive. We are looking for talented and committed individuals to join our Business Support Services teams across a range of specialist areas.

Our Business Support functions play a vital role in ensuring the smooth, safe, and efficient operation of the charity. Whether supporting people, finances, technology, facilities, or frontline customer services, every role contributes to our mission of empowering people with disabilities to achieve greater independence and fulfilment.

Our Business Support Services is built up of:

• Human Resources (HR) – Supporting recruitment, employee wellbeing, learning and development, employee relations, and ensuring colleagues have the support they need to succeed.


• Finance – Providing financial management, budgeting, payroll, procurement, and financial administration services that help the organisation operate effectively and sustainably.


• Reception and Customer Services – Creating a welcoming and professional first impression for students, clients, visitors, and stakeholders, while providing information, support, and administrative assistance.


• Health and Safety – Promoting a culture of safety and wellbeing, ensuring compliance with legislation and supporting the creation of safe environments across our campus and services.


• Estates and Facilities – Maintaining our buildings, grounds, accommodation, and facilities to ensure they remain safe, accessible, and fit for purpose.


• IT and Resources – Delivering technology solutions, technical support, assistive technologies, and learning resources that enable staff, students, and clients to work, learn, and live independently.

Working within our Business Support teams offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to an organisation with a strong social purpose. While these roles may not involve direct support delivery, they are fundamental to ensuring our services run effectively and continue to make a positive impact on the lives of the people we support.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a collaborative and values-driven organisation where your skills and expertise will help drive excellence across the charity.

If you are professional, proactive, and passionate about making a difference behind the scenes, we'd love to hear from you.

Our benefits include;

• Access to on site car parking


• Use of QAC Fitness Centre (subject to opening hours)


• Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary Sacrifice)


• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme Helpline (BHSF)


• Access to Education Support Free Helpline for Teachers & Education Staff


• QAC Mental Health First Aiders & activities to support health and wellbeing


• BHSF Benefits Package including Healthcare Plans, discounted shopping/services


• Annual Flu vaccination/voucher


• Access to other benefit/discount schemes (which may be subject to charge) e.g. Blue Light Card, TOTUM (NUS), Charity Worker Discounts, Discounts for Teachers


• Dell Advantage programme - a free programme that offers savings to students, parents and all staff at QAC - up to 20% off. https://www.dell.com/en-uk/lp/dell-advantage


• Health and Wellbeing Services (Occupational Health/Counselling)


• Free Tea/Coffee and Staff Room facilities


• Dining Room facilities with hot/cold food (free meal provided for those supporting students at mealtimes)


• Additional discretionary concessionary/closure days as part of leave entitlement (including closure over Christmas/New Year period)


• Reward and Recognition Policy – Living the Values Awards (team & individual) and long service


• Enhanced/Occupational paid leave e.g. maternity/paternity (subject to qualifying criteria)


• Occupational sick pay (based on length of service)


• On site wellbeing activities (e.g. yoga, meditation)


• Support for training/ CPD (either by way of study leave and/or funding)


• Flexible working arrangements including Flexible Working Policy Agreements, Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) in prior agreement with line manager.

This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to review and/or change.

Safeguarding Commitments

As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, and in line with updated guidance published in September 2022, we will carry out an online search of all shortlisted candidates. This search may enable us to identify any incidents or issues that have happened, and publicly available for review online, which we may wish to explore with you in further detail during the interview process. As part of your application we have asked you to provide the account names, usernames and/or handles for any social media platform that you use, as well as the names of any websites that you own, post on, or contribute to. A Google search will also be conducted. These checks will only be conducted if you are shortlisted for interview. Please see our safer recruitment and selection policy for further information.

Under Section 7 of SVGA 2006 it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. The College’s Safeguarding Policies are available here.