Senior Reception Host

TN United Kingdom; Oxford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Reception Host to join their dynamic Facilities team in Oxford. This role is pivotal in ensuring excellent customer service as the first point of contact for clients and guests. The ideal candidate will thrive in a busy environment, managing both reception duties and a team of hosts. With a commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace, this position offers the chance to make a significant impact while enjoying a supportive atmosphere. Join a team that values creativity, resilience, and excellence, and be part of a mission to address humanity's most pressing challenges.

Benefits

Enhanced Holiday Pay

Pension

Life Assurance

Income Protection

Private Medical Insurance

Hospital Cash Plan

Therapy Services

Electric Car Scheme

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a receptionist or customer service role with management responsibilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Greeting and welcoming visitors, clients, and guests professionally.
• Managing email inquiries and directing them to appropriate departments.
• Overseeing the team of Reception Hosts and providing mentorship.

Skills

Customer Service

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Multitasking

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

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The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford’s purpose is to have a global impact by fundamentally reimagining the way science and technology translate into end-to-end solutions and delivering these solutions in programmes and platforms that respond to humanity’s most challenging problems.

EIT Oxford will ensure scientific discoveries and pioneering science are turned into products for the benefit of society that can have high-impact worldwide and, over time, be commercialised to ensure long-term sustainability.

Led by a faculty of world experts, EIT Oxford seeks to solve the world’s most challenging problems across four high-risk, high-reward, high-impact humane endeavours: health and medical science; food security and sustainable agriculture; climate change and clean energy; and government innovation in an era of artificial intelligence.

EIT Oxford is investing significant resources in a new world-class research and development facility in the Oxford Science Park. Set for completion in 2027, the state-of-the-art campus includes 300,000 sq ft of research laboratories, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and educational and meeting spaces. Together, they create the perfect environment for EIT Oxford experts to take ground-breaking ideas from research to broad implementation. The new facility will further EIT’s current partnership with the University of Oxford and become the new home for Ellison Scholars.

EIT Oxford is committed to cultivating a community where excellence is achieved through collaboration, trust, innovation and tenacity. We foster an environment where everyone’s experience and expertise are valued. We are curious and resilient in our efforts to drive long-term, sustainable innovation to meet humanity’s most enduring challenges.

EIT are seeking a professional, personable and highly organised Senior Reception Host to join our busy Facilities team. Acting as the first point of contact for clients, visitors and guests, ensuring optimum customer service at all times, the Senior Reception Host will play an integral part in ensuring reception and administrative duties are carried out seamlessly as well as managing the current Reception Hosts we currently have at EIT Oxford and our London offices. This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic senior Reception Host who thrives on providing seamless customer service and business operations, with managerial responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Greeting and welcoming visitors, clients, and guests with a warm and professional demeanour, directing guests to appropriate locations within the office or building.
• Answering questions and providing information about the company, products, and services.
• Maintaining a professional and clean reception area at all times.
• Answering incoming phone calls, directing calls to appropriate personnel, and taking and relaying accurate messages to the correct personnel.
• Managing email enquiries and directing them to the appropriate department.
• Scheduling appointments, meetings, and conference room bookings as necessary.
• Assisting with administrative tasks, including data entry, filing, and handling mail.
• Maintaining office supplies and equipment inventory.
• Assisting with coordinating events, meetings, and conferences.
• Managing and maintaining scheduling for the reception area, meeting rooms and guest appointments.
• Ensuring all logistics are in place for meetings (room setup, catering, etc.)
• Assisting in hosting guests and providing refreshments.
• Resolving guest issues and complaints promptly and escalating to the appropriate personnel when necessary.
• Assisting in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all visitors and employees.
• Managing the team of Reception Hosts, providing mentorship and regular 1:1s to track their progression and development within role.

Requirements

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Previous experience in a receptionist, host, or customer service role with management responsibilities
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organisational and multitasking abilities.
• Positive, friendly, and professional attitude.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and work in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Additional certifications or qualifications in hospitality or office administration are not essential but highly desirable.
• Previous, relevant experience gained within a busy start-up environment.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to remain seated for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry small office supplies as needed (up to 15 lbs).
• Ability to greet and assist visitors as needed in a timely manner.

We offer the following salary and benefits:

• Salary: Dependent on experience, plus bonus and travel allowance
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Electric Car Scheme

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!

Terms of Appointment:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford and can commit to working onsite full time during the working week, Monday-Friday between 08:30 until 17:30.
• Due to the nature of this role, you must be able to commit to occasionally working outside of regular working hours for events and meetings.
• This role will also require commitment to occasionally work from our Paddington office when there is a business need to do so i.e. holiday cover or supporting our current reception Host in that location. Travel costs would be reimbursed if and when this is required.

We are hoping to appoint the Senior Reception Host as soon as possible. Please apply today with a cover letter outlining your motivations for the role and working for EIT as well as how your experience meets the role requirements.