Front Desk Receptionist

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO + 11 holidays

Medical/dental/vision insurance

Health Savings Account

Life insurance

AD&D

Retirement plan with 5% match

MACC tuition benefits

Job summary

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in Saint Paul, MN is hiring a Front Desk Receptionist to warmly welcome visitors and provide administrative support that keeps daily operations running smoothly.

You will be the first point of contact for community members, vendors, and staff, delivering efficient, friendly service. The role requires strong customer service, organizational skills, and the ability to balance empathy with clear policy adherence.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate's degree or related coursework is desirable.
• Experience in customer service, hospitality, reception or admin support preferred.
• Interest in nonprofit/human services sector is a plus; knowledge of Hallie Q. Brown history is helpful.
• Ability to provide exceptional customer service to a diverse community and maintain confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors and callers; direct to the appropriate person or program.
• Answer, screen, and route phone calls and emails promptly and courteously.
• Maintain reception area, waiting space, and meeting room schedules.
• Assist with data entry, filing, and day‑to‑day office records.
• Schedule meeting rooms and coordinate supplies and deliveries.
• Support onboarding of visitors, volunteers, and program participants.

Skills

Customer service

Hospitality

Reception

Administrative support

Nonprofit sector experience

Communication skills

Organization

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate's degree or coursework (desirable)

Job description

Founded in 1929, Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Inc. is an African American, nonprofit social services agency committed to serving the needs of community members of all ages, abilities, races, cultures and economic levels in the Summit-University neighborhood and greater Twin Cities area. Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our community by providing access to critical human services, fostering and promoting African American heritage, personal growth, self-sufficiency and self-determination; and developing community leadership.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Over the years, Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, Inc. has evolved from an independent human services provider to a multi-service center, and is the administrative body of the Martin Luther King Service Center, which houses our partners offering specialized services and programs., including Project Cheer, Prepare + Prosper, the St. Paul Branch of the NAACP, the African American Leadership Council, and the nationally-recognized Penumbra Theatre Company. We are committed to building partnerships and providing services designed to reflect the needs and character of the Summit-University community. Hallie Q. Brown Community Center is a great place to work and offers a competitive salary and benefits, and a supportive work environment designed to support employee growth while meeting the needs of the community.

Wages

$20.00 - $22.50 per hour

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), plus 11 paid holidays per year.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees insurance available for their families.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) available to pair with a High Deductible Health Plan.
• There is employer paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employees.
• The employer pays for Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) and long-term disability insurance.
• HQB sponsors a retirement plan with automatic enrollment at 5% and a 5% employer match and immediate vesting , plus up to a 10% employer contribution after one year of service.

Because HQB is a member with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) who partners with St. Mary’s University, HQB employees and their spouses are also eligible for the following benefits at St. Mary’s University:

• Discounted tuition for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs
• Access to advancement (internships, job placement, field practice)

Job Summary

Hallie Q. Brown is hiring a Front Desk Receptionist to provide warm, attentive, and professional hospitality to everyone who walks through their doors or reaches out by phone or email, while also providing reliable administrative support that keeps daily operations running smoothly. As a first point of contact for community members, participants, partners, vendors, and staff, this role plays a critical part in creating a welcoming, organized, and supportive experience for all.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for all visitors, members, and callers.
• Direct and orient visitors, including helping lost or confused guests find their way to the right person, program, or location.
• Approach every interaction with empathy, patience, and genuine care, especially with individuals seeking basic needs support or facing a difficult moment.
• Answer, screen, and route incoming phone calls and emails in a timely and courteous manner.
• Manage the reception area, waiting space, and meeting room schedules to ensure a clean, welcoming, and organized environment.
• Sign in and direct visitors and participants according to Hallie Q. Brown's front desk and safety procedures.
• Balance firmness and kindness when enforcing building policies, safety procedures, or space-use guidelines.
• Coordinate deliveries, shipments, and incoming and outgoing mail, distributing items to the correct staff or team promptly.
• Build and maintain a working knowledge of Hallie Q. Brown's history, programs, and services in order to accurately inform and assist the community.
• Provide day-to-day administrative support, including data entry, filing, copying, and maintaining office records.
• Assist with the scheduling of meeting rooms, shared spaces, and appointments.
• Coordinate office supply inventory and place orders as needed.
• Assist with preparing materials for meetings, events, and programs.
• Maintain and update front desk procedures, resource lists, and communication protocols.
• Assist with basic technology troubleshooting and coordinate escalated IT needs with the Office & Experience Manager.
• Assist with onboarding new visitors, volunteers, or program participants to building procedures.
• Take initiative to identify and resolve small operational issues before they become bigger problems.
• Regular and punctual attendance is an essential function of this position.

What You Bring

• High school diploma or GED is required; Associate's degree or coursework in a related field is desired but not required.
• Experience in customer service, hospitality, reception, or administrative support is preferred.
• A demonstrated interest in the human services nonprofit sector; experience in a community-based or nonprofit organization is a plus.
• Rondo area knowledge and willingness to learn Hallie Q. Brown's history and community is desired.
• The ability to provide exceptional customer service to people of all backgrounds and socioeconomic conditions.
• Genuine empathy for people in need, balanced with the ability to be firm, clear, and kind when necessary.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to take initiative on smaller tasks and multitask in a busy environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A willingness and ability to learn new systems, tasks, and procedures quickly.
• The ability to work independently, establish priorities, and follow through on commitments.
• Knowledge of and experience working with diverse groups of people.
• Strong skills in conflict management and de‑escalation.
• The ability to maintain confidentiality and use good judgment in recognizing the scope of authority.
• The ability to remain calm, patient, and kind under pressure.
• A valid driver's license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet Hallie Q. Brown’s driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit (not applicable for new hires living out of state).

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of Hallie Q. Brown Community Center. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong. Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions. We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector: individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status. We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, age, marital status, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, status with regard to public assistance, criminal history (justice-impacted status), housing or homelessness status, height, or weight.

Equal Opportunity Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, disability, marital status, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information or a protected veteran’s status.

Our organization has a partnership with Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities (MACC) to provide administrative services including management of the hiring process. If you apply for this position, you may see references to MACC in some online materials.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.