College Porter (Porters Lodge)
Salary £28,000 per annum
Permanent full-time position on a shift rota (38 hours per week)
Do you have excellent communication skills? Are you seeking a people-facing role with plenty of variety?
We are seeking a College Porter to join a friendly established team. The Porters Lodge is the central hub of the College, acting as the first point of contact for all enquiries from external visitors, staff, students, and fellows. Daily responsibilities include providing a front-of-house service, welcoming visitors, managing telephone calls, sorting deliveries, and distributing mail around the College. Additionally, the Lodge responds to fire alarms, provides first aid, attends to student welfare calls out of hours, and is responsible for the security of the College.
Operating 24/7, the Porters Lodge is staffed by a dedicated team working on a rota basis. Shifts include early, late, night, and sleep shifts, covering Monday to Sunday, with an average of 38 hours worked per week.
We are seeking individuals who have;
A demonstrable understanding of the work of a Porters Lodge
Experience of dealing with members of the public and highly developed interpersonal skills
A good level of computer literacy, including Microsoft Outlook and Excel
The ability to maintain confidentiality of data
You will enjoy working as part of a team, be friendly and have a flexible approach to working hours and tasks. Comprehensive training and a full induction are provided to ensure you're fully prepared for the role.
The College offers a generous benefits package including:
33 days’ holiday (including bank holidays)
Discretionary Bonus scheme
Free College lunches on working days
Pension scheme (with matched contribution up to 10%)
Free access to an Employee Assistance programme 24/7
Healthcare Cash scheme (e.g. for prescriptions, dental, optical, physiotherapy)
Free Life Assurance cover
Optional subsidised private medical and dental schemes
Cycle purchase scheme, giving substantial savings on cycle purchase
Free use of on-site Gym facilities
Free on-site Car parking
Social events
An additional Day Off for your Birthday!
A full list of benefits is available from the College’s HR Office. (Please note that those benefits which are non-contractual may be amended or withdrawn at our discretion).
About the College
Founded in 1800, Downing College in the University of Cambridge has a unique and magnificent setting among twenty acres of lawns and trees yet is located close to the centre of Cambridge. The open landscape has a superb collection of neo-classical buildings from the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Those living and working in Downing enjoy a beautiful environment unique in Cambridge in its spaciousness.
The College is composed of approximately 50 Fellows and 160 non-academic staff and its aim is to help all students to develop their academic ability and personal potential during their time here. We pride ourselves on being a friendly and informal community for Fellows, staff and students like. Set within this expansive and beautiful landscape, Downing also has a thriving conference business and provides customers with a choice of superior conference, meeting and theatre facilities.
Details the role
The role of College Porter is a permanent post. Applications are invited from candidates who are able to work on a full-time, shift rota basis, on average 38 hours per week. The shifts in the rota cover 24 hours per day and consist of early, late, night and sleep shifts to cover Monday to Sunday. The salary for this role is £28,000 (Step 32 on the College Salary Scale).
Application Process
To apply for this position click “Apply Now” on the advert posting on our website (Staff vacancies | Downing College Cambridge) and upload your CV and Cover letter. Please save and upload your CV and Covering Letter in one document.
Closing date: midday on Wednesday 19 March 2025. Please note that the closing date for this post may be brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.
Applications are welcomed from a broad range of backgrounds.
All applicants will be contacted once shortlisting has taken place.
The successful applicant will be asked to complete a Enhanced level DBS check. Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.
Applicants who declare a disability will be offered an interview if they meet the minimum criteria for the job.
We are pleased to be able offer this document in an accessible format, please contact HR (recruitment@dow.cam.ac.uk) if you wish to receive this advert and role profile or an application form in a different, accessible format, e.g. large print.
For further information or queries, please contact:
The HR Office
email: recruitment@dow.cam.ac.uk
tel: 01223 334820 or 01223 334848
Downing College
Cambridge
CB2 1DQ