Receptionist, Administrative​/Clerical

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.

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.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page.

Your responsibilities will include:

• 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

A full list of responsibilities can be found in the Job Pack.

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• 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)

Please download the Job Pack for a full person specification.

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• 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…