Front Desk Attendant

Princeton, NJ | Campus Safety | Facilities and Campus Safety

Job Description

Position: Front Desk Attendant

Department: Operations

Position Status: On-Site, 10 Month

Work Schedule: Part time or full time, working until 7:00PM. Occasional weekends.

Compensation Range: Minimum hiring salary of $22/hour

The Front Desk Attendant serves as a visible, approachable presence on campus, working collaboratively with school administrators and other members of the community to help maintain a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, families, and visitors. The role blends traditional safety functions with the relationship-building and judgment required in an independent school setting, where the Front Desk Attendant is a friendly, recognizable face at the front desk.

• Maintain a visible and professional presence at the front desk, and throughout the school campus.
• Build relationships with all School constituents, engendering trust and open communication.
• Monitor entrances, exits, buildings, parking areas, and other designated areas.
• Assist with access control and visitor management in accordance with school policies, including use of the door access control and visitor sign platform and processes.
• Monitor security cameras, alarms, and other safety/security systems as assigned.
• Assist with directing vehicle traffic during dismissal.
• Assist with arrival, dismissal, special events, athletic events, and other activities as assigned.
• Participate in emergency drills (fire, active-intruder, lockdown, shelter-in-place, evacuation) and support the school's broader emergency preparedness planning.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to safety, security medical, or other emergencies when necessary.
• Contact and coordinate with local police, fire, EMS, or other emergency personnel when necessary.
• Document incidents accurately and promptly.
• Help enforce school safety procedures while interacting respectfully and calmly with students and members of the school community, using de-escalation rather than confrontation as a first approach.
• Support after-hours for school-sponsored events, rentals, or evening programs, including unlocking and securing facilities. Occasional requests to assist with school dances, or weekend events may occur.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding students, families, employees, and school operations, including sensitive matters such as custody restrictions, protective orders, or medical alerts affecting specific students.
• Serve as a mandated reporter and act promptly in accordance with New Jersey law and school policy if there is reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect.
• Perform other operations, security and safety-related duties as assigned.

• Previous experience in security, law enforcement, military service, or equivalent experience in education, coaching, youth programming, counseling, or a customer-service/hospitality role requiring public interaction, is a plus.
• Strong observational and situational-awareness skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to build rapport and trust with students, families, and staff.
• Ability to remain calm, use sound judgment, and de-escalate tense situations without relying on a purely enforcement-first approach.
• Professional, approachable demeanor and the ability to interact appropriately with children, adolescents, parents, faculty, and visitors.
• Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a team.
• Basic computer skills and ability to complete electronic or written reports.
• Bilingual or multilingual ability is a plus, particularly for communicating with vendors and their employees.
• Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification preferred, or willingness to obtain.
• Must be able to successfully complete required background and employment screening, including criminal history (fingerprint-based) and reference checks.
• A valid driver's license to operate campus vehicles as required by the defined schedule.
• Applicants certified under New Jersey's Security Officer Registration Act (SORA) is a plus. This is an unarmed position; armed SORA certification is not required.
• Willingness to complete and maintain mandated-reporter training in accordance with New Jersey law.
• Black Seal Boiler License is a plus.

The position requires the ability to walk and stand for extended periods, patrol school buildings and grounds, respond quickly…