Receptionist

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We have embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

Location: Based in Skylight Oxford, Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Oxford Skylight as a Receptionist. You will be there to welcome people who are homeless seeking advice and start the process of helping them to end their homelessness.

You will support the team to manage a busy working environment, welcoming and supporting a range of people including new Skylight members, current members, members of the public using the café or arts facilities, staff, Crisis volunteers and visitors. You will provide administrative support for this fast and responsive service to those newly presenting as homeless. You will also carry out administration and housekeeping functions relating to the customer service and facilities management of the Old Fire Station. This role is based onsite with no option for homeworking.

About you

To be successful in this role you will be highly organised with experience of working within a reception or administrative support role, as well as experience providing a high standard of customer service. We are looking for someone who understand the issues faced by homeless people and is excited to learn about the ways we can support them. You will be able to deal with challenging situations and individuals with a range of needs, to reach a positive resolution through a calm and confident approach.

You will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work successfully with disadvantaged or socially excluded groups and individuals. Effective communication skills, both verbal and written will be key, as well as working collaboratively within a team. As you will be the first point of contact for many people, you need to be friendly, enjoy helping and be willing to learn about Crisis and all the other activities taking place within the building.

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A competitive salary. Please note our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage.
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Sunday 15th February 2026 23:59

Interview date and location: Week commencing 23rd February 2026, in person at our Oxford Skylight, Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2AQ

Interview process: Competency-based interview

AI in Job Applications

We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we want to learn more about you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences

Accessibility

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094