Front Desk Receptionist - Term Time Only

Location: New York, US · Term-time only (with required INSET days) · On-site at Nord Anglia International School New York

About Nord Anglia Education

Nord Anglia Education is the world’s leading premium schools organisation, a fast-paced and growing family of over 90 international schools across China, Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia and North America, providing outstanding education to over 90,000 students from preschool through secondary. Schools are united by a philosophy of ambition for students, people and the family of schools. Unique opportunities include the Global Campus, Nord Anglia University, and collaborations with The Juilliard School, MIT and King’s College London.

About Nord Anglia International School New York

Nestled in Gramercy, NAISNY serves students aged 2–14 from over 30 countries, following the English National Curriculum. The school has a strong ambition to grow, empowering its diverse community to be globally responsible, achieve ambitions and thrive. Facilities support academics, sports and creative arts; classrooms are light, spacious and well-resourced. Students benefit from NYC opportunities including collaborations with UNICEF and Juilliard, and proximity to MIT in Boston. The school comprises Early Years (2s–Reception), Lower School (Years 1–4) and Upper School (Years 5–9), with specialist teachers in Dance, Drama, Music, Art, PE and Spanish.

About the Role

Nord Anglia International School New York seeks a warm, professional and highly organized Front Desk Receptionist to be the welcoming face of the school. As the first point of contact for students, families, staff, visitors and external partners, the successful candidate will create a positive first impression while helping the school operate safely, efficiently and smoothly each day. This is a term-time only, on-site position combining exceptional customer service with front office administration, visitor management, communication and practical support for the wider school team. The ideal candidate is calm, approachable and discreet, able to manage multiple priorities in a busy school environment while maintaining a consistently high standard of professionalism. Experience in a school, hospitality, customer service or front office setting is advantageous.

Reports to: HR Director · Direct reports: None

Key Relationships

• Internal: Principal, School Leadership Team, Teaching and support staff, Students, Admissions, Finance and Operations teams, Regional and Nord Anglia colleagues
• External: Parents and prospective families, Visitors and contractors, Delivery and courier services, Vendors and service providers, Emergency and community services as required

Responsibilities

Front Desk & Customer Service

• Greet students, families, staff and visitors in a courteous, warm and professional manner
• Answer, screen and route incoming telephone calls and respond to general enquiries promptly and accurately
• Provide clear information and direct more complex enquiries to the appropriate member of staff
• Maintain a tidy, organized and welcoming reception area that reflects the high standards of the school
• Build positive relationships with families and visitors and contribute to a strong sense of community

Visitor Management, Safety & Safeguarding

• Work closely with the school security team and staff to manage visitor access, sign-in/out procedures and visitor badges
• Maintain accurate visitor and contractor records and follow school procedures for deliveries, appointments and building access
• Follow safeguarding, child protection, health and safety and emergency procedures at all times, escalating concerns immediately
• Support arrival, dismissal and other high-traffic periods, helping ensure students enter and leave the building safely
• Maintain discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive information involving students, families or staff

Administrative & Office Support

• Coordinate incoming and outgoing mail, packages, courier deliveries and general correspondence
• Provide clerical support including data entry, filing, copying, printing, scanning and preparation of routine documents
• Support attendance and student sign-in/sign-out processes as directed, ensuring records are accurate and up to date
• Assist with room bookings, school events, parent meetings and other front-office logistics
• Maintain supplies and materials for the reception area and report facilities or equipment issues promptly
• Provide administrative support to the Principal, leadership team and school office as required

Communication & School Operations

• Monitor shared reception or general school email accounts as assigned and route messages appropriately
• Communicate routine school information clearly and professionally by telephone, email and in person
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure consistent front desk coverage throughout the school day
• Assist with special events, open houses, parent events and other school activities where front-of-house support is required
• Undertake other reasonable duties and special projects that support the effective operation of the school

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; college coursework or additional administrative training advantageous
• At least two years of experience in reception, front office, customer service or a comparable administrative role preferred
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills with a warm, confident and professional manner
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities accurately in a busy environment
• Sound judgment, discretion and ability to handle confidential information appropriately
• Strong written communication skills and attention to detail
• Confidence using standard office equipment and digital systems, including Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365
• Ability to learn school systems, visitor management platforms and student information systems
• Reliable, punctual and able to work collaboratively as part of a small, close-knit team

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in a school, education, hospitality or other service-focused environment
• Experience supporting visitor access, attendance, events or front-office operations
• First Aid / CPR training or willingness to complete relevant training if required
• Genuine interest in working in an international school community and supporting children and families

Other Requirements

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States at time of employment and maintain ongoing work authorization
• Successful completion of all required background screening, reference checks, and safeguarding requirements
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children; willingness to undertake appropriate child protection training
• Regular physical presence on the school campus required; ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation
• Occasional additional hours may be required to support school events, meetings or operational coverage, including INSET days
• Must communicate effectively in person, by telephone and through electronic platforms; operate standard office equipment; move around the school building as required

Work Environment

• Primarily based on-site at the school; regular presence on campus during normal business hours and school events
• Regular interaction with students, staff, parents, visitors and external vendors in an active educational environment
• Possible travel for regional meetings, training, recruitment activities and professional development

Physical Requirements

• Sit, stand, and walk for extended periods throughout the workday
• Move throughout the school campus, including classrooms, offices, common areas, and outdoor facilities
• Ascend and descend stairs multiple times per day, including access to multi-level buildings where applicable
• Communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication platforms
• Operate standard office equipment, including computers, printers, copiers, and mobile devices
• Reach, bend, stoop, kneel, and occasionally crouch to access files, equipment, and workspaces
• Attend meetings, events, and activities across various campus locations

Personal Attributes

Promote and adhere to the NAE vision and values. As a teammate, exemplify the “EmpoweUs” Competences:

• We communicate with Impact: Communicate openly, with transparency and kindness. Influence and encourage people to share ideas. Understand audiences to build trust and make a positive impact on students’ lives.
• We collaborate with empathy: Team player who shares knowledge to help colleagues and students learn and grow. Understand culture, background and needs of others so everybody feels welcomed, included and accepted. Self-aware — conscious of impact on people and situations and adapt behavior to work collaboratively.
• We make