About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Doorkeeper in Black Rods Office at the House of Lords. This is an exciting position where you will be working in and around the House of Lords Chamber!

 

This is an opportunity to work onsite at Parliament working Monday to Friday. Variable working patterns are required. The House of Lords routinely sits late, and, on such occasions, Doorkeepers are required to remain on duty until the House rises. This applies when the House is sitting, and a generous late duty allowance is paid to cover this. There is more flexibility during recess periods.

Doorkeepers work at the very heart of what the House does, performing a number of functions in and around the Chamber to ensure that it operates effectively and securely, and they play a central role in the ceremonial aspects of Parliament. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to work in a unique, fast-paced environment.

Job description

You’ll be accountable for –

• Maintain visible security and smooth running of the Chamber of the House of Lords and the immediate surrounding areas
• Operating the system for allocating seats for guests in the House of Lords Chamber Galleries and the issue of tickets for seats in the Galleries
• Directing members of the Public wishing to view the proceedings of the House
• Providing an immediate response to any incident in the Chamber of the House of Lords
• Act as a First Aider at work (including in the use of a defibrillator) and, as required, providing first aid at major events and to Members in the Chamber and public areas of the House of Lords; training will be given on appointment
• Supporting major State Occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament, as directed by the Principal Doorkeeper
• Supporting formal events and ceremonies in the Robing Room, Royal Gallery and Westminster Hall as directed by the Principal Doorkeeper
• Operating the annunciator system, used throughout Parliament to keep Peers and MPs informed on the business both Houses and important announcements.

If this sounds like something you would like to hear more about, please apply below.

Person specification

We’re looking for someone who…

• Has excellent team-working skills together with the experience of working with a variety of people in a diverse & inclusive organisations
• Can operate with tact, confidentiality, sound judgement and impartiality.
• Can maintain the highest professional standards, whilst conducting your daily duties and/or high-profile ceremonial events
• Is willing and able to work long and sometimes unpredictable and unsocial hours.
• Has experience of using IT packages i.e., Word and Excel
  
  

It would be even better if you had or are willing to learn…

• First Aid Training
• Basic understanding of the work of the House of Lords
• Ability to recall individuals names and faces for recording and access control purposes.

The job description provides full details about the role and what we are looking for.

Benefits

What you’ll get in return

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service)
• Generous pension scheme
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme
• The opportunity to witness history in the making!

The work we do is vital to House of Lords, and you will be a pivotal member in the team strengthening the work of the House. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. It is independent from and complements the work of the House of Commons to:

• Make laws
• Check and challenge the actions of the government through questions and debates
• Investigate public policy and provide a forum of independent expertise

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Please complete your online application by 23.55pm on 4th February 2024.  

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact HLRecruitment@parliament.uk

Job offers are standardly offered at the minimum of the salary range

The House of Lords Administration is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of their age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender/sex, gender reassignment/trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. The Administration will also consider flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. For this role we particularly welcome applications from groups which are currently underrepresented within the team, including applications from Black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates and candidates with disabilities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.