The Cleaner Porter helps keep Nicolson Square Venues clean, safe and welcoming for staff, artists, hirers and visitors. You will deliver high standards of cleaning across the building and outside areas and provide practical portering support for events and room set-ups. The role includes key holder responsibilities and basic building security checks when opening and closing.
Key Result Areas
- Maintain consistently high cleaning standards across public, tenant and back-of-house areas.
- Ensure toilets and washrooms are clean, hygienic and fully stocked throughout the day.
- Support smooth event operations through timely room set-ups, changeovers and portering assistance.
- Carry out key holder opening/closing tasks and basic security checks, reporting issues promptly.
- Use cleaning chemicals and equipment safely and in line with IOSH/venue procedures.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and hirers to keep the venue welcoming and well-presented.
Duties & Responsibilities
Cleaning duties:
- General building cleaning, maintaining high standards across public and back-of-house areas.
- Hoovering, sweeping, mopping and dusting.
- Cleaning and restocking toilets and washrooms.
- Floor polishing as required.
- Window cleaning (internal and external where safe to do so).
- Litter picking and keeping entrances and external areas clean and presentable.
- Safe use, storage and reporting of cleaning materials and equipment in line with IOSH and venue procedures.
Portering and event support duties:
- Setting up and taking down rooms for events (e.g., layouts, furniture and equipment).
- Moving furniture and other large items safely, using trolleys and lifting assist devices where appropriate.
- Assisting with the delivery of events and conferences, including responding to reasonable on-the-day requests.
- Occasional dishwashing using a commercial dishwasher.
- Ad hoc general building maintenance (e.g., painting, using power tools, assisting with weekly testing of water and fire alarms).
- Acting as a key holder, including opening and closing the building as required.
- Monitoring building security during shifts, carrying out basic checks and reporting issues promptly.
- Working collaboratively with colleagues and hirers to ensure smooth venue operations.
- Occasionally supporting events by acting as a building keyholder and monitoring guests coming and going.
Skills & Capabilities
Essential
- Experience of cleaning in a commercial building or equivalent premises (e.g., hotel, community centre or similar).
- Ability to work to a consistent standard, prioritise tasks and use initiative.
- IOSH trained (or willingness to complete training promptly).
- Manual handling capability, including lifting up to 20kg and/or moving large items using trolleys and lifting assist devices.
- Reliability and punctuality, with a flexible approach to occasional evening and weekend work.
- Awareness of safe working practices and ability to report hazards, defects or incidents promptly.
Desirable
- Familiarity with events and conference delivery and/or venue operations.
- Previous experience working in the arts and culture sector and/or a charity/not-for-profit environment.
- Experience of key holder responsibilities and building opening/closing routines.
- Confident conversing with building tenants, guests and contractors, relaying feedback to the management team.
- Confident using Microsoft 365 apps (including Teams, Shifts and Outlook) for communication and rota information.
Working conditions
- This role is active and practical and involves regular standing, bending, carrying and moving equipment and furniture.
- Work is primarily on weekdays; however, occasional evening and weekend shifts are required to support events and operational needs.
- You will be expected to follow venue procedures for health and safety, safe cleaning practices and manual handling.
- Our team is small and collaborative; we support each other and pride ourselves on a personable yet professional working environment for ourselves and our guests.
How to apply
Please submit your CV and a short cover letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria. Please contact us through the chat function and we'll aim to come back to you as soon as possible.
- Experience
- Required
- Languages
- English – Advanced
- Employment
- Part-time
- Schedule
- 20hrs per week. Usually Mon-Fri, occassional evenings and weekends.
- Salary
- up to £13.45 hourly
25 Nicolson Square, EH8 9BX, Edinburgh
Events and conference venue. • 1-10 Employees
Hiring on JOB TODAY since May, 2026
Our team is small and collaborative; we support each other and pride ourselves on a personable yet professional working environment for ourselves and our guests.
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