Receptionist job description template
A receptionist job description sets out how the role runs the front desk and gives visitors their first impression of the company. This template, written for companies in Saudi Arabia, covers greeting visitors, calls, the visitor log, deliveries, meeting rooms and enquiries, with neutral wording and placeholders for your details. Copy it or download it as Word.
Replace everything in [square brackets] with your details.
Job title: Receptionist
Department: [Administration]
Reports to: [Office manager / Administration manager]
Location: [Office address]
Employment type: [Full time / Shift based]
Job purpose
To run [Company name]’s front desk so that visitors, callers and deliveries are handled courteously, safely and without delay.
Key responsibilities
- Greet visitors, check their appointment and inform the person they are meeting.
- Register visitors in the visitor log or system and issue and collect visitor badges.
- Answer, screen and transfer calls, and take accurate messages.
- Receive couriers and deliveries, record them and pass them to the right person.
- Book meeting rooms and prepare them before meetings.
- Answer general enquiries by phone, email and in person.
- Keep the reception area tidy and report building or equipment issues.
- Order reception and kitchen supplies under company policy.
- Follow the emergency and evacuation procedures and keep the visitor list ready.
- Keep visitor and employee details confidential under company procedures.
- Help the administration team with filing, scanning and data entry when the desk is quiet.
Qualifications and experience
- [Secondary school certificate / Diploma].
- [Number] years of reception or customer-facing experience, or none for an entry-level role.
Skills
- Courteous spoken Arabic and English.
- Basic computer skills, including email and [Visitor or phone system].
- Calm, organised and able to handle several tasks at once.
- Discretion with personal information.
Working conditions
Working hours: [Days, hours and any shift pattern, within the Labour Law limits]
Place of work: [Office address]
Probation period: [Number] days, up to 180 days, as set in the contract
Pay and benefits: [Salary range or “to be discussed”], [Housing and transport allowances], [Medical insurance], [Other benefits]
How to apply
[How to apply and the closing date]
How to adapt it
- Say what kind of front desk it is: a corporate office, a clinic, a hotel or a showroom each adds its own tasks.
- Add the systems used, such as a visitor management system, a phone switchboard or a booking system.
- State the shift pattern if the desk is open early, late or at weekends.
What to avoid in a job ad
- Requirements based on gender, age, nationality, religion or appearance. Describe the work and the skills, and let anyone who meets them apply.
- A long list of administrative duties that really make it a different job.
- Pay or benefits the offer will not match.
Some professions and activities are reserved for Saudis, or need a set share of Saudi employees, under Saudisation decisions. Check the decisions that apply to your activity and this profession on Qiwa before you advertise, and see Saudisation.
RafiqHR’s Recruiting module, in the All-in-one plan, posts the job to your careers site, job boards and Jadarat, and Rafiq AI drafts a first version of any description in the free job description generator.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
What does a receptionist do?
A receptionist greets and registers visitors, answers and transfers calls, handles deliveries and couriers, books meeting rooms, answers general enquiries and keeps the reception area tidy, often with some administrative work on top.
What skills does a receptionist need?
Courteous communication in Arabic and English, a calm manner with busy phones and visitors, basic computer skills, organisation and discretion with visitor and employee information.
Can a receptionist job ad ask for a certain appearance?
Ask for professional conduct and the company’s dress code, which applies to everyone. Avoid requirements about looks, gender, age, nationality or religion, which have nothing to do with doing the job well.
This is general information to help you understand the topic. It is not legal advice. Rules and rates change: always check the official text on the relevant authority’s platform and consult a qualified adviser before acting.
