Project Assistant

Job Description

Project Assistant

Salary: Band B £24,961 per annum

Hours: Full Time OR Part Time (minimum 22 hours per week) (We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Contract Type: Fixed-Term (2 years)

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.

Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

As a science-driven, professional engineering organisation, we employ state-of-the-art technologies across all our products, including complex optical and infra-red detectors, vacuum-cryogenics, control electronics and software, for both astronomy and non-astronomy applications; and we manage collaborations with academic and industrial partners around the world.

As we continue to develop our projects portfolio and processes, the UK ATC now seeks an experienced Project Assistant to support the department and projects, providing administrative support to group leaders and project staffs. Working with other Project Assistants as part of a flexible and agile team, and reporting into the Project Management Group, your responsibilities will include:

• Organising and preparing for formal meetings and workshops; taking meeting notes and actions if required.
• Helping to organise departmental national and international travel, working with our travel providers.
• Supporting shipping and receiving for projects, handling relevant paperwork.
• Running standard reports from our management information systems.
• Providing administrative support to the local teams, e.g. Public Engagement team and onsite Visitors’ Centre.
• Providing administrative support to the projects, e.g. minute taking, financial reporting.
• Supporting office procurement needs and managing purchase orders in conjunction with our Shared Business Services.

You will be a proactive and organised person, used to managing your time and responsibilities with minimal supervision. Our work involves people working collaboratively on our site and across various UK and international institutes. Therefore, good interpersonal skills and clear communication are needed to work effectively while managing conflicting needs in a busy office environment.

Person Specification

• Minimum of two SQA Highers or equivalent, including English at Grade C or better.
• National 5 or equivalent Mathematics at Grade C or better (or Higher Maths).
• Experience with office administration.
• Computer literate with good Microsoft Office tools and SharePoint experience.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proactive, organised with good attention to detail.
• Able to work well under pressure when there are tight deadlines

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

STFC offers our staff a wide range of excellent non-paying employee benefits, including but not limited to 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days) and excellent learning and development opportunities. Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn – about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.

About Us

UKRI – UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.

Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.

More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all applicants with a disability who opt into the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum criteria for the role. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

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