This is a full time post (35 hours per week) based on site for a 12 month assignment.
The post holder will need to prioritise their workload and juggle a varied range of responsibilities. They will be the primary point of contact for the Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research and work closely with them to enable him to meet their strategic objectives.
The Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research is seeking a confident, highly proficient, and experienced Operations Officer to provide broad support. The post holder is a member of the Professional Services team, providing high quality support primarily to the Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research
The Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research is the Academic Lead for the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences responsible for the strategic direction of the School and the successful delivery of its internationally renowned education and research activities. The Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research has a very wide range of responsibilities both within the School, Faculty and University and externally. They work closely with the Schools Academic and Professional Services Leads, including the School Manager who is the Schools Professional Services Lead with responsibility for the operations and support of the education and research activities and its resource management.
The post holder will have a detailed understanding of methods, systems and procedures gained through significant experience complemented by formal qualifications and/or training. They must be highly organised and systematic in their approach to work, using their initiative and judgement to address and solve problems. They will set their own short-term priorities, providing a range of support including:
* acting as the first point of contact for the Director, Centre for Critical Illness Research for internal and external colleagues
* reception duties
* supporting meetings/room bookings/hospitality - in person as required
* dealing with inward and outward mail
* dealing efficiently with communications and correspondence, using clear and precise language
* manage and maintain Centre Intranet, web pages and SharePoint
* establishing clear, well-documented processes and maintaining records to facilitate information retrieval
* helping the School/Centres excel in education, research, and knowledge transfer activities, through supporting an inclusive, collaborative, enabling approach to work, sharing of best practice, and building consistency of practice and process
* acting as Secretary for Centre committees and other groups as required, setting up meeting dates, preparing, and distributing papers and taking minutes
Essential Skills and Experience:
* Extensive administrative/operations experience with an in-depth knowledge of a range of practices, methods, and procedures
* Clear and precise communication skills, including formal communications such as report/minute writing
* Strong interpersonal and influencing/behavioural skills
* Proficient computer use with knowledge of the full Microsoft package - MS Outlook 365, MS Teams, PowerPoint, Word and Excel, along with the use of a web-publishing software package
* Proactive and responsive to contacts in immediate area, across the organisation and externally, building relationships and a network
* Solutions-focused self-starter, with excellent planning and organisational skills, a good eye for detail and able to manage competing priorities and work with minimal supervision
Desirable criteria:
* Experience of working as part of a wider team
* Have a full working knowledge of GDPR regulations and experience of complying with complex regulations/procedures
* Experience of working in the higher education sector
Qualifications:
* Minimum level 4 qualification, e.g., higher apprenticeship, HNC or other Level 4 award, plus relevant work experience OR Considerable knowledge and skills gained through work experience in a relevant post, demonstrating development through progressively more demanding work and the completion of professional training
* Evidence of an active commitment to career development