Description Role: Executive Assistant – Chaplaincy Grade and Salary: Grade 5, £26,338 - £30,805 per annum FTE and working pattern: 1FTE, 35hrs per week, Monday - Friday Holiday Entitlement : 28 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) Responsible to: The University Chaplain Purpose of Role This post plays a key role in delivering a front-line service to students and staff. You will work in a team consisting of the Chaplain, Executive Assistant, Chaplaincy International Worker, part-time Muslim Chaplain, part-time cook, plus two student residents who reside in the building and several volunteers. You will contribute to the hospitality offered throughout the week, including catering activities, ensuring compliance with food hygiene regulations and kitchen cleanliness. You will be responsible for the administrative work of the Chaplaincy – e.g. databases, diaries, publicity, purchasing, bookings, website and social media, preparing items for print, and the operational side of events and the Chaplaincy itself. Key Duties & Responsibilities Shared responsibility for the day-to- day organization of the Chaplaincy, responding to enquiries from students, staff, residents or the general public regarding the use of the facilities. Assist with planning, organising and publicising the Welcome Week programmes, Pots and Pans Recycling and major annual events such as the Christmas Carol celebration, Anniversary Church Service and Annual Public Lecture Publicity: prepare and ensure accurate information about Chaplaincy activities and events is published on all digital platforms including HWU website, Facebook and Instagram Hospitality: contribute to student support initiatives including cake and coffee sessions and other outreach events as may be organised Responsible for kitchen hygiene for Chaplaincy events (excluding when the Chaplaincy Cook is on site) General administrative duties: Scanning, filing, photocopying, maintaining Chaplaincy noticeboards, preparation for Sunday services, Chaplaincy trips and other general clerical duties Financial reporting: prepare simple income/expenditure reports on Chaplaincy trips and meals Volunteers: recruiting and equipping volunteers for various events run by Chaplaincy Undertake continuing professional development as appropriate Undertake other tasks and responsibilities as requested by the Chaplain or nominee. Essential & Desirable Criteria Education & Qualifications Good educational standard with excellent spoken and written English Experience Experience in working in front-line services, assessing the appropriate response and providing advice, information and guidance on a range of issues Experience in handling confidential/sensitive information Experience in carrying out a wide range of administrative tasks and implementing new processes Experience of working co-operatively and effectively within a team Competencies, Skills & Knowledge Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Skills in responding to distressed or challenging customers Ability to handle data and written text with accuracy and attention to detail Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Publisher and or Canva and skills in using social media and updating web pages Excellent organisational, communication, inter-personal and networking skills Outstanding customer service skills, dealing with a broad range of students and staff Excellent cultural awareness and a commitment to ensuring a sensitive and flexible service Respectful of different religious beliefs Ability to co-ordinate volunteers and supervise preparation of catered events How to Apply Please submit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment. Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Sunday 12th April 2026. We expect shortlisting to be complete by 16th April, Interviews are expected to take place on 23rd April 2026. We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options. Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/. Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University. About the Team The Chaplaincy is a place of welcome and hospitality, a cultural meeting place, and a place for prayer and worship. It is essential that the Executive Assistant has a warm, welcoming personality and will easily interact with groups of students, visitors and with individuals. Part of the Student Wellbeing Service, the Chaplaincy is based in its own premises at the Edinburgh campus where there are approximately 9000 students. The purpose of the Chaplaincy is to enhance the student experience by promoting spiritual and social wellbeing to people of all faiths and no religious faith, and by providing a multi-cultural meeting place for mutual support and interaction. It has a key place in the University’s Strategy of Building Flourishing Communities. It plays a key role in delivering events that form part of the student experience and in particular for our international students. The Chaplaincy building is used for a wide variety of spiritual and social activities and events and is run by a team of staff and volunteers. Some of the key activities taking place in the building or organised by the Chaplaincy are as follows: A soup lunch on Tuesday and a weekly meal on Wednesday evenings caters for more than 70 students Worship provision – a Sunday service is held each week Social and cultural events (some run by the Chaplaincy and others by student or staff groups) Regular weekly groups e.g. Discussion Group Trips to the Scottish countryside for international students Distribution of kitchen equipment at beginning of semesters Major university events such as the Anniversary Church Service, Annual Public Lecture and Christmas Carol Celebration About Heriot-Watt University At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team. Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.