At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Senior Bursar with high-level executive and governance tasks in a vibrant college environment.
- Company: Gonville & Caius College, a prestigious institution within the University of Cambridge.
- Benefits: Generous salary, pension scheme, healthcare plan, 33 days holiday, and free on-site lunch.
- Other info: Fixed-term role with excellent career development opportunities and a supportive community.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in higher education while enjoying a beautiful setting.
- Qualifications: Strong communication, organisational skills, and experience in a professional environment.
The predicted salary is between 41000 - 43000 £ per year.
Salary: £41K to £43K FTE per annum dependant on knowledge and skills plus benefits
Hours: 37.5 hrs per week
The Role
Gonville & Caius College is looking to appoint an outstanding individual as Assistant to the Senior Bursar. This is an exciting, varied and busy role at the heart of a friendly Cambridge college. You will be a confident communicator, used to taking the initiative and be a natural problem solver. This is an opportunity to use your organisational skills and experience in a Higher Education setting, working closely with other staff, academic fellows and students as well as colleagues in partner organisations.
The Senior Bursar's Executive Assistant provides high-level, confidential executive and governance support to the Senior Bursar and acts as a central point of contact for them. The role requires sound judgement, discretion and initiative in anticipating priorities, coordinating information and actions across the Bursary and wider College, and ensuring that key matters are progressed effectively. The postholder supports the efficient operation of College governance and a broad range of finance, HR, remuneration, compliance, property and investment activities, ensuring that work is delivered with high quality, and efficiently.
This role is a full time 12-month fixed term position covering a period of maternity leave offering an annual salary in the range of £41K to £43K FTE per annum dependant on knowledge and skills.
Why work at Caius?
- Generous Pension Scheme; 14.5% employer contributions and 3x death in service benefit
- Health care cash plan
- 33 days of annual holiday (inc. Public Holidays)
- Free on-site lunch provided
- Workplace Nursery Scheme (salary sacrifice)
- College gym
- Car parking (subject to availability/eligibility)
- Cycle to work scheme
- The opportunity to work in a beautiful environment
The Application Process
To register and apply, please click the 'apply' button. The closing date for applications is 23:59 BST on Monday 31 August 2026. The proposed start date is mid to end October 2026. Please note: Interviews are expected to be held in person on Wednesday 9 September 2026. You are encouraged to make an early application as the vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received.
For your application to be considered it must be complete and include an up-to-date CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for this post, along with details of 2 referees, one of whom should have detailed knowledge of your ability in relation to the requirements of the role.
The College
Gonville & Caius College is one of the largest colleges in the University of Cambridge. It is an educational charity, and its mission is to provide a place of education, religion, learning and research, in conjunction with the University that is recognised internationally as being of the highest standard. The College is an academic community comprising some 530 undergraduate students, 250 graduate students, and 110 Fellows (lecturers, professors and other senior academic researchers and teachers) and almost 200 staff. It plays a significant role throughout the University. Our students come from all over the world and our undergraduates study all the subjects offered in the University. Our postgraduates play a vital role in the research activities of the wider University. Our Fellows have globally renowned research expertise ranging from Ancient History to Cosmology and are all recognised as leaders in their fields. The students who graduate from the college form an alumni group of approximately 11,000 individuals. They have achieved recognition in many walks of life and are resident in all continents.
Further Information
Equality of opportunity; the College actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and we encourage applications from all sections of society and in particular, from people who may be under-represented in our community. Entry into a position with the College will be determined by the application of criteria related to the duties of the post. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration.
During the application process, candidates are requested to complete the Equality & Diversity section as part of our Equal Opportunities Policy and monitoring process. The contents of this form will not be disclosed to the selection or interview panels, and all applicant data is managed in accordance with our data protection policy. The College has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK. In applying for this role, you will provide personal data which the College will process in accordance with its data protection obligations and its Data Protection Policy.
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