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- Tasks: Support research projects with admin and operational tasks, ensuring smooth delivery.
- Company: Dynamic higher education institution with a focus on research excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative atmosphere with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Join a vibrant team and contribute to impactful research projects.
- Qualifications: Experience in research or project environments and strong organisational skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Project Support Officer provides high quality administrative and operational support to research projects within a higher education or equivalent research environment. Working closely with academics, researchers, and professional services colleagues, the post holder will support the effective delivery of research projects across their full lifecycle, from initiation and funding setup through to monitoring, reporting, and BAU. This role requires experience of working in research or project based environments, an understanding of research governance processes, and the ability to manage complex information while supporting multiple stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide day-to-day administrative and operational support for research projects, ensuring compliance with funder, institutional, and regulatory requirements.
- Support project planning activities including timelines, milestones, risk registers, and progress tracking.
- Assist with coordination of project meetings, workshops, and events, including agendas, papers, minutes, and follow up actions.
- Support financial monitoring of research grants, including tracking expenditure, assisting with forecasts, and liaising with finance teams.
- Assist with procurement processes, purchase orders, and supplier coordination in line with institutional policies.
- Support academics and project leads.
- Assist with preparation and submission of funder reports (financial and narrative).
- Maintain accurate project records, documentation, and audit trails.
- Support compliance with research governance requirements, including ethics approvals, data management planning, and open access processes.
- Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including research staff, funders, collaborators, and professional services.
- Support effective communication across project teams, ensuring information is shared in a timely and clear manner.
- Contribute to the development and improvement of research support processes and systems.
- Provide cover and support across the research administration team as required.
Essential Criteria
- Experience working in a research, higher education, or similar project‑focused environment.
- Demonstrable experience providing administrative or project support across multiple work streams.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise competing deadlines.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience of working with financial or budget information.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), and ability to learn new systems quickly.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience supporting research projects.
- Familiarity with research lifecycle processes, including grant setup, reporting, and BAU.
- Knowledge of research governance, ethics, or data management principles.
- Experience using research management systems (e.g. Worktribe, Pure, SAP, Oracle, or similar).
Personal Attributes
- Professional, proactive, and service‑oriented approach.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- Confidence working with academic staff and senior stakeholders.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusive working practices.
Project Support - Research employer: Hays
Contact Detail:
Hays Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Support - Research
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the research and higher education sectors. Attend events, webinars, or even casual meet-ups to get your name out there. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job postings to appear. If you’ve got your eye on a specific organisation, reach out directly. Express your interest in their projects and ask if they need any support. It shows initiative and could lead to opportunities.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation’s current projects and challenges. Tailor your questions and answers to show how your skills can help them achieve their goals. This will make you stand out as a candidate who’s genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities that might be perfect for you. Plus, applying directly can sometimes give you a better chance of being noticed by hiring managers.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Support - Research
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Project Support Officer role. Highlight your experience in research environments and how it aligns with the key responsibilities mentioned in the job description.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to emphasise your organisational skills and attention to detail. Use specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to manage multiple tasks and support complex projects.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. This will help us quickly see how you fit into the role and our team.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hays
✨Know Your Research Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the research lifecycle and governance processes. Familiarise yourself with common terms and practices in project support, as this will show your understanding of the role and impress the interviewers.
✨Show Off Your Organisational Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your organisational abilities. Think about times when you managed multiple tasks or deadlines effectively. Being able to demonstrate this will reassure them that you can handle the complexities of project support.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Since you'll be liaising with various stakeholders, showcasing your strong verbal and written communication skills during the interview is crucial. Consider preparing a few questions to ask them too!
✨Be Proactive and Professional
Exude a proactive attitude throughout the interview. Share instances where you took the initiative in previous roles, especially in a research or project environment. This will reflect your service-oriented approach and commitment to supporting the team.