Science Support Administrator (Maternity cover) in Norwich

Salary: £30,600 - £33,920 per annum depending on qualifications and experience

Contract: 12 months, full-time

Location: John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK

Closing date: 16 September 2026

Reference: 1006183

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Science Support Administrator to join the Core Administration Team to support the cutting-edge science of the John Innes Centre.

About the John Innes Centre:

The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant and microbial sciences. We nurture a creative, curiosity-led approach to answering fundamental questions in bioscience, and translate that knowledge into societal benefits. Our strategic vision, Healthy Plants, Healthy People, Healthy Planet, sets out our ambitious long-term goals for the game changing impact of our science globally.

Our employees enjoy access to state-of-the-art technology and a diverse range of specialist training opportunities, including support for leadership and management.

The role:

As part of the core admin team, the post-holder will work closely with Heads of Department (HoD), Group Leaders, Scientific Facilities and Laboratory Managers to support and enhance the delivery of excellent science to beneficiaries inside and outside of the organisation. The post-holder will be given diverse tasks and must be flexible as the demands of the job will vary considerably.

Examples of the responsibilities and activities to be carried out by the post holder include the following:

• Provide high-quality administrative and PA support to Heads of Department, Group Leaders and departmental teams, ensuring the effective operation of departmental activities.
• Coordinate meetings including preparation of documentation, minute-taking and follow-up actions.
• Coordinate seminars, conferences, visitor programmes and departmental events.
• Arrange travel, accommodation and logistics for staff, visitors and external collaborators.
• Support departmental administration, information management, reporting and maintenance of Institute systems and records.
• Administer departmental financial processes, including budget monitoring and credit card reconciliation.
• Support staff onboarding and leaver processes in collaboration with HR and other stakeholders.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve administrative processes, efficiency and service delivery.

The ideal candidate:

Applicants are expected to have 6 GCSEs or equivalent, including English and Maths, and experience of working as an administrator in a busy environment. The ideal candidate will be approachable and enthusiastic, enjoy supporting others and take pride in providing an excellent service. They will be highly organised and adaptable, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and remain effective when managing a diverse range of tasks. A strong team player, they will be able to build positive relationships across the Institute, while also using their initiative to solve problems and improve processes.

Additional information:

This is a full-time maternity cover post expected to last for 12 months, this could be shorter or longer depending on when the absent employee returns to work.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

We are an equal opportunities employer, actively supporting inclusivity and diversity. As a Disability Confident organisation, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy. We are proud to hold a prestigious Gold Athena SWAN award in recognition of our inclusive culture, commitment and good practices towards advancing of gender equality. We offer an exciting, stimulating, diverse research environment and actively promote a family friendly workplace. The Institute is also a member of Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme.

The John Innes Centre is a registered charity (No. 223852) grant-aided by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.