At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the Head of College Services with essential administrative tasks and member management.
- Company: Join St Edmund’s College, a vibrant part of the University of Cambridge.
- Benefits: Enjoy a great salary, 25 days holiday, free parking, and discounts at local shops.
- Why this job: Be part of a friendly, diverse community shaping the future of higher education.
- Qualifications: Experience in administration, membership management, and excellent communication skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working options and opportunities for professional development available.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Contract type: Permanent, Full time 36.5 hours
Are you a highly organised individual with experience managing memberships? Or maybe you are an experienced administrator within Higher Education environments? If so, St Edmund’s College is seeking a highly organised and proactive Membership Assistant to provide essential administrative support to the Head of College Services. This is a key role that ensures the smooth servicing of our Fellows and senior members throughout their journey with the College. Due to the nature of the role, regular onsite presence is essential. However, the line manager is happy to accommodate up to one day of remote working per week.
Job responsibilities
- Act as the primary point of contact for queries and requests for support regarding Fellows and senior members.
- Undertake all administration relating to the recruitment, appointment, welcome, renewal and departure of all Fellows, visiting academics and other members of the wider Fellowship and senior membership.
- Create and maintain records on databases, as well as electronic and paper filing systems. Undertake all filling and archiving as required.
- Utilise databases to respond to requests from your line manager and senior staff, including the manipulating and analysis of data to extract insights and identify trends.
- Assist your line manager in actively managing stakeholder relationships by maintaining engagement records, ensuring effective communication and continuity in service.
- Arrange the College’s Admissions Ceremonies, at which new Fellows and senior members are formally admitted to the College.
- Arrange Fellowship Dinners.
- Oversee the administration of Fellowship & Senior Member benefits (i.e dining privileges), proactively delivering clear overviews and guidance to Fellows and Senior Members to ensure understanding of entitlements.
- Provide support to your line manager by organising meetings, providing diary support, drafting agendas and coordinating timely responses to actions arising from senior level discussions.
- Provide required administrative support including drafting agendas, taking minutes, and ensuring that action items are executed, supporting the Chair of certain committees.
- Update the College website with Fellowship and Senior Member information.
- Welcome and host guests as required by the College.
- Liaise with external institutions as required.
The Ideal Candidate
Experience
- Proven experience in a busy administrative role.
- Experience with record management or databases or with the ability to learn how to use systems.
- Experience managing memberships.
- Experience providing diary management and minute taking. (desirable)
- Experience organising events or formal dinners (desirable).
- Experience within a collegiate or higher education environment (desirable).
Skills
- Excellent administrative skills – fully conversant with Microsoft Suite and able to learn other IT software packages and databases.
- High attention to detail and confident challenging data.
- Excellent communications skills, including the ability to converse with a variety of different stakeholders.
- Understands and values the importance of confidentiality.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Understanding or familiarity with the structure and culture of Higher Education institutions, such as collegiate Cambridge (desirable).
As well as a great salary and friendly team you will also receive:
- Working daily allowance for food and drinks.
- Free car parking (where available).
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (increasing with length of service).
- Discounts at restaurants, shops & more.
- Death in service.
- Access to LinkedIn Learning & Business Disability Forum.
About St Edmund’s College
St Edmund’s College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. Our vibrant student body is made up of around 420 post-graduates and 130 mature undergraduates. With over 260 senior members – academics working at the cutting edge of their field or eminent members of their profession – and around 100 staff, you will be joining a dynamic and growing College with an ambitious vision for our role in shaping the future of higher education and collaborative research. The maturity of our community means that we have earned a reputation as the friendly college. Relaxed, non-hierarchical and diverse, we pride ourselves on being a place in Cambridge where people of all backgrounds are welcomed, will feel at home and can flourish. Therefore, we welcome all candidates regardless of their demographic characteristics such as gender, race, disability, neurodiversity, religion, age, sex & sexual identity to apply for our opportunities.
How to apply
Please send your cover letter and CV to the HR Team at hr@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk
Closing date for completed applications: 05/10/2025
Interviews will be held throughout the period that the advert is live and thereafter.
If you have informal enquiries about the post, please email the HR Team.
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: Data Protection Policy.
Any offer of employment is subject to evidence of your right to work in the UK and the receipt of satisfactory references.
Membership Assistant employer: St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge
Contact Detail:
St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Membership Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the College! Research St Edmund’s College and its culture. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their community.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips about the role and the team, which can give you an edge in your application process.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to administrative roles. Think about how your experience managing memberships and organising events can benefit the College, and be ready to share specific examples.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It shows professionalism and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Membership Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your cover letter for the Membership Assistant role. Highlight your experience in managing memberships and any relevant administrative skills that align with what we're looking for at St Edmund’s College.
Show Off Your Organisational Skills: In your CV, emphasise your organisational abilities. We want to see how you've successfully managed multiple tasks or events in the past, especially in busy environments like higher education.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves.
How to prepare for a job interview at St Edmund's College, University of Cambridge
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Membership Assistant role. Familiarise yourself with the job responsibilities and think about how your experience aligns with them. This will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your suitability for the position.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Skills
As a Membership Assistant, being organised is key. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed memberships or administrative tasks. Highlight your attention to detail and any systems you've used to keep things running smoothly.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement Questions
Since the role involves liaising with various stakeholders, be ready to discuss how you've managed relationships in previous roles. Think of specific instances where you’ve communicated effectively or resolved conflicts, as this will show your ability to maintain engagement records and ensure effective communication.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the College’s culture, the team you'll be working with, or how success is measured in this role. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you determine if it’s the right fit for you.