At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide admin support to STEM research centres and help colleagues excel in their roles.
- Company: The Open University, a leader in flexible education and research excellence.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, competitive salary, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic educational environment.
- Why this job: Join a mission-driven team transforming lives through education and research.
- Qualifications: Strong IT skills, organisational abilities, and a commitment to diversity.
The predicted salary is between 27319 - 30378 £ per year.
The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.
About the Role
This is a part-time, permanent opportunity. Applications from individuals interested in working between 22.5 and 30 hours per week will be considered.
The purpose of this role is to provide personal assistant and administrative support to STEM research centres such as AstrobiologyOU and the Atmospheric Research and Space Exploration Group, ensuring that tasks within the portfolio are completed professionally and to deadlines. You will provide proactive, flexible, and operational and administrative business services support that allows colleagues to do their jobs effectively.
The role holder will provide excellent customer service to members of the faculty by understanding colleagues’ needs and finding solutions to their requirements. The role holder will work closely with the Business Operations Coordinators, research centre managers, personal assistants and other Executive Team Assistants in the Business Operations Team.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide PA support to senior research centre academics as required.
- Diary and inbox management, including liaison with pan-University colleagues and coordination of arrangements for meetings.
- Provide secretarial support to meetings, including taking minutes/action notes (by exception).
- Acting as a first point of contact and handling general enquiries from academics in the research centres, external organisations and partners etc. using initiative to respond or refer on accordingly.
- Supporting day-to-day research centre operations linked to HR, Finance, IT and facilities, and information compliance.
- Supporting the organisation and delivery of events and conferences.
- Updating websites, SharePoint, Teams sites content and email distribution lists.
- Processing and maintaining purchase order requisitions, booking travel and other ad hoc procurement processes.
- Supporting in getting value for money on all purchases and suppliers (adhering to Procurement Policies and guidelines).
- Dealing with early consultancy contract support, travel, and other administration enquiries.
- Booking travel using the Click Travel system, processing and complying with OU risk assessments & Government guidelines.
- Managing office supplies and IT equipment ordering.
- Support visiting academic processes as and when needed.
Other Duties
- Keep skills up to date and attend appropriate staff training and development events.
- Comply with the University’s Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities policies in the performance of their duties.
- Ability to carry out the role in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies.
- To be on site a minimum of 3-4 days a week.
About You
Essential
- Proficiency in English and Maths, which could be evidenced through qualifications (e.g. GCSE or equivalent), work experience, or other relevant training.
- Excellent IT skills to include high level use of Microsoft Office packages.
- Experience of planning and organising several pieces of work, prioritising and scheduling tasks to cope with conflicting demands and deadlines, paying attention to detail and managing records effectively.
- Experience of providing service, organise travel arrangements to internal and external customers.
- Understanding of the principles of data protection and how to manage confidential records and adhere to policies and guidelines.
- Experience of taking high quality minutes with minimal supervision.
- Commitment to principles of improving diversity and equal opportunities within the work environment.
- Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills, with ability to solve problems, prioritise tasks, make timely decisions and support senior managers to prioritise their workload and diary.
- Ability to communicate well with people at all levels and use initiative and work independently and as part of a team in a pro-active manner.
- Flexible, adaptable and responsive to changing duties and working practices.
- Ability to work under pressure and to agreed timescales and within delivery standards.
Desirable
- Knowledge of The Open University and its objectives.
- Aware of and understanding of procurement processes and systems.
- Interest and understanding of a Higher Education or other educational setting.
Support with your application
If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us.
What's in it for you?
At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance.
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.
Work location
This role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes campus and the post holder will be required to work from the Milton Keynes campus full-time. However, there will be the option to work remotely on occasion, if desired.
Early closing date notification
While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered.
If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.
Next steps in the Recruitment process
If shortlisted, we anticipate interviews taking place onsite in Milton Keynes on 21st or 22nd September.
Contact us
If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application, please contact us.
Business Operations Administrator (Research) employer: The Open University UK
The Open University is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and flexible work environment that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With a commitment to diversity and equal opportunities, staff can enjoy a range of benefits, including flexible working arrangements and opportunities for continuous development, all while contributing to a mission that transforms lives through education at our vibrant Milton Keynes campus.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Operations Administrator (Research)
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Operations Administrator (Research)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, your ability to analyse and interpret data is key. Make sure your CV highlights any relevant projects or coursework where you’ve used data analysis tools, and don’t forget to mention any experience with BI software like Tableau or Power BI!
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Tailor Your Cover Letter:With a part-time role, we want to see your motivation and desire for growth. Use your cover letter to explain why you're interested in this position at The Open University UK, what you hope to learn, and how your background fits into their business intelligence needs.
Keep It Concise:Since this is a part-time role, hiring managers are looking for clear and direct communication. Make your CV and cover letter easy to read and to the point – highlight your key achievements and relevant experiences without fluff. We want to see the real you!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Open University UK
✨Show off your analytical skills
In the world of business intelligence, they'll be keen to see how you tackle data analysis. Brush up on tools like SQL or Tableau, and be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform decisions in past work or academic projects. We want to understand your thought process, so be prepared to walk through your analytical techniques clearly.
✨Portfolio peeks
Since it's a part-time gig, your portfolio can really set you apart. Showcase projects where you've drawn insights from data or delivered impactful dashboards. We should aim to highlight not just the end product, but how you approached the problem — think about including a brief reflection on what you learned and any challenges you overcame.
✨Brush up on case studies
Be ready for some scenario-based questions that reflect real-world business problems. We might be quizzed on how to approach a specific data set to derive actionable insights. Consider rehearsing a few case studies relevant to business intelligence roles — it’ll help us think on our feet during the interview.
✨Ask about the team dynamics
Since you'll be part-time, get a feel for how the team operates and collaborates. Asking about how Business Intelligence integrates with other departments at The Open University UK can show your interest in their workflow. Plus, it’ll help you understand how your role fits into the larger picture and where you can make the most impact.
