Postgraduate Research Support Officer

We offer a wide range of benefits, including competitive annual leave, a generous pension scheme, flexible working options, development and wellbeing support, retail discounts, and more.

The postgraduate research student community plays a central role in the research life of the University. Postgraduate research students conduct their own research, supervised by an academic team, and contribute to the research culture, output and impact of their group, discipline and school. Postgraduate support officers work closely with PGR students, the academic PGR leadership and other Professional Services colleagues.

• Act as the first point of contact for PGR students, working with academic supervisors and departmental leads.
• Maintain a regular overview of student progress and attendance data and report to the Faculty Doctoral School Manager.
• Support the PGR application process, working with central admissions and School PGR Leads, managing queries, arranging interviews, recording decisions, communicating with applicants and ensuring compliance with recruitment regulations and standards.
• Support pre‑ and post‑registration activities for accepted PGR applicants such as induction, registration and welcome events.
• Arrange progress milestones (e.g., confirmation reviews, oral examinations), organising venues and attendees and ensuring compliance with regulations and standards.
• Advise on the application of the University’s Code of Practice for PGR degrees and liaise with Professional Services.
• Support the administration of internal and external scholarship processes and applications for PGR studentships.
• Update and maintain University, Faculty and School systems and databases to keep an accurate record of PGR and research activity.
• Support financial activities, such as setting up funding forms and processing RTSG payments.
• Ensure student details are captured correctly and by the deadlines on external systems such as Je‑S.
• Provide financial and progress reports to UKRI funders via Je‑S.
• Represent the School/Faculty at committees, meetings and events as required.
• Contribute to the production of materials for PGR students, including handbooks, programme materials and descriptions, ensuring consistency with Faculty and institutional guidelines.
• Engage with local and University networks to stay current with policy and procedural updates.
• Signpost students to additional support services, including international, wellbeing and mental health resources.
• Provide administrative support for Centres for Doctoral Training where required.
• Carry out other duties commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.

• Educated to A Level standard or equivalent experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer‑service skills, with experience delivering efficient and effective responses to queries.
• Ability to communicate clearly with staff and students in person and in writing.
• Ability to deal sensitively with people from a wide variety of cultures.
• Ability to manage workload in consultation with colleagues, meeting deadlines and handling unscheduled tasks.
• Ability to work on own initiative and recognise when to refer matters to senior colleagues.
• Proven IT proficiency, including Microsoft and Google packages, email and internet use.
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills, with appreciation of long‑term implications.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Teamworking skills, developing positive relationships and supporting others to achieve objectives.
• Excellent event‑organisation skills, capable of managing events and meetings for internal and external stakeholders.
• Understanding of the education sector and key issues affecting higher education.

Salary: £27 319 – £31 236 per annum. Full‑time, open‑ended position.

• Minimum of 38 days annual leave, including bank holidays and closure days, with the option to purchase additional days.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid arrangements for suitable roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Wide range of retail discounts and rewards.
• Access to staff networks (e.g., Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition awards for exceptional performance.
• Commitment to development through learning and mentoring schemes and the Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
• Family‑friendly policies, including paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies, menopause support, paid time off for fertility treatment, and more.

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds and beliefs of all, fostering a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. We are a Disability Confident Leader. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this role you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.