Senior Science Admin & Project Support Specialist in Wallingford

Location: Wallingford

Salary: £31,942 to £33,233 depending on experience

Hours: Full time, Hybrid

Closing date: Friday 29th May 2026

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

Are you proactive, collaborative, and passionate about biodiversity? Do you enjoy supporting senior managers and scientific projects, working independently, and building strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re looking for an experienced Science Administrator to join our Science Area of 120 scientists. You’ll play a key role in providing high-quality administrative support, helping ensure scientific projects and processes run smoothly and efficiently. With a flexible approach, positive attitude, and ability to manage varied responsibilities, you’ll contribute to effective collaboration and the success of our science teams.

• Provision of full administrative support including diary and meeting management, planning and booking complex travel arrangements including the provision of visas, accommodation and conference facilities in line with the requirements of the Science Area.
• Financial duties will include managing corporate credit card, monitoring budgets, processing expense claims, and raising requisitions, purchase orders and invoices.
• Organising events on site, at other UKCEH sites and at external venues, working collaboratively with other support staff to deliver this. This will include setting up meeting rooms, arranging catering, tele/video conferencing facilities, booking accommodation and coordinating visitor arrangements.
• General support functions e.g. mailing, emailing, photocopying, collating, filing and archiving, and population of corporate databases.
• Act as Secretariat to the Wallingford Site Planning Team and administrative support to the Wallingford Head of Site.
• Work with managers to coordinate interviews and local inductions to ensure that they are booked accordingly and run smoothly.
• Providing administrative support for events and workshops, including support with meeting facilitation, recording and transcribing meetings using software tools, and following up on actions.
• Handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Providing ad hoc science support to projects, including contacting landowners to gain access permission for ecological surveys, data input, equipment preparation and occasionally helping with fieldwork and engagement with international experts.

• A degree and/or equivalent experience in a relevant field e.g. environmental science. This would be advantageous but is not a requirement.
• Experience of scientific project support and administration.
• Demonstration of excellent organisational and time management skills (incl. calendar and event management).
• Is a confident and professional communicator, able to work effectively as part of a team and build positive working relationships through strong networking and negotiation skills.
• Is proactive in seeking opportunities to support scientists and improve administrative processes.
• Excellent knowledge and use of a range of Microsoft suite packages including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Enthusiasm combined with an ability to work as part of a dynamic team, participating actively in cross site networking meetings.
• Has experience of working with a high volume of sensitive/confidential data with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Discretion and an understanding of confidentiality issues.

Working for UKCEH is rewarding. We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as:

• 27 days annual leave (rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service) plus 3 days for Christmas closure
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements (role dependant)
• Peer reward and recognition scheme
• Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
• 24-hour, 365-day support with physical, mental, social, health or financial issues and much more...

If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please apply by submitting your CV along with a response to the question below. In answering the question, provide up to 150 words, using specific examples to demonstrate your personal contribution and impact. Your answers should highlight the qualifications, skills, and experience most relevant to this role. Please do not submit a separate cover letter.

Question: Describe a time when you worked collaboratively across multiple groups to coordinate activities or solve a problem.

At UKCEH, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone—regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance—has the opportunity to thrive. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and those with disabilities. We are happy to provide any adjustments or support you may need throughout the application process—please don’t hesitate to reach out. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team.

Please note: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, and this does not qualify for endorsement to support a Global Talent Visa application. If you are considering pursuing self-sponsorship, please indicate this in your application so we can take it into account during the recruitment process.