Science Programmes Officer in Wallingford

Salary - £31,942 - £33,898

Hybrid working (50/50)

Permanent

Closing date for applications: 19 January 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 enthusiastic about developing your project management skills and ready to grow your career in a supportive, hands-on environment? An opportunity has arisen for a Science Programmes Officer to join the project management team for the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI) – a major national investment in UK hydrological science. Reporting to the PMO Manager, you’ll join a small, collaborative team of six project management professionals and play a vital role in supporting the delivery of this high-profile and exciting programme of work.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous experience, or a keen interest, in developing a career in the project management space, who also thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Working closely with your team, you’ll play an important role in keeping projects on track and running smoothly, gaining hands-on experience in all aspects of project management.

You’ll take the lead in coordinating logistics and supporting engaging events for both team and programme-wide meetings, helping colleagues stay connected and well informed. Alongside this, you’ll have the opportunity to get involved in project planning and data collection, contributing to key decisions and seeing firsthand how your work helps the programme succeed.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Act as a first point of contact through the project inbox, triaging enquiries and ensuring they reach the right people.
• Maintain accurate and accessible project information, ensuring documentation is well managed and easy to navigate.
• Coordinate meetings end to end, including scheduling, preparing papers and capturing clear, meaningful minutes.
• Keep the project intranet and calendar up to date, sharing timely information and updates with the wider team.
• Support procurement activity, including sourcing supplies and coordinating with contractors.
• Take ownership of ad-hoc tasks and small sub-projects, seeing them through from start to finish.
• Proactively suggest and help implement improvements that increase efficiency and ways of working.
• Be an active voice in the weekly PMO team meeting, contributing ideas, insight and constructive challenge.
• Welcome and onboard new team members, helping them settle in quickly and feel part of the team.

We’re looking for someone who is enthusiastic about developing and building upon their project management skills and eager to grow their career in a supportive, hands-on environment. You’ll need to be a strong communicator, enjoy regular liaison with colleagues internally and externally. Managing a busy email inbox, coordinating multiple diaries, arranging meetings, and ensuring your colleagues have the information they need will form a central part of your role.

You’ll also need a high level of attention to detail, a methodical approach, and a real enjoyment of administrative tasks carried out accurately and efficiently. This role involves a high volume of meetings and emails, so organisation and focus are essential.

We provide tailored support and training for professional project management qualifications, making this a fantastic opportunity to gain experience, grow your expertise, and take the next step in your project management career.

For the role of Science Programmes Officer, we’re looking for somebody who has:

• Either a project management qualification with little or no practical experience, or relevant experience in a project/programme/PMO environment without a formal qualification. Alternatively, has a love of administration and organisation, combined with a project management qualification (or working towards one).
• Has an interest in environmental issues and harnessing technology to support and improve research.
• Possesses excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, enabling effective interaction with people at all levels across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Has a keen eye for detail and a methodical approach to routine tasks.
• Is proactive and able to work independently, while understanding the importance of seeking guidance when needed.
• Is willing to travel occasionally for project meetings in Lancaster, which may involve a few nights away.
• Is confident using standard office software (MS Office, SharePoint, Teams).

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years.

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 dependent).
• 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.

Apply today! If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please submit your CV along with a supporting statement (max. 300 words) that clearly addresses all three questions below, using brief examples from your current or previous roles:

• How have you used project management approaches in a current or previous role?
• How do you manage your time and objectives?
• How have you used MS Office, SharePoint, MS Teams or other software to support your work or collaboration?

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.