At a Glance
- Tasks: Administer visa operations and support funding administration tasks in a dynamic team.
- Company: Join UK Research and Innovation, a leader in research funding.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, flexible working, and a great pension scheme.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of continuous learning with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in research while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: GCSE level or relevant experience; teamwork and organisational skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 25842 - 25842 £ per year.
UKRI Salary: £25,842 per annum. Band: UKRI Band B. Contract Type: Fixed Term (12 months). Hours: Full-time/ Part Time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available). Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available. Closing Date: Sunday 16th August 2026.
About the role
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is an independent, non-departmental public body, which invests over £6bn per annum in research and innovation. The postholder will work within UKRI Funding Services, covering Visa operations (such as Global Talent Visa and Government Authorised Exchange) and other funding administration tasks. UKRI Funding Services is a dynamic large team that promotes coworking, discussion and collaboration to successfully manage awards on behalf of UKRI.
As a UKRI Visa Operations administrator, you will be responsible for administering visa activities that are delivered by the team on behalf of the Research Councils. This includes managing administrative workloads such as:
- Checking applicant eligibility criteria against immigration rules.
- Maintaining accurate, auditable records suitable for reporting.
- Management of mailbox, responding promptly and professionally to emails.
- Checking of grants and awards for suitability.
- Processing of Contact accounts records.
- Data Integrity Management.
- Administrative checks.
The post holder will be expected to learn and apply Global Talent Visa and Government Authorised Exchange visa knowledge and expertise to facilitate the accurate and effective management of the application process, liaising with partners/customers as required and collaborating with colleagues across UKRI at all levels to provide a professional and proficient service and maximise customer satisfaction.
Your responsibilities:
The role requires managing the administration of a number of tasks within the UKRI Funding Services team. The Postholder will be responsible for:
- Administering the GTV and GAE application process, ensuring compliance with Home Office regulations and maintaining the SLA requirements.
- Applying knowledge, skills and expertise to support and have input into UKRI Visa infrastructure.
- Providing clear and concise advice to queries/questions from a variety of collaborators at all levels, including the external community maintaining positive relationships.
- Providing training and support to other members of the team, building, and maintaining positive relationships.
- Embracing changes based upon regulatory or policy requirements e.g., a change to the system, updates from business rules, process changes due to continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensuring the management of data is compliant with GDPR principles.
- Processing Contact account records, and Data Integrity Management.
- Meeting support, such as arranging meetings, booking meeting rooms and writing up meeting notes.
Personal Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
- GCSE level or above / relevant experience (S).
- Knowledge of what is required to work in a high volume, transactional and supporting organisation or a similar role. (S).
- Experience of working as part of a team (S&I).
- Demonstrable ability to work to agreed targets and deadlines. (S&I).
- The ability to coach and provide support for less experienced staff (S&I).
- Effective organisation and planning skills, including the ability to prioritise and manage complex activities and a varied workload (including conflicting demands) (S&I).
- Good IT skills including experience of using Microsoft Office packages: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and an ability to learn new systems (S).
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning!
A list of benefits below:
- An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
- 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
- Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
- Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
- Flexible working options.
- Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!
For further information on our benefits please see: Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact Recruitment@ukri.org.
As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK.
Visa Operations Administrator in Swindon employer: UKRI
The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters professional growth and collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee development, the LMB provides comprehensive training opportunities and encourages continuous learning, making it an ideal place for HR professionals looking to make a meaningful impact in the scientific community. Located in the vibrant Cambridge Biomedical Campus, employees benefit from a supportive culture that values innovation and teamwork, ensuring a rewarding career path in Human Resources.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Visa Operations Administrator in Swindon
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We think you need these skills to ace Visa Operations Administrator in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
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How to prepare for a job interview at UKRI
✨Get to Know Public Sector Values
Before your interview with UKRI, dig deep into their mission and values, especially how they align with public service and community impact. Understand the key policies or initiatives they are involved in – you’ll want to show that you genuinely care about serving the community.
✨Brush Up on Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
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The government sector thrives on collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully worked in diverse teams or involved stakeholders in your projects. Show us how you bring people together to get a common goal achieved – that's what public service is all about!
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