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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support academic staff with administrative duties, including reading and scribing.
- Company: Join the University of Edinburgh, a world-leading research institution.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous holiday, and comprehensive staff benefits.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant community and contribute to impactful social science research.
- Qualifications: Experience in admin roles and strong IT skills are essential.
- Other info: Flexible part-time hours with potential for contract extension.
The predicted salary is between 26093 - 28778 £ per year.
Job Description
Grade UE04: £26,093 – £28,778 per annum, pro-rata for part time
CAHSS / School of Social and Political Science
Part-time: 15 hours per week
Open ended, with a contract review date of 12 May 2027
The Opportunity:
Working in partnership with an academic member of staff, you will undertake administrative duties to support them in carrying out their role, including acting as a reader and scribe.
This is a part time role of 15 hours per week available from 1 October 2025, with a potential activity cease date of 12 May 2027, with potential for further extension.
The salary range for this post is £26,093 – £28,778 per annum, pro-rata for part time.
Your skills and attributes for success:
- Experience of working in an administrative, personal assistant, or other responsive or supportive role.
- Strong IT skills in MS Office and the ability to create graphs, charts and tables within documents.
- Ability to work co-operatively and effectively.
- Well-developed organisational, time management and task prioritisation skills.
- Demonstrable attention to detail and ability to check own work for accuracy.
Click to view a copy of the full job description (opens new browser tab)
Application Information
As part of your application, please submit a CV and covering letter that addresses your suitability for the role.
Informal questions about this post can be directed to the Hiring Manger, Claire Edminson, Network Coordinator, via email at C.Edminson@ed.ac.uk
Current employees interested in applying for this role should apply through the People & Money Current Jobs app.
As a valued member of our team you can expect:
- A competitive salary
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, such as a generous holiday entitlement, competitive pension schemes, staff discounts, and family-friendly initiatives. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the total value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab)
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. They will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 18 September 2025.
Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm GMT. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.
Interviews will typically be held 2-3 weeks after the closing date.
About Us
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow\’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
About the Team
The School of Social and Political Science (SPS) is one of the largest and most successful schools of social science in the UK, with global reach and local and global impact. Our goals are to promote excellence in education, research and innovation. The School comprises seven Subject Areas plus a number of research and teaching centres and institutes, and a number of cross-Subject consortia and other units. The academic staff complement currently numbers c.265fte. Our staff profile is multi-disciplinary across the key social sciences with a strong and growing international orientation. The School has c. 2,600 undergraduate and postgraduate taught students on its programmes of study, and c. 250 doctoral researchers.
The School\’s primary aim is the advancement and dissemination of knowledge and understanding of social science. We provide an outstanding educational environment and support the highest quality research, tackling some of the world\’s greatest challenges. We deliver excellence in discipline-based and interdisciplinary programmes. In addition, as a School, we play a leading role in delivering learning opportunities for students across the University to engage with current global challenges and uncertainties and in equipping students with the social science tools and lenses they need to become active, responsible and critical global citizens and leaders.
In REF 2021, the School returned 100% of its eligible staff from Professors to early career researchers; a strategy that combined excellence with inclusion. All four Units of Assessment to which SPS contributed were rated amongst the top five in the UK for their breadth and quality of research. Overall 39% of our research activity was classified as world leading with a further 47% assessed as internationally excellent. For two of our four Units of Assessment – Politics and International Relations, and Social Policy and Social Work – the whole of the research environment achieved the highest possible rating and was judged to be world leading.
For further information about our school please visit http://www.sps.ed.ac.uk/
Support Worker employer: University of Edinburgh
Contact Detail:
University of Edinburgh Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Support Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your field, attend events, and connect with current employees at the University of Edinburgh. You never know who might give you a heads-up about job openings or even put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the School of Social and Political Science. Understand their values, recent projects, and how they contribute to social science. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice common interview questions with a friend or in front of a mirror. Focus on showcasing your organisational skills and attention to detail, as these are key for the Support Worker role. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our team at StudySmarter and contributing to an exciting, diverse community.
We think you need these skills to ace Support Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Support Worker role. Highlight your relevant experience in administrative or supportive roles, and don’t forget to showcase your IT skills, especially with MS Office.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Address how your skills and experiences make you a perfect fit for the role. Be specific about your organisational skills and attention to detail, as these are key attributes we’re looking for.
Check Your Work: Before hitting send, double-check your application for any typos or errors. Attention to detail is crucial in this role, so showing that you can check your own work will impress us!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups!
How to prepare for a job interview at University of Edinburgh
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the Support Worker role. Familiarise yourself with the job description and think about how your previous experience aligns with the responsibilities, especially in administrative tasks and supporting academic staff.
✨Show Off Your IT Skills
Since strong IT skills are crucial for this position, be prepared to discuss your proficiency in MS Office. Bring examples of documents you've created that include graphs, charts, or tables, and be ready to explain how these skills can benefit the team.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Skills
During the interview, highlight your organisational and time management abilities. Share specific examples of how you've successfully prioritised tasks in past roles, especially in fast-paced environments, to show you can handle the demands of this position.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare a few insightful questions to ask at the end of the interview. This could be about the team dynamics, the types of projects you'll be involved in, or how success is measured in the role. It shows your genuine interest and helps you assess if the role is right for you.
