Personal Assistant and Senior Administrator

We're looking for an organised, proactive, and highly professional individual to join our team in a varied and rewarding support role. 

You'll provide dedicated support to Glenn Watts, Science Director for Water and Climate Science (50% FTE), alongside supporting other senior leader(s) across the organisation (30% FTE). Working at the heart of the leadership team, you'll play a key role in ensuring priorities are managed effectively and day-to-day activities run smoothly. 

This is a diverse position that combines Personal Assistant responsibilities with broader coordination and administrative support. You'll work closely with senior leaders, colleagues from across UKCEH, and external stakeholders, helping to coordinate meetings, manage communications, and organise logistics to ensure everything runs efficiently and professionally. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Manage diary, inbox requests and respond to routine enquiries for a Science Director and a small number of other senior leaders.  Escalating matters where appropriate. 

Coordinate UK and international travel, accommodation and conference arrangements for specific senior leaders. 

• Provide logistics for meetings, workshops, visits and stakeholder engagements, including preparing agendas, circulating papers, note taking in meetings. 

• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism. 

• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and ways of working. 

We're Looking for Someone Who: 

Essential 

• Has experience as a Personal or Executive Assistant or similar senior administration support role, managing diaries and email on behalf of others. 

• Has experience maintaining records, coordinating information and supporting operational activities. 

• Is highly organised and able to manage multiple competing priorities and work to deadlines. 

• Has effective communication and interpersonal skills, building effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels. 

• Has excellent attention to detail. 

• Ability to work independently while recognising when issues require escalation. 

• Is confident using Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 

• Can manage confidential information appropriately and exercise sound judgement. 

Desirable 

• Experience supporting senior leaders or Directors. 

• Experience working within research, scientific or technical environments. 

• Experience organising large or complex meetings, workshops or events. 

• Experience taking minutes and managing action logs. 

• Experience coordinating activities across multiple teams or functions. 

How to apply and what happens next  

If you’re interested in joining us, we’d love to hear from you. Apply through our Workday portal by uploading your CV and answering the three questions below. A separate cover letter is not required.  

Please keep each response to 150 words or fewer, using clear examples that highlight your own contribution and relevant experience.  

Q1. How do you keep track of actions, deadlines and commitments for more than one person as well as your own? 

Q2: What do you need to understand about the person you support in order to be really effective? 

What happens next?  
Our panel will review your application, and we are committed to providing an outcome to all applicants.  

Working at UKCEH is genuinely rewarding  

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute, where your work will have real impact. Our science helps people and the environment to prosper and informs decisions that benefit society as a whole. We’re proud to be custodians of over 60 years of environmental data, and just as proud of the people behind it. You’ll be supported to develop your career, grow your skills and thrive in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.  

What we offer  

At UKCEH, we recognise your dedication and provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you both at work and at home. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:  

• Generous annual leave - 27 days (rising to 29 days after 5 years) +3 for Christmas closure 

• 10% employer pension contribution 

• Financial protection through life assurance and income protection

• Enhanced family-friendly policies

• Flexible and hybrid working options (depending on your role)

• Lifestyle perks including dental, gym, retail and cycling discounts

• A commitment to wellbeing, supported by a range of internal initiative

• Employee Assistance Programme and health benefits, including 24/7 support with remote GP access, mental health, physiotherapy and lifestyle services

• Peer recognition and rewards that celebrate your contribution

• Salary sacrifice agreement benefits including Electric & Plug-in Hybrid vehicle and Cycle2Work schemes 

• Interest-free annual travel season ticket loans (terms apply)

Our commitment to inclusion

At UKCEH, we believe everyone should feel welcome and able to be themselves at work. We warmly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and identities. As a Disability Confident employer, we’re happy to support you with any adjustments you may need throughout the recruitment process.

Our approach to AI and applications 

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to support their application. We encourage you to ensure your submission reflects your own experience, skills and suitability for the role. Every application that meets the essential criteria will be reviewed by our recruitment panel. 

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role, and the role is not eligible for endorsement under the Global Talent visa route. 

If you already have, or intend to obtain, the right to work in the UK through another visa route that does not require UKCEH sponsorship, please tell us in your application.