Operations Officer

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Support activities related to ESRC internal communication channels such as ESRC News publishing, keeping intranet content up to date and relevant, including writing for internal audiences.
• Support internal campaigns and events that promote engagement with training, line management, organisational change, and strategy.
• Support activities of the ESRC corporate training programme, including scheduling of events, internal promotion, managing attendance, and evaluation.
• Provide interview support activities and manage unexpected on-the-day issues.
• Ownership and maintenance of key Operations Team documentation that ensures information is accurate and relevant for its audience.
• Shared mailbox and general query management that draws on operational knowledge of processes and policies.
• Provide secretariat support to groups under the COO's remit, including preparing meeting arrangements, agendas, papers, and minutes.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying issues and trends, collaborating with colleagues across ESRC, UKRI and UK Shared Business Service.
• Provide cover and business continuity for other team members' business-critical activities, when required.
• Undertake the role of Champion, expert guides from across the organisation in a range of functions, such as Purchase Order (PO) champion.

Person Specification

• A degree in a relevant discipline, or demonstrable experience of working in a relevant environment or role.
• Planning and organisational skills, including an ability to prioritise and manage multiple or complex activities.
• Quality focused, with demonstrable attention to detail and pride in accuracy.
• Ability to take a positive approach to solve problems and overcome challenges.
• Effective personal communication and interpersonal skills, communicating using the appropriate methods and style for the intended audience.
• Confident speaking with internal audiences face-to-face and dealing with sensitive issues calmly and professionally.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative and good working relationships with team members, stakeholders, and others at all levels.
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic and possesses flexibility to adapt, change and cope with ambiguity.
• IT competency, including Microsoft Office suite.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary: £30,895 per annum.
• Grade: UKRI Band C.
• Hours: Full time or Part time (Minimum 0.8 FTE).
• Contract Type: Fixed Term until 30 June 2027.
• Location: Polaris House, Swindon, Wiltshire.
• 30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined salary pension scheme.
• Easily accessible public transport links/free parking.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.

Application Information

• Please apply online at UKRI careers.
• Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
• People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
• This job is broadly open to UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK, and certain other groups.
• Closing Date: Tuesday 6th October 2026.

About UKRI