Administrative Assistant

1st Homecare; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 14,000 - 17,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday (pro-rata)

Training & mentoring

Employer contributory pension

Health Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work

Refer a Friend Bonus

Recognition initiatives

Job summary

Real Life Options is seeking an Administrative Assistant to support the Research Project Lead on multiple research projects across the organisation. Hybrid/flexible working with occasional UK travel is offered.

This 2-year fixed term contract is part-time at 21 hours per week, with a salary of £15,120 per annum. The role focuses on organising meetings, maintaining project records, coordinating communications and providing high-quality administrative support within a cooperative, values-led

Qualifications

• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Good attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day administrative support to the Research Project Lead.
• Organise and coordinate meetings, workshops and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Prepare agendas, record minutes and monitor the completion of agreed actions.
• Maintain project plans, action logs, risk registers and other project documentation.
• Support the collection, collation and organisation of research data and information.
• Coordinate communications with internal colleagues, people supported by Real Life Options, external partners and other stakeholders.
• Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations, briefing papers and project updates.
• Manage project records and ensure information is accurate, up to date and stored appropriately.
• Monitor key deadlines and milestones, highlighting any risks or delays to the Research Project Lead.
• Provide general administrative support including diary management, correspondence and document formatting.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Independent worker

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

Teams

Job description

Administrative Assistant to the Research Project Lead

Location: Hybrid/Flexible - There may be an element of travel across the UK within this role on occasion

Hours: 21 hours per week

Salary: £15,120 per annum

Duration: 2-year fixed term contract

About Real Life Options

Real Life Options is a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health support needs, and other complex needs to live independent, fulfilling lives. Through innovation, evidence-based practice, and co-production, we continuously seek better ways to improve outcomes for the people we support, our colleagues, and our communities.

Role Purpose

To provide high-quality administrative and coordination support to the Research Project Lead, ensuring the effective organisation, delivery and monitoring of research projects across Real Life Options. The postholder will be responsible for maintaining project documentation, coordinating stakeholder communications, organising meetings and supporting the timely delivery of project objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day administrative support to the Research Project Lead.
• Organise and coordinate meetings, workshops and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Prepare agendas, record minutes and monitor the completion of agreed actions.
• Maintain project plans, action logs, risk registers and other project documentation.
• Support the collection, collation and organisation of research data and information.
• Coordinate communications with internal colleagues, people supported by Real Life Options, external partners and other stakeholders.
• Assist in the preparation of reports, presentations, briefing papers and project updates.
• Manage project records and ensure information is accurate, up to date and stored appropriately.
• Monitor key deadlines and milestones, highlighting any risks or delays to the Research Project Lead.
• Provide general administrative support including diary management, correspondence and document formatting.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Good attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining regular communication with the Research Project Lead.
• Experience of supporting projects, research activities or administrative functions is desirable.
• An understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements.

Why Join Us?

• A minimum of 28-days paid holiday a year, including bank holidays (pro-rata for part time staff)
• Accredited training giving you the knowledge and skills to deliver a first rate job - develop professionally through training, mentoring, and a strong support network
• An employer contributory pension scheme
• Work in a collaborative, values-led environment

In addition to the above you also have access to the following great benefits:

• Health Cash Plan (for full/part time contracted hours)£10,000 Life cover
• A free Employee Assistance Programme (including a medical helpline, telephone and face-to-face counselling, debt, financial and legal information)
• A reward gateway with access to discounted goods and services
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• A financial wellbeing scheme
• Refer a Friend Incentive Bonus (terms and conditions apply)
• Recognition Initiatives

Real Life Options are an equal opportunities employer. We seek to recruit, train and promote the best person for the job, to make full use of the talents and resources of all our people and to craft a working environment free from unlawful discrimination, victimisation and harassment in which all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty, a medical condition or individual need that you believe may affect your performance in selection, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to our processes to enable you to perform at your best so please do let us know.