Business Services Assistant

The Open University UK; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

The Open University UK is seeking a Business Services Assistant (Leadership Support) in Milton Keynes. You will deliver proactive administrative and secretarial support to the Faculty Leadership Team, managing diaries, enquiries, and coordinating meetings and events.

The role sits within the Faculty’s professional services and connects with colleagues across the University. You will work in a fast-paced environment, developing strong relationships and supporting cross-cutting operational

Qualifications

• Experience providing high-quality administrative, PA or secretarial support.
• Diary management and meeting/Events coordination experience.
• Strong written and spoken English with excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive administrative and secretarial support to the Faculty Leadership Team.
• Manage diaries, correspondence, meetings and events with multiple stakeholders.
• Coordinate committee servicing, agendas and minute-taking, and support governance processes.
• Help ensure smooth operation of leadership activities across the Faculty and University.

Skills

High-quality admin support

Diary management

Strong communication

Organisational skills

IT proficiency

Teamwork

Education

Experience in Higher Education

Tools

IT systems

Job description

Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid

Department: Business Services

Closing Date: 22 October 2026

Weekly Working Hours: 37

Contract Type: Permanent

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: Not Applicable

Welsh Language: Not Applicable

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About the Role

As a Business Services Assistantwithin the Faculty’s professional services team, you will support the day-to-day delivery of Business Services by providing proactive, flexible, and professional operational, administrative, and secretarial support that allows colleagues to do their jobs effectively.

Although you will predominantly support Business Services, you will be expected to work flexibly and collaboratively with colleagues across the Faculty. Typically, you will work within one of the following four areas:

• School Operations (SO) – supporting day-to-day school operations and providing secretarial and administrative support to members of the School leadership team and wider academic community.
• Nations Support (NS) – supporting day-to-day operations and administrative support for the academic communities based in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.
• Leadership Support (LS) – supporting the PAs in the provision of secretarial and administrative support to members of the School and Faculty leadership team.
• Facilities and Health and Safety Operations (FHSO) – supporting the Operations & Compliance Managers in all aspects of facilities and H&S management.

You will also support the identification, dissemination, and implementation of good practice as part of a commitment to continuous improvement and the development of operational capabilities.

Please note that the Business Services Assistant role profile is a standardised profile used across several areas of the Faculty. This vacancy is specifically for the Leadership Support (LS) specialism. The successful candidate will join the Faculty Executive Office and provide high-quality PA, secretarial and administrative support to members of the Faculty Leadership Team, including the Associate Deans and the Director of Strategy, Planning and Resources. Key responsibilities will include diary management, handling correspondence and enquiries, meeting and event coordination, committee and meeting servicing, and supporting the smooth day-to-day operation of leadership activities across the Faculty. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a professional, fast-paced environment and developing strong working relationships with colleagues across the Faculty and wider University.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Finance:

Providing operational, administrative and secretarial support, working in conjunction with other members of the team and colleagues across the Faculty and wider University. Activities could include but are not limited to:

Core Responsibilities (all roles):

• Acting as a first point of contact and handling general enquiries from academics, colleagues (within the Faculty and across Central Professional Services Departments), external organisations and partners, using initiative to respond or refer on accordingly.
• Supporting day-to-day School and Faculty operations linked to Health and Safety, HR, Finance, IT and facilities, and information compliance, research and teaching.
• Assisting with the maintenance of systems and processes.
• Supporting the organisation and delivery of meetings, events, and conferences.
• Updating website, SharePoint, Teams sites content and email distribution lists.
• Raising purchase requisitions, booking travel, maintaining records of expenditure, logging future commitments, and contributing to quarterly forecasts.

Specialist Responsibilities:

• Providing secretarial and administrative support to members of the School and Faculty Leadership Teams including diary management, dealing with general correspondence, responding to telephone and e-mail enquiries, and maintaining and updating electronic filing systems. (SO, LS).
• Providing core administrative support (including travel bookings) for the academic community (including PhD students). (SO)
• Supporting Health and Safety, operations and compliance activity across the faculty including completing Level 1 DSE assessments and acting as a local Fire Warden; equipment procurement; management of new starter administration including the online H&S induction. (FHSO)
• Day-to-day administration that supports the allocation and reallocation of Associate Lecturer FTE in the Nations including supporting the allocation of academic tutors to students and arrangements for local cover when required. (NS)
• Acting as a first point of contact and handling general enquiries from students including VOICE queries. (NS)
• Supporting specific compliance related to the devolved nations. (NS)

People Management:

• Prioritising own work, having an awareness of the workload of the team, and supporting colleagues when necessary.

Strategy, Planning, Policy and Governance:

• Servicing committees/meetings, including arranging rooms (bookings and AV equipment, catering, drafting agendas, circulating papers and taking notes etc.)

Project Management:

• Assisting with the administration of all aspects of projects including supporting project initiation, set up and reporting processes, and assisting with day-to-day requests from project teams.

Wider Influence:

• Working collaboratively with others in the team and making an active contribution to the wider work of the Faculty including contributing to networks and communities that support the identification, dissemination, and adoption of good practice and solving common issues and problems.
• Advising on routine enquiries and providing guidance to colleagues on policy and processes.

About You

• A high standard of written English grammar and mathematics commensurate with the roleand a commitment to reflection and personal/professional development.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, establish constructive relationships, and work collaboratively and effectively in a team.
• Effective organisational skills with the ability to remain flexible, adaptable, and responsive and to use initiative, work independently, and solve problems in a pro-active manner.
• Ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information, work accurately, and to manage and manipulate data appropriately.
• Proficient in the use of IT and willing to develop existing skills and learning about relevant IT systems.
• An understanding of, and the ability to work in a manner which aligns with, the University’s mission and Values in Action.
• Experience of providing high-quality administrative, PA, or secretarial support.
• Experience of managing diaries and coordinating in-person and online meetings, events or workshops involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience of working in Higher Education.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or [e-mail] quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

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