Centre for Care Administrative Officer (Research)

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working

Generous pension

Staff discounts

Professional development

Wellbeing support

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking an Administrative Officer to provide support to the ESRC Centre for Care. Based within the Centre, you will manage documentation, help organise events, and act as the main contact for inquiries about Centre activities.

You will engage with our Centre team and national/international stakeholders, support financial and personnel tasks, book meetings, and help maintain calendars. This is a part-time, hybrid role with duties aligned to the Centre's objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience providing support to research activities.
• Experience in higher education or research contexts.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organise meetings and events.
• Proven record of handling administrative tasks with accuracy.
• Experience with travel and venue bookings.

Responsibilities

• Maintain Centre information, records, databases and generate reports.
• Handle expenses, payments and purchase cards with accurate records.
• Organise travel and accommodation for staff, including risk assessments.
• Provide admin support for Centre meetings, including the Advisory Board.
• Be the main contact for queries about Centre activities.
• Assist with organising research-related events and activities.
• Ensure supplies and resources are available as needed.
• Liaise with internal contacts and maintain professional standards.
• Prioritise work within the Centre’s plan to meet deadlines.
• Carry out additional duties as required.

Skills

Administrative support

Communication skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Customer service

Tools

Microsoft Office

Word

Excel

Google Workspace

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

We are looking for an Administrative Officer with experience of providing support to research activities and of working with research teams. You will be based within the ESRC Centre for Care, under the direction of Director Professor Kate Hamblin and the Centre for Care Manager, Dr Kelly Davidge. You will produce and maintain documentation to ensure smooth operation of the Centre; support regular and ad hoc Centre events; be the main point of contact for all initial enquiries about the Centre; engage with our Centre team, and national and international stakeholders; support financial, personnel and other office-based tasks; assist with bookings and manage the Centre calendar; and perform other administrative tasks as required.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Work proactively to maintain Centre information and documentation, manual and electronic records, databases and generate reports as required, making informed decisions on how best to store information and keep it up to date.


• Take delegated responsibility for aspects of the Centre, for example expense claims, payments to people with lived experience and Purchase cards, following established procedures, keeping accurate, complete and detailed records.


• Organise travel and accommodation arrangements for Centre for Care staff, including arranging risk assessments where necessary.


• Provide effective administration assistance before and during Centre meetings, including the Advisory Board.


• Be the main point of contact for queries about activities within the Centre for Care, providing accurate, relevant and timely information, and taking advice, where appropriate, from senior colleagues.


• Assist with the organisation of research related events and activities.


• Take responsibility for ensuring supplies and resources needed for the Centre are available when required.


• Liaise with internal key contacts in the wider University and maintain high professional standards in all contacts with internal and external members of the Centre team and its networks.


• Prioritise your own work within the general plan for the Centre for Care, ensuring deadlines and appropriate standards are met.


• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Criteria

• Previous experience of working in a research support environment within higher education or another research context. (Essential; Application)


• Experience of a range of administrative and office practices and procedures. (Essential; Application / Interview)


• Ability to assess and organise resources and information effectively, and to set up filing and other systems to ensure information is available and can be reported on as necessary. (Essential; Application / Interview)


• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, working with accuracy and attention to detail; experience of communicating with a range of audiences. (Essential; Application / Interview)


• Experience of developing and maintaining a network of contacts throughout own work area. (Essential; Application / Interview)


• Ability to arrange a wide range of events, e.g. organising room bookings, materials, catering and participants, as required. (Essential; Application / Interview)


• Excellent customer service, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to phone and email enquiries. (Essential; Application / Interview)


• Excellent organisation and time management skills to prioritise own workload and work accurately to tight deadlines with minimal supervision. (Essential; Application / Interview)


• Experience of working effectively both independently and as part of a team. (Essential; Application / Interview)


• Excellent IT knowledge and skills, with experience using Microsoft Office packages, in particular Word and Excel, and Google packages. (Desirable; Application)

Further Information

• Grade: 5


• Salary: £27,319 - £31,236


• Work arrangement: Part-time, 0.5 FTE (2.5 days per week)


• Duration: 1 November 2026 - 31 March 2027


• Line manager: Centre Manager


• Direct reports: N/A


• Right to work in the UK: This role does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship under the UK Visa & Immigration points-based system. Information on alternative visa options is available on www.gov.uk.


• Our website: www.centreforcare.ac.uk


• For informal enquiries about this job contact Kate Hamblin, Centre Director, via [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on 11 November 2026. This will consist of an interview with an activity sent in advance. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 2 November 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail].

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What we offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.


• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.


• Generous pension scheme.


• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.


• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).


• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.


• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; integrated with our Professional Services Shared Skills Framework


• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  
  
  
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  
  
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  
  
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  
  
  • and more
  
  
  
  

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.