Personal Assistant and Senior Administrator

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH); Lancaster; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Pension contributions

Life and income protection

Hybrid and flexible working

Wellbeing support

Job summary

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is seeking a highly organised Personal/Executive Assistant to support the Science Director for Water and Climate Science and other senior leaders. The role combines diary management, communications, and logistics to keep leadership activities running smoothly.

The successful candidate will work in a diverse environment, coordinating meetings, travel, and stakeholder engagements, while maintaining confidentiality and high professional standards.

Qualifications

• Experience as Personal or Executive Assistant or similar senior administration support role.
• Experience maintaining records, coordinating information and supporting operational activities.
• Highly organised with ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills across all levels.
• Excellent attention to detail and discretion with confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Manage diary, inbox requests and respond to routine enquiries for senior leaders; escalate as needed.
• Coordinate national and international travel, accommodation and conference arrangements.
• Provide meeting logistics: agendas, papers, note taking and follow-up actions.
• Handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
• Identify and improve administrative processes and ways of working.

Skills

Diary management

Email management

Organisation

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Independent working

Escalation awareness

Tools

Microsoft 365

Outlook

Teams

Job description

Salary - £33,284 - £35,322 Depending on experience
Hybrid working (50/50)

Location: Wallingford, Lancaster, Bangor, Edinburgh
Closing date: Monday 2 November 2026

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early.

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.

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.