Professional Assistant

University of Suffolk; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days + 8 bank holidays

Birthday leave

Flexible working

Pension USS

Staff discounts Ipswich

Learning & development

Job summary

University of Suffolk is seeking a Professional Assistant to provide high‑level administrative support to senior leaders, manage diaries and meetings, and coordinate events in a busy Directorate environment.

You will draft correspondence, prepare agendas and minutes, coordinate travel, assist with budgets, and maintain electronic filing systems. Strong MS Office skills and precise organisational ability are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in general administration.
• Excellent MS Office knowledge (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint).
• Experience of events and calendar management and coordination.
• Strong communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional support to the Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience, Academic Registrar, Director of Student Life and Director of Learning and Teaching.
• Diary management, organise and support meetings, committees and events, and handle enquiries.
• Draft and manage correspondence, prepare agendas, papers, and minutes, coordinate travel and events, support budget monitoring and financial administration, and maintain filing and office systems.

Skills

General administration

Microsoft Office

Calendar management

Event coordination

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Time management

Tools

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

PowerPoint

Outlook

Word

Excel

Job description

Job Title: Professional Assistant

Hours of work: 37 hours

FTE: 1.0 x FTE

Band: Band 3

Full time Equivalent (FTE) Salary: £28,778 to £32,080 (FTE) (pay award pending)

Actual Salary (part time): N/A

Tenure: Fixed term (until July 2027)

About The Post

• Provide a professional support service to the Pro Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience, Academic Registrar, Director of Student Life and Director of Learning and Teaching. Including diary management, organising and supporting meetings, committees and events, and handling enquiries.
• Key duties include drafting and managing correspondence, preparing agendas, papers, and minutes, coordinating travel and events, supporting budget monitoring and associated financial administration, and maintaining filing and office systems (predominantly electronic).
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint) is required, along with excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.

About The Team

• The Directorate of Education and Student Experience brings together teams that support learning and teaching, quality assurance and compliance, student experience, student support, library and learning services, and student life. It is responsible for shaping and supporting the University’s academic provision, overseeing curriculum development, academic governance, access and participation, and regulatory compliance, while delivering services that help students thrive both academically and personally. Working across the University and with partner institutions, the Directorate helps ensure a high-quality, inclusive, and supportive experience for all students.

About You

• You will have proven experience in general administration, an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint), and experience of events and calendar management and coordination.
• You will bring excellent communication and organisational skills, good problem-solving ability, and the confidence to manage a large and varied workload, often under pressure, while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days for Bands 1-4 and 30 days for Bands 5 and above, plus 8 bank holidays and any university closure days.
• Enjoy an extra day of paid leave on your birthday, subject to qualifying/service conditions.
• Flexible working, including family friendly policies.
• Competitive workplace pension scheme (USS) - with an employer contribution rate of 14.5%, tax relief on contributions and life cover.
• Staff discounts at a number of local amenities in Ipswich.
• Discounted membership at Adastral Park Leisure and Sports
• Access to a range of high-quality learning and development opportunities
• Discounted rates for staff approved to study a UoS undergraduate or postgraduate course, subject to a set of criteria and conditions.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Staff recognition annual awards.

Closing Date: Wednesday 7 October 2026

Interview Date: Friday 16 October 2026

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Eloise Ellis, PVC Education and Student Experience, [e-mail]

Applications received may be reviewed before the closing date and should we receive a high number of applications for this post, or high-quality applications which demonstrate suitability, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early. We may hold interviews as and when applications are received, and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date.

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We are a values driven organisation, committed to ensuring we remain a beacon for aspiration and achievement, while providing a great environment to work and study. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and we encourage applications from under-represented groups.