Programme Assistant

The Open University; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Open University is seeking an organised administrator to support the management of professional programmes within WELS, ensuring efficient day-to-day handling of information, activity, and events. You will also guide students through complex admissions processes and help with registering onto restricted programmes.

The role emphasizes strong communication, confidentiality, and on-site weekly work in Milton Keynes, with collaboration across nations and external partners.

Qualifications

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with high accuracy and audience-tailored messaging.
• Proven computer literacy with Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Excellent organisational skills with experience supporting meetings and events.
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines and prioritise work to schedule and standards.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve common goals.
• Experience handling sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to work on site on a weekly basis.
• Understanding of the Higher Education sector and compliance with external standards.

Responsibilities

• Support recruitment, selection and programme-related activities across nations.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including senior contacts, to progress department work.
• Assist maintenance and updating of partner details using university IT systems and databases.
• Distribute confidential reports and schedule reporting timetables with accuracy.
• Undertake other duties as required within the role's scope.
• Set up meetings/events and prepare distribution of meeting papers.

Skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Organisation

Time management

Teamwork

Discretion

On-site work

Job description

You will support the administration of the professional programmes within WELS providing administrative and organisational support to ensure the efficient day-to-day management of information, activity and events within the department. You will also support students through our complex admissions processes and allowing students to be registered onto the restricted programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the recruitment and selection and other programme-related activities of colleagues based across all nations;
• Liaise on behalf of department colleagues, with internal and external stakeholders, including senior contacts to progress the work of the department;
• Support maintenance and updating of external partner details using a range of different IT applications, including Microsoft Office products, university systems and the department’s student work-based learning database;
• Support the distribution of confidential reports to external stakeholders, and schedule reporting timetable, liaising with colleagues to ensure accuracy of content;
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required as within the nature of the duties and responsibilities of the role;
• Responsible for setting up meetings/events with internal and external stakeholders; prepare and distribute meeting papers.

About You

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail and the ability to tailor communications depending on the audience.
• Proven computer literacy including the ability to use Microsoft packages (Word, Outlook, and Excel) proficiently.
• Excellent organisational skills, including experience of supporting meetings and events.
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines and to prioritise work effectively, taking ownership of tasks and ensuring these are completed to schedule and agreed standards.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and co-operatively as part of a team, towards a common goal.
• Experience of dealing with sensitive information in a professional manner, demonstrating discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to work on site on a weekly basis.
• An understanding of the Higher Education sector.
• Experience of working in an environment where highly regulated external standards must be adhered to.