Project Assistant

Taihan Cable & Solution; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent research organization in Edinburgh seeks a proactive Office Administrator to support various administrative tasks, including meeting organisation and procurement management. Ideal candidates should have office administration experience, strong communication, and organisation skills, with a minimum of two SQA Highers including English. This position supports the exploration of significant scientific questions and offers a flexible working environment.

Benefits

30 days holiday plus bank holidays

Excellent learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proactive and organised with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Able to work well under pressure with tight deadlines.
• Experience with office administration.

Responsibilities

• Organising and preparing for meetings and workshops.
• Providing administrative support to local teams.
• Managing purchase orders and office procurement needs.

Skills

Office administration

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Minimum of two SQA Highers including English

National 5 Mathematics

Tools

SharePoint

Job description

Salary: Band B £24,961 per annum

Hours: Full Time OR Part Time (minimum 22 hours per week) (We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss the possibility of flexible working with applicants)

Contract Type: Fixed-Term (2 years)

Location: Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh.

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers, technicians and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether its sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society. Come and discover how much you can achieve when youre surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

As a science-driven, professional engineering organisation, we employ state-of-the-art technologies across all our products, including complex optical and infra-red detectors, vacuum-cryogenics, control electronics and software, for both astronomy and non-astronomy applications; and we manage collaborations with academic and industrial partners around the world.

Responsibilities

• Organising and preparing for formal meetings and workshops; taking meeting notes and actions if required.
• Helping to organise departmental national and international travel, working with our travel providers.
• Supporting shipping and receiving for projects, handling relevant paperwork.
• Running standard reports from our management information systems.
• Providing administrative support to the local teams, e.g. Public Engagement team and onsite Visitors' Centre.
• Providing administrative support to the projects, e.g. minute taking, financial reporting.
• Supporting office procurement needs and managing purchase orders in conjunction with our Shared Business Services.

You will be a proactive and organised person, used to managing your time and responsibilities with minimal supervision. Our work involves people working collaboratively on our site and across various UK and international institutes. Therefore, good interpersonal skills and clear communication are needed to work effectively while managing conflicting needs in a busy office environment.

Person Specification

• Minimum of two SQA Highers or equivalent, including English at Grade C or better.
• National 5 or equivalent Mathematics at Grade C or better (or Higher Maths).
• Experience with office administration.
• Computer literate with good Microsoft Office tools and SharePoint experience.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proactive, organised with good attention to detail.
• Able to work well under pressure when there are tight deadlines.

As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

STFC offers our staff a wide range of excellent non-paying employee benefits, including but not limited to 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days) and excellent learning and development opportunities. Link to more benefits: https://stfccareers.co.uk/rewards-and-benefits/

We ask some of the biggest questions in the universe, to answer some of the biggest challenges in the world. Whatever our role, we have the freedom to explore, learn and connect, as part of a community that loves to share knowledge and support one another.

As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where theres always something new to learn about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover whats possible.

The closing date for applications is 5th October 2025.

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