Research and Innovation Services Assistant

The Open University

Milton Keynes

Hybrid

GBP 14,000 - 15,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

The Open University is the UK's largest university, delivering flexible, part‑time higher education and world‑leading research. This RIS Directorate Assistant role supports the PVC and RIS Office, handling diary management, travel bookings, and diary coordination, while helping with events and governance tasks.

You will work in a hybrid pattern from Milton Keynes, collaborating with colleagues across levels to ensure efficient, high‑quality service delivery in a busy, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

Essential: literacy and numeracy; willingness to develop these.
Essential: diary management skills.
Essential: communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work in a team.
Essential: organisational skills; flexible and proactive.
Essential: handle sensitive/confidential information; data handling.
Essential: proficient with IT; willingness to develop further IT skills.
Essential: aligns with OU values, equality, diversity and inclusion policies.

Responsibilities

Diary management and secretarial support for the Director of Research & Innovation Services.
Travel and hotel arrangements for Director and PVC; manage expenses.
Support routine Directorate duties and electronic filing; maintain SharePoint.
Save meeting papers to Directors and PVC SharePoint sites.
Coordinate meetings for Heads of Service; assist with events and conferences.
Raise purchase requisitions and process invoices for the PVC Office.
Support workload balancing and assist colleagues as needed.
Contribute to smooth PVC Office operations and high-quality service.

Skills

Diary management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Data handling

IT proficiency

ICT & EDI awareness

Job description

Research and Innovation Services Assistant

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Advert Reference Number: 2038 Job Location: Milton Keynes Department: RIS Operations Salary: £27,319 to £30,378 pro-rata (actual £13,659.50 - £15,189) Closing Date: 5 November 2026 Weekly Working Hours: 18.5 Contract Type: Permanent Fixed Term Contract: End Date: Not a fixed term contract. Welsh Language: Not Applicable

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part‑time education, combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

As a Research & Innovation Services (RIS) Directorate Assistant, you will support day-to-day operations of the Research & Innovation Pro Vice-Chancellors Office by providing proactive, flexible, and professional support to the PA (Personal Assistant) to the PVC (Pro Vice-Chancellor) that allows them to do their job effectively. The role also requires some flexibility, as they could be asked to help with Heads of Service workload and take on tasks for the Research & Innovation Operations team. You will also support the identification, dissemination, and implementation of good practice as part a commitment to continuous improvement and the development of operational capabilities.

The Directorate RIS Assistant is a key member of the RIS Team, sitting within the Directorate and Operations area, providing responsive and focused support to the PA for the PVC and across the RIS Unit. This varied role sits at the heart of day-to-day Directorate operations and is ideal for someone who enjoys working with a wide range of colleagues, managing competing priorities, and helping to ensure an efficient and well-supported working environment.

The successful candidate will coordinate a broad range of administrative activities, including diary management for the Director of Research & Innovation, maintaining SharePoint sites, booking travel, helping with event organisation and catering, and managing shared mailboxes.

The Directorate RIS Assistant may get involved in helping Heads of Service with day to day administration, and support the RIS Operations Team. Working collaboratively with colleagues at all levels, the role contributes directly to the smooth running of the PVC Office and the delivery of a professional, high-quality service.

Key Responsibilities

Support and Finance

Providing administrative and secretarial support, working in conjunction with the Personal Assistant to the PVC. Activities could include but are not limited to:

Diary management and secretarial support for the Director of Research & Innovation Services.
Travel and hotel arrangements for the Director and PVC of Research & Innovation.
Providing administrative support and carrying out routine Directorate office duties – dealing with general correspondence, travel and hotel bookings, expenses, and maintaining and updating electronic filing systems.
Ensuring that all relevant meeting papers are saved into the Directors and PVC’s SharePoint site.
Supporting the Heads of Service by booking meetings at their request.
Supporting the organisation and delivery of meetings, events, and conferences in conjunction with the RIS Assistants.
Raising purchase requisitions and paying invoices for the PVC Office.
Any other ad hoc tasks that arise within the PVC Office.
Prioritising own work, having an awareness of the workload of the PA, and supporting other colleagues when necessary.

Strategy, Planning, Policy and Governance

Servicing committees/meetings, including arranging rooms, booking AV equipment and catering when required.
Working with the Senior Manager, Operations, to ensure that key strategic meetings are in the diary for the Director and Heads of Service.

Wider Influence

Working collaboratively with colleagues at all levels, the role contributes directly to the smooth running of the PVC Office/Unit and the delivery of a professional, high-quality service.

About You

Essential Criteria:

Literacy and numeracy skills appropriate to the role and a willingness to reflect and develop these in accordance with the role.
Diary management skills commensurate with the role.
Communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, establish constructive relationships, and work collaboratively and effectively in a team.
Effective organisational skills with the ability to remain flexible, adaptable, and responsive and to use initiative, work independently, and solve problems in a pro‑active manner.
Ability to deal with sensitive and confidential information, work accurately, and to manage and manipulate data appropriately.
Proficient in the use of IT and willing to develop existing skills and learning, about relevant IT systems.
Understanding of, and the ability to work in a manner that aligns with the University’s values, equal opportunities and EDI policies and practices.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience of working in a Higher Education institution.
Experience of working with technology utilised in large meetings or events.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be one day per week as a minimum, currently on a Tuesday or Wednesday, but this may be more often as required. Full-time working from our Milton Keynes site is also supported if this is preferred by the candidate. Expenses associated with travel to our Milton Keynes site are not reimbursable.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

Interviews are likely to be held in the week commencing 23 November.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application,please contact: Careers@open.ac.uk .

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The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all under‑represented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.