Secretariat Project Officer, IUCA

University of Reading; Reading; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned educational institution in the UK is seeking a Project Officer to support the International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA) Secretariat. Your role will involve coordinating projects, managing communications, and providing administrative support to ensure smooth operations. Ideal candidates will demonstrate excellent communication, organisational skills, and experience in online presence management. This full-time position offers the opportunity to enhance the institution's global reputation for climate leadership.

Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Experience in customer-focused administrative roles.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate projects and manage communications with stakeholders.
• Oversee administrative processes for the IUCA Secretariat.
• Maintain relationships across the IUCA membership.
• Develop communication materials and events.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Strong organisational skills

Experience managing an organisation’s online presence

Significant administrative experience

Job description

Full time, 1 year fixed term contract. Closing date: 23:59 (GMT) on 8th January 2026. Interview date: 20th January 2026.

Due to the complexity of the Skilled Worker Visa route and eligibility criteria, applicants requiring sponsorship are recommended to check their eligibility on the Home Office website. We cannot provide advice to candidates at the application stage and will only discuss visa routes with candidates who are invited to interview.

The University of Reading is renowned for world‑class research in climate change and its impacts on the environment and society. The Secretariat Project Officer will play a vital role in supporting the University of Reading’s hosting of the International Universities Climate Alliance (IUCA) Secretariat. The IUCA is a global hub of universities promoting climate research and enabling greater collaboration between global leaders, policy makers and industry to better plan and respond to climate change.

In this role you will work closely with the Secretariat Director to contribute to the effective implementation, coordination and delivery of IUCA’s work. Your efforts will help strengthen the Alliance’s global visibility and support its mission to be a trusted source of climate change knowledge.

In this collaborative role, you will support the smooth running of Secretariat operations by coordinating projects, managing communications with members and stakeholders, and overseeing key administrative processes. You will help maintain strong relationships across the IUCA membership, contribute to the development of communication materials and events, and ensure that IUCA activities are delivered to a high professional standard.

Through proactive coordination, effective communications management and high‑quality administrative support, the Project Officer will help ensure the Secretariat delivers measurable value to IUCA members and enhances the University’s global reputation for climate leadership.

Key competencies and experience

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including strong networking capability.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to work effectively on multiple activities and prioritise workload.
• Experience managing an organisation’s online presence, including maintaining website content, ensuring accuracy and tracking analytics.
• Significant experience in an administrative role in a busy, customer‑focused environment.

Team Structure

This position reports to the Secretariat Director and sit on the larger Strategic Engagement (Climate & Environmental Sustainability) team within the University’s External Relations Department.

Interviews will be held: (e.g. 11 December 2025) The interview will include a pre‑task on the day.

We welcome applications from both external and internal candidates. As part of the University’s ongoing commitment to professional development, this role can be considered on a seconded basis for existing staff members. Internal candidates should discuss this with their line manager prior to applying.

Contact

Contact Name: Rose Armour
Contact role: Secretariat Operations Director (IUCA)
Contact email: [e-mail]
Alternative Contact: Dylan Parkes
Alternative Contact role: Director of Strategic Engagement (Climate & Environmental Sustainability)
Alternative Contact email: [e-mail]

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. We are a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2). Applications for job‑share, part‑time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.