Senior PGR Support Officer

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working opportunities

Generous pension scheme

Staff networks and recognition awards

Hybrid working options where available

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Senior PGR Support Officer to lead the Faculty PGR support team and ensure an excellent student experience for a diverse Postgraduate Research community.

You will deputise for the Faculty Doctoral School Manager, manage PGR Support Officers, monitor data and milestones, and collaborate with SRMA, HR, and Finance to support scholarships and training activities.

Qualifications

• Educated to A Level standard with GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent experience).
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• A high level of IT literacy, including Excel and Google applications, and the ability to learn new software.
• Experience of line management and a good understanding of HR policies.

Responsibilities

• Support the administration of Faculty PGR scholarship processes, communicating with Schools, Research, Partnerships and Innovation (RPI), admissions and other Professional Service departments as required.
• Work closely with RPI and Faculty Finance to advise on available funds, RTSG oversight, completion of funding forms, advice on and compliance with funder requirements.
• Support process development and implementation to ensure consistency of approach across the Faculty.
• Deputise for the Faculty Doctoral School Manager as appropriate and agreed.
• Provide student facing support within Hubs, for example supporting PGR Support Officers with complex student queries, providing cover for staff absences, managing shared inboxes and responding to staff and student queries as required.

Skills

Communication skills

IT literacy

Line management

HR policies knowledge

Team coordination

Education

A level standard with GCSE Maths and English

Tools

Excel

Google applications

Job description

Overview

The Senior PGR Support Officer will be part of the Faculty Doctoral College team who support the delivery of the postgraduate research students (PGR) journey. The postholder will work closely with the Faculty Doctoral School Manager at Faculty level and PGR Support Officers to support the delivery of an excellent student experience to our PGR community. The Senior PGR Support Officer will work closely with the PGR Support Officers to respond to day-to-day challenges and will provide appropriate cover for staffing gaps. The postholder will liaise with School PGR Leads, and other key professional services colleagues to ensure process alignment at a School, Faculty and Central level. The postholder will have responsibility for line management of a number of PGR Support Officers and will deputise for the Faculty Doctoral School Manager as appropriate. The post holder will ensure that PGRs and academic colleagues have access to high quality support and that processes and procedures support and enhance their progression through their programme of research. The postholder will lead on complex PGR student concerns as they arise and will share best practice to support the effective management of the PGR student journey. This role presents a unique opportunity to make a significant contribution to excellent service delivery for staff and PGR students.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Support the administration of Faculty PGR scholarship processes, communicating with Schools, Research, Partnerships and Innovation (RPI), admissions and other Professional Service departments as required.
• Work closely with RPI and Faculty Finance to advise on available funds, RTSG oversight, completion of funding forms, advice on and compliance with funder requirements.
• Support process development and implementation to ensure consistency of approach across the Faculty.
• Deputise for the Faculty Doctoral School Manager as appropriate and agreed.
• Provide student facing support within Hubs, for example supporting PGR Support Officers with complex student queries,providing cover for staff absences, managing shared inboxes and responding to staff and student queries as required.
• Undertake line management responsibility for a small number of PGR Support Officers within their team.
• Support Faculty and School PGR Leads to manage supervisor mandatory training compliance and other relevant training and development opportunities.
• Undertake regular and proactive monitoring of data across the Faculty including submission rates, key milestones such as confirmation review and submission review, and student attendance monitoring reporting to the relevant Faculty committees.
• Ensure the management of records and sharing of information with external parties is compliant with GDPR regulations, including ensuring Je-S records are properly set up and collated.
• Support the delivery of Faculty PGR inductions and other events and have oversight of School arrangements to support consistency and high quality.
• Work with Student Recruitment, Marketing and Admissions (SRMA) colleagues to advertise scholarships, support the development of marketing materials and promote the strategic priorities of the PGR community both internally and externally.
• Work closely with School Education teams to support PGR students' access to disability, wellbeing and inclusion support, in particular via the Inclusion and Disability Liaison Officer.
• Work with the Faculty Doctoral School Manager to support the Doctoral School’s interface with, and oversight of, Centres for Doctoral Training.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply.

Criteria

Stage(s) assessed at

Educated to A Level standard with GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent experience).

Essential

Application

Effective communication skills, both written and verbal and the ability to negotiate with colleagues of all levels to deliver effective outcomes.

Essential

Application/Interview

A high level of IT literacy, including extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and Google applications, and the ability to learn new software.

Essential

Application/Interview

Experience of line management and a good understanding of HR policies

Desirable

Application/Interview

Highly motivated and able to work and make decisions autonomously combined with an understanding of when to refer more complex issues to senior colleagues.

Application/Interview

Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving.

Essential

Good organisational skills and ability to ensure tasks are completed in a timely and efficient manner prioritising effectively to plan for conflicting deadlines, whilst also managing unscheduled tasks.

Essential

Willingness to assist and/or lead other team members and to work collaboratively with others to ensure deadlines are met.

Essential

Understanding of PGR studentships and financial processes relating to PGR study.

Desirable

Ability to understand and interpret policy to guide consistent application of working practices

Desirable

Awareness of higher education and the student journey.

Desirable

Application/Interview

Further Information

Grade

6

Salary

£32,080 to £36,636 per annum (pro-rata), with potential to progress to £39, 906 through outstanding contribution

Work arrangement

Full-time

Line manager

Faculty Doctoral School Manager

Direct reports

PGR Support Officers

Our website

https://sheffield.ac.uk/engineering

For informal enquiries about this job contact Monica Latham, Engineering Doctoral School Manager: on [e-mail]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• access to menopause support in the workplace
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date : 17/09/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.