StELA Project Assistant

The Open University UK; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

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.

The StELA Project Assistant role sits in Library and Knowledge Management Services, providing operational and project support to ensure disabled students receive timely, accessible learning materials throughout their studies.

Qualifications

• Excellent IT proficiency, particularly in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to deliver high‑quality customer service.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team, building positive working relationships, and contributing through constructive feedback and support.
• Significant administrative experience, with a strong focus on following policies and procedures, maintaining accuracy, and paying close attention to detail.
• Experience coordinating, managing, and improving administrative processes, supported by excellent organisational skills and a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• Ability to take ownership of tasks, use initiative and sound judgement, and respond effectively to changing priorities and competing demands.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Higher Education sector.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for queries and requests relating to bespoke learning materials and student support.
• Coordinate the provision of learning materials in alternative formats for disabled students.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the University and external suppliers to ensure effective service delivery.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including disability support networks.
• Monitor service delivery, maintain accurate records, and produce reports as required.
• Support service reviews and improvements.

Skills

IT proficiency

Customer service

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Administrative experience

Organisational skills

Problem solving

HE sector knowledge

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

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

The StELA (Student Experience and Learning Adjustments) Project Assistant is part of the Student Experience and Learning Adjustments team within Library and Knowledge Management Services.

This role provides operational and project support to ensure disabled students receive timely, effective, and accessible learning materials to support throughout their studies. A key focus is coordinating the provision of bespoke learning materials and alternative‑format resources, working collaboratively with colleagues and external suppliers to deliver an efficient and responsive service.

The successful candidate will be highly organised, able to manage competing priorities, and confident in following complex processes while using sound judgement to resolve issues and improve outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

The role has the following key aims:

• Act as the first point of contact for queries and requests relating to bespoke learning materials and student support.
• Coordinate the provision of learning materials in alternative formats for disabled students.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the University and external suppliers to ensure effective service delivery.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including disability support networks.
• Monitor service delivery, maintain accurate records, and produce reports as required.
• Support service reviews and improvements.

About You

• Excellent IT proficiency, particularly in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Proven ability to deliver high‑quality customer service.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a team, building positive working relationships, and contributing through constructive feedback and support.
• Significant administrative experience, with a strong focus on following policies and procedures, maintaining accuracy, and paying close attention to detail.
• Experience coordinating, managing, and improving administrative processes, supported by excellent organisational skills and a proactive approach to problem‑solving.
• Ability to take ownership of tasks, use initiative and sound judgement, and respond effectively to changing priorities and competing demands.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Higher Education sector.

Experience working within project teams, organising and maintaining project documentation, and ensuring compliance with governance, record management, and documentation standards.

• Awareness of equality, diversity, and inclusion principles, with the ability to apply inclusive and fair practices in the delivery of the role.
• Experience coordinating communications between stakeholders, project team members, and external suppliers.
• Ability to support the management of project risks, issues and dependencies, escalating concerns appropriately where required.

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).

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.

Working 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 every Tuesday and Wednesday, but this could be more often if business needs dictate. Full‑time working based 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

Interview dates are still to be confirmed.

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.

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 underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.