UKLO Office Administrator

UK Research and Innovation; East Hagbourne; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days' holiday

8 bank holidays

2.5 privilege days

pension scheme

Job summary

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation is seeking an Office Administrator for the UK Liaison Office, based initially at STFC RAL before deployment to CERN Geneva. The role requires full-time presence (min 24 hours per week) and a 23-month fixed-term contract with potential extension.

You will manage local housing logistics, financial records, invoicing, and act as a first point of contact for visiting researchers and staff.

Qualifications

• Experience in an office environment with financial records or invoicing data.
• Strong written and spoken English; ability to communicate with local tradespeople and agencies.

Responsibilities

• Oversee housing logistics and liaise with letting agencies and suppliers.
• Process invoices and manage payments in CERN system.
• Provide front-line support to UK institute visitors and researchers.

Skills

Office administration

Communication

Microsoft Office

Invoicing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

UKLO Office Administrator

Salary: £30,895 + cost of living allowance. Contract Type: 23 month fixed term contract with possible extension. Benefits: 30 days' holiday + 8 bank holidays + 2.5 privilege days + exceptional defined average salary pension + excellent work life balance. Hours: Full Time/Part Time (minimum 24 hours per week). Location: Your initial base will be STFC RAL before being posted to STFC CERN Geneva. Visa restrictions: You must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the contract to be considered for this role. Closing date for applications: 23 September 2026. Interviews will be held remotely on 2 October 2026.

Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it's 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 you're surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.

About Us

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is one of Europe's largest research organisations. By combining world-class facilities with major international collaborations and world-class talent, we drive ground-breaking advances in science and technology. Based at CERN, STFC's UK Liaison Office (UKLO) provides critical on‑site support for UK scientists, engineers, and students visiting CERN, while serving as the central link to CERN and STFC administrations.

About the Role

This is a high-profile, responsible position offering unique challenges in a highly stimulating environment. The UKLO team consists of the Head of Office and the Deputy role. The Office is managed by the STFC Particle Physics Department on behalf of the UK Particle Physics community, the office supports over 100 academic students and researchers annually. This role requires a full-time, physical presence at CERN and cannot be performed remotely. Daily, in-person local service delivery is essential to maintain operations and prevent additional organisational costs.

Key Responsibilities

As part of the UK Liaison Office team: Oversee approximately 50 local furnished apartments. Maintain frequent contact with letting agencies, concierges, and local tradespeople to resolve emergency maintenance, furniture, and appliance issues. Attend appointments and follow up on all issues. Manage keys and physically meet all visitors for the two main annual student intakes and exits (September and January). Provide guidance and support to help young researchers transition smoothly to living abroad. Financial administration duties include processing and paying invoices from various suppliers and letting agencies, with all data entered directly into the CERN system. Manage the global health insurance provisions for UKRI‑funded students and UK university staff on long‑term attachments worldwide, liaising directly with insurance brokers and UK institutes. Act as a first point of contact for UK institute visitors to CERN, providing guidance and support where necessary. Support the Head of the office with daily activities.

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively in both English and French verbally and in writing, at a level that enables you to communicate daily with local French/Swiss tradespeople and agencies (S&I).
• A valid driving licence is mandatory to visit rented properties across the Meyrin (Switzerland) and Pays de Gex (France) areas (S&I).
• Proven experience in an office environment, competency in Microsoft Office applications, and practical experience handling financial records or invoicing data (S&I).
• Strong attention to detail with a proven ability to balance conflicting, fast-moving tasks. Willingness to use initiative, and be proactive when solving problems (S&I).
• Outstanding communication and customer-facing skills, with a genuine desire to assist others in a supportive capacity (S&I).

Employee Benefits

• A cost-of-living allowance is associated with the role while the individual is based at CERN.
• We are offering a 23 month position with a whole host of benefits including:
• 30 days' holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
• Flexible working hours.
• An excellent defined average salary pension scheme.
• Employee shopping/travel discounts.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.

We are committed to sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are invested in creating an environment that is welcoming and supportive of all, to help us achieve the highest possible standards in our work and organisation together. In this regard, we encourage applications from under‑represented groups.

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity and Disability Confident Employer.

If you are based outside of the UK, UKRI may cover some of the costs of moving to the UK for the initial period before deployment to Geneva. This should be discussed with the hiring manager during the hiring process.

You will be required to complete an initial period of employment in the UK before being posted to CERN, so candidates must have the right to work in the UK for the duration of the contract to be considered for this role. Visa sponsorship is therefore not provided.

The international posting is subject to meeting host country and UKRI eligibility criteria, and a Global Staff Mobility assessment may be required.

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world‑leading position in research and innovation. Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world‑class research, skills and business‑led innovation.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

As part of the pre‑employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre‑condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re‑run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world‑leading multi‑disciplinary science organisation where curiosity‑driven, blue‑skies thinking meets practical, application‑led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people - and more broadly to the world. One of Europe's largest research organisations, we're trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting‑edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world‑class facilities and people, we're driving ground‑breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.

For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/. You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/.