Operations Officer

Salary: 30895 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band C.
Contract Type: Fixed Term (9 months). Ends 31stMarch 2027.
Hours: Full-time (minimum 0.8 FTE) (flexible working available).
Location: Polaris House Swindon Wiltshire - Hybrid working available.

Closing Date: 28 June 2026.

Employees applying for any opportunity which may mean being away from your substantive role for a temporary period of time please refer to theRecruitment Policy for further information in the first instance. If you are made an offer please ensure you liaise with your Line Manager and the designated HR Team as soon as possible in order that implications of any move are clear and understood prior to a move taking place.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) supports world-class arts and humanities research. Part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) which works in partnership with universities research organisations businesses charities and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. We fund academic research in over 50 subject areas from archaeology to linguistics law to visual arts as well as supplying to cross-cutting research agendas addressing the major challenges facing the world today such as climate change global poverty gender inequalities and health crises. Research into these areas helps us to understand our experiences identities and histories and question our cultural assumptions.

We receive over 100m each year from the UK Government and distribute funding through competitive funding calls that reflect and support the needs of the academic community. We also promote arts and humanities research more widely showcasing how research has a positive impact on public policy the economy society and culture.

About The Role

A post has become available providing operational and administrative support to a busy team within the AHRC. The Operations Team is looking to recruit one Operations Officer on a fixed term basis (until March 2027) to join the Policy and Process area of the Team.

The role is fundamentally an administrative role tasked with the operational delivery of the teams objectives. This exposure to the broad and varied work of the AHRC will provide you with an excellent understanding of the national and international research funding landscape and allow you to develop a long-term career path within grants funding.

We may make further appointments to administrative Band C posts in the AHRC Grants Operations Team from this recruitment exercise should roles become available.

Your Responsibilities

• Providing general operational and organisational support to the AHRC Grants Operations teamincluding managing shared mailboxes supporting the implementation of grants policy and process updates supporting the purchase order process creating online surveys processing disabled student allowance claims and supporting the research outcomes reporting process.
• Being a first point of call for external enquiries; engaging directly with prospective applicants grant holders and other external stakeholders in relation to AHRC grants policy funding provision and processes and providing answers and guidance in a timely manner.
• Engaging with and supporting continuous improvement project work and initiatives seeking to refine processes policy and ways of working within both your team and the wider organisation.
• Eccasionally you may also support meetings webinars and events both internally and externally and both in-person and virtually; tasks include securing venues (or virtual meeting space) arranging logistics making travel and accommodation arrangements and processing expenses claims.
• Supporting training and guidance on the systems and processes of AHRC.

Personal Specification

The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S) Interview (I) or both (S&I).

Essential

You have excellent organisational and administrative skills and the ability to work flexibly and multi-task with good attention to detail often at pace (S&I).

You have sound numeric skills including handling and analysing data sensitively accurately and responsibly (S&I).

You have excellent written communication skills and can draft and understand complex written documents and interpret them clearly (S&I).

You can work independently think creatively solve problems and make effective decisions (S&I).

You are a great team player and can provide support to colleagues sharing knowledge and information and giving towards the achievements of your team and the wider organisation (S&I).

You are an excellent communicator with good social skills working effectively with colleagues at different levels both inside and outside the organisation while being an effective ambassador for the AHRC (S&I).

You have a good working knowledge of IT and programmes (Outlook MS Word Excel MS Teams etc.) with the ability to quickly learn new software and systems. (S&I).

Benefits

We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. We are committed to supporting employees development and promote a culture of continuous learning!

A list of benefits below:

• An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
• 30 days annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
• Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
• Employee assistance programme providing confidential help and advice.
• Flexible working options.

Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance!

For further information on our benefits please see:

Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI is an Equal Opportunity & Disability Confident Employer.

Please apply online if you experience any issue applying please contact