"Cambridge Graphene Centre Executive Assistant (Maternity Cover)"

The mission of the Cambridge Graphene Centre (CGC) is to investigate the science and technology of graphene and related materials. The CGC also hosts the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in 2D Materials of Tomorrow, in collaboration with the University of Manchester, the Layered Materials Research Foundry (LMRF) in Collaboration with CORNERSTONE at the University of Southampton, the Quantum and Advanced Materials technologies for a Sustainable Society (QAMSS) Strategic Research Initiative (SRI), bringing together 18 Departments, 6 Schools and 6 Non-School Institutions, integrating thematic areas and expertise, to facilitate collaboration across disciplines, improve Cambridge visibility, and coordinate large strategic grants, the Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits Pilot Line for Europe (PIXEurope), and the Graphene Flagship. The CGC SRF caters for well over 100 users from academia and industry, both within and outside Cambridge, and the UK.

The CGC is a very busy and dynamic environment. We seek an experienced PA/EA to provide maternity cover and join the team based in West Cambridge to provide an executive support service to the CGC Director and Administrators. You will be responsible for a very complex diary to ensure the efficient and effective management of the time and work of the CGC. In addition to this, you will be processing emails/phone/Teams/Zooms, etc. calls on a daily basis and actioning any follow-up, setting up a wide range of internal and external meetings both in person, in Cambridge, and elsewhere in UK, EU or worldwide, and online (by Zoom, Teams, GoogleMeet, Webex, etc.), managing the schedule of meetings, planning and managing the overall working day to ensure an appropriate balance of meetings and managing any follow-up activities from the meetings.

You will be instrumental in ensuring the effective operation of the daily schedule of all personnel and students in the CGC, CDT, SRI, LMRF and any other CGC-related initiatives and projects, as well as updating databases, and scheduling all the steps of personnel recruitment. You will co-ordinate and plan the CGC/CDT/SRI/LMRF, etc. related events, meetings, workshops, seminars, and organise and prepare the agendas and minutes. This will be done in person or by delegating responsibilities to the most appropriate CGC operations staff members.

You will be educated to degree level/ have an equivalent level of practical experience working as an Executive PA in a highly dynamic environment and managing an online diary system with hundreds of conflicting requirements, requiring prioritisation on a daily basis.

You will be an effective communicator and have the ability to interact with a wide range of people, while remaining a calming figure in a very dynamic environment. We require an individual with advanced IT skills with proven experience in the use of Excel, database and data sharing software, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, web page management, and similar systems.

Maternity cover: This post is to provide maternity cover and is fixed-term until 31 August 2026 or the return of the post holder, whichever is the earlier.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 24 September 2025. Informal enquiries are welcomed and if you have any queries about this vacancy or the application process, please contact the HR Office on 01223 332615 or at hr-office@eng.cam.ac.uk. Informal enquiries about the post can be made to Professor Andrea C. Ferrari (acf26@eng.cam.ac.uk)

Please quote reference NM47229 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.