"Executive Officer to the Head of Organic Chemistry"

Executive Officer to the Head of Organic Chemistry

Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3TA

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Executive Officer to provide comprehensive administrative and operational support to the Head of Organic Chemistry. The Organic Chemistry Section is one of three academic sections within the Department of Chemistry and comprises 25 academic staff, each leading their own research group. The Head of Section holds delegated responsibilities for academic staff, space, health and safety and teaching allocation, and plays a key role in the strategic leadership of the Department. The Executive Officer is a central point of contact for the Section and works closely with academic colleagues, professional services teams and external stakeholders to ensure the effective day-to-day running of the Section.

The role involves managing the diary of the Head of Organic Chemistry, acting as the first point of contact for enquiries and visitors, handling correspondence and responding to issues on behalf of the Head of Section. The postholder will organise complex UK and international travel, plan and support a wide range of meetings and events, act as Secretary to Sectional and other meetings, and provide administrative support for annual lecture series, prizes, open days and academic appointments. The role also includes financial administration, maintaining accurate records, supporting academic processes such as appraisals and leave, developing effective administrative systems, and building strong working relationships across the Department and the wider University. Some responsibilities will involve highly confidential information and require discretion and sound judgement.

The successful candidate will have experience of managing the office of a senior member of staff and be confident handling a varied and demanding workload. You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong drafting ability, and experience of diary management and complex travel arrangements. You will be highly IT-literate, numerate and comfortable managing financial information, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to work independently, using initiative and discretion. Experience of financial systems, events organisation and university or higher education administration would be an advantage.

This post is offered on a fixed-term basis while the current post-holder is seconded within the Department and is available immediately until 30 September 2026. The role is part time working 18.75 hours per week and is normally worked onsite on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with some flexibility possible by agreement.

Applicants looking to undertake a secondment are also welcome to apply.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 12 March 2026. Please upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your online application.

Contact Person: HR Team
Vacancy ID: 185166
Contact Phone:
Closing Date & Time: 12-Mar-2026 12:00
Pay Scale: STANDARD GRADE 6
Contact Email: hr@chem.ox.ac.uk
Salary (£): Grade 6: £35,681 - £41,636 per annum (pro rata for part time appointments)