"Senior Administrator - Public Engagement with Research (Fixed Term)"

Engagement is about bringing together and valuing people of all backgrounds to share learning, enter meaningful dialogue and to truthfully collaborate on solving challenges. The Public Engagement with Research unit aspires to enable, empower and inspire our internal community of incredible staff and students to deliver high quality, equitable engagement with people locally, nationally and internationally. We’ve recently signed a Civic Agreement with local councils highlighting our shared intent to tackle economic and social challenges and are enhancing our offer to ensure that the University of Southampton is not just world-leading in its research, education and enterprise but in its role in society too.

The role and you

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and versatile administrator to join our vibrant and committed Public Engagement with Research unit (PERu) in fixed term senior administrative role until 30 September 2026. The role holder will be a key part of our administrative function, directly supporting the logistics, operations, complex multi-stakeholder records and data management across the team.

You will be supporting the delivery of strategic programme objectives, liaising with exhibitors, internal and external partners and contributing to communications, finance process management and training and development activities for the British Science Festival, Public Engagement Development Fund, Southampton Science and Engineering Festival (SOTSEF), the Bringing Research to Life Roadshow and other related events.

You will be someone with an enthusiastic and positive outlook, who has experience of and thrives in improving processes and systems, prioritising tasks and working to tight deadlines. You will be highly organised and comfortable motivating and engaging people at all levels of the organisation to build and maintain productive relationships. Applicants will be expected to present themselves in a professional manner that reflects the post responsibilities, and essentially able to demonstrate a good foundation of high quality Customer Service experience, with the ability to clearly and positively communicate, listen to needs and proactively solve problems, both in person and digitally.

What we can offer you

As a university we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and are proactive in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work.

As well as additional benefits that will make your life easier, such as a generous holiday allowance and additional university closure days. We will support your future too, with access to a pension scheme, subsidised health and fitness facilities and a range of discounts. All our benefits can be viewed (link opens benefits page)

If you wish to discuss the role informally in more detail, please email Lisa Hanley (Deputy Head of Public Engagement, l.hanley@soton.ac.uk).