Project Administrator (Milton Keynes, ENG, GB, MK7 6AA)

Project Administrator (Milton Keynes, ENG, GB, MK7 6AA)

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About the Role

As a Project Administrator, you will provide effective administrative, financial and coordination support across multiple projects within Institute of Educational Technology (IET). The role ensures that project documentation, processes and systems are maintained accurately, supports projects managers with day-to-day operational requirements, and contributes to the smooth running of project activities, events, and communications.

Key Responsibilities

Operations and Finance

• Maintain project budgets by updating spreadsheets, monitoring expenditure, logging commitments, and reconciling budgets in line with University processes.
• Raise purchase requisitions and maintain accurate financial records.
• Arrange and book project funded travel, ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures.
• Raise and monitor contracts, track payments, and liaise with the Project Team in RIS to ensure timely processing.
• Maintain project folders and documentation, ensuring information is accurate, accessible and up to date.
• Monitor academic time allocations and ensure records are maintained appropriately.
• Maintain the IET Activity Tree, updating successful project codes as required.

Project Administration

• Provide day-to-day administrative support to project managers and project teams, responding to routine enquiries and requests.
• Maintain project related spreadsheets, mailing lists, and shared resources.
• Update project websites, SharePoint sites and Teams spaces, ensuring content remains current and accurate.
• Organise project events, including room bookings, catering, materials and logistical arrangements.
• Attend project meetings where required, taking notes and following up on agreed actions.

People and Team Support

• Prioritise and manage own workload, maintaining awareness of team priorities and supporting colleagues when necessary.
• Build effective working relationships across IET and RIS, contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Provide guidance to colleagues on routine processes, policies and administrative procedures.

Wider influence

• Contribute to IET networks and communities of practice, supporting the sharing of good practice and helping to solve common issues.
• Support the wider work of IET, undertaking additional duties as agreed with the line manager.

About You

Essential

• A good standard of general education, including English and Maths at GCSE/GCE level Grade C or equivalent experience, and a commitment to reflection and professional development.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, establish constructive relationships and work collaboratively and effectively in a team.
• Effective organisational skills, with the ability to remain flexible, use initiative, work independently, and solve problems proactively.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information, work accurately, and to manage/manipulate data appropriately.
• Proficient digital skills, with experience using Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Teams, Ariba and Clicktravel.
• Ability to carry out the role in a way that is consistent with equality legislation and University policies.

Desirable

• Experience providing administrative support in a complex organisation.
• Experience supporting projects, events or financial processes.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether its a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Work location

It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes Office, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. Wed expect this to be 2 days per week, but this could be more often if business needs dictate.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

If shortlisted, we anticipate interviews taking place mid / late August via MS Teams.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):

• CV
• Supporting Statement (Your Supporting Statement should be no more than 1000 words and should outline how your current skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria listed above)

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.

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