Job Details
Position: Senior Administrator – School of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham
Location: Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Grade: 5, Part‑time (60% FTE)
Contract: Fixed‑term to March 2030
Closing date: 10 May 2026
Salary: £30,062 – £31,900 per annum, with potential progression to £35,883 once in post
Role Overview
The role provides operational and financial administrative support to the research group led by Professor Yu‑Lung Chiu. You will coordinate the daily administration of the group, ensure milestones are met, report to research partners and serve as the primary contact for internal and external stakeholders.
Responsibilities
- Deal with complex systems and procedures, offer advice, and determine responses to complex queries.
- Exercise judgment on queries and direction of work within manager's parameters, resolving queries independently.
- Line‑manage staff when in a supervisory role; act as a role model and coach for team members otherwise.
- Maintain high‑profile relationships with stakeholders, fielding enquiries and disseminating information.
- Organise events: book venues, send invitations, arrange refreshments, liaise with speakers, manage bookings, coordinate colleagues, advertise, collect feedback, and report.
- Manage small projects independently, conduct desk research and source data for wider projects.
- Use complex university systems to research, analyse and interpret data, producing bespoke reports and resolving data issues.
- Support the management, development and implementation of operational processes and systems.
- Process complex data (financial, HR, student, or other), monitor accuracy, chase missing information and resolve issues.
- Provide specialist advice and training to colleagues within your area of activity.
- Provide professional secretarial services to relevant committees and meetings as required.
- Responsible for tasks such as: monitoring budgets, authorising expenditure, raising financial concerns, procuring goods and services, updating department communications, handling health and safety and facilities issues, HR tasks (absence, induction, leavers), arranging international visitor arrangements, and ensuring internal procedures and compliance are followed.
- Support equality and diversity initiatives, moderating behaviour to avoid unfair bias.
Qualifications & Experience
- Education to A‑Level standard or equivalent Level 3 qualification; evidence of skills to undertake the role.
- Minimum grade C/4 in Mathematics and English at GCSE or equivalent.
- Proven experience in finance and budget management.
- Experience working with research projects highly desirable.
- Highly proficient IT skills, including complex electronic diaries, MS Office suite, Excel, PowerPoint, and ERP packages; confidence in learning new IT tools.
- Ability to plan ahead, anticipate requirements, manage workload for self and others, and meet deadlines.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, customising writing for different audiences.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, inspiring confidence and providing customer service.
- High professionalism, tact, diplomacy and discretion with sensitive information.
- High initiative, judgement, resourcefulness, flexibility, self‑motivation.
- Capability to work effectively in a large, complex organisation and understand university operations.
- Understanding of policy and procedures and how to apply them.
- Commitment to equality and diversity, with ability to identify and respond to issues in line with relevant policies.
Equality & Diversity
We are committed to diversity and inclusive working environments, and all decisions in this role will be made in line with equality and diversity policies.
Benefits
- Flexible working arrangements.
- 40 days paid holiday per year.
- One paid day per year for volunteering.
- Occupational sick pay and pension scheme.
- Access to subsidised day nurseries.
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