Research Administrator

Salary: £29,588 with progression to £31,236 per annum, pro rata

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 18 June 2026

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated administrator to join the NIHR Applied Collaboration North East and North Cumbria (ARC NENC) Co-Directed by Professors Eileen Kaner and Ruth McGovern.

Funded by the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR), the ARC’s aim is to achieve Better, Fairer Health and Care at all ages and in all places.

The ARC is delivered in partnership with 6 regional universities and a wide range of health and care organisations including the host Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Foundation NHS trust.

You will work with, and under the direction of, the Chief Operating Officer, Theme Co-Leads and Directors to support the effective delivery of ARC’s research theme activity and the wider ARC.

You will provide administrative support for a diverse range of activities, such as organising internal and external meetings and events, booking travel and processing expenses and collating information for the preparation of reports. You will work closely with the central ARC team and a range of researchers, both in Newcastle and across the other collaborating centres.

You will support events across our region and nationally to promote the activities of the ARC, in collaboration with the wider core team and the communications manager.

The post is available on 0.8FTE basis until March 2031, please state your desired working arrangements in your application.

For informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Eileen Kaner eileen.kaner@ncl.ac.uk  

Information about the ARC NENC: https://arc-nenc.nihr.ac.uk/news/new-funding-announced-for-research-to-improve-health-and-care-in-our-region-and-beyond/

Key Accountabilities

• Support the Chief Operating Officer and members of the ARC Core team in the delivery of administrative activity across research themes
• Provide administrative support to the Prevention and Multiple Long-term Conditions theme and the Workforce Innovation for Impact theme and other research themes as required, including (but not exclusively) in relation to travel arrangements (which may be complex regional, national and international), booking accommodation, conducting initial investigations/research
• Drafting correspondence as required, which may be complex reports, letters, proposals and presentations
• Work collaboratively with other administrators to provide a comprehensive support service, including providing cover across periods of leave
• Develop, implement and maintain effective office procedures and systems to ensure that support is efficient, timely and accurate and meets time and budget targets
• Responsible for coordinating and supporting meetings, selection panels, committees, sub-committees or working groups, including arranging meetings and room bookings, coordinating papers, drafting agendas; taking minutes; maintaining and proactively managing the actions.  These events may be delivered on-line or in person
• Support the organisation of relevant seminars, public engagement events and talks related to the ARC and research themes and attend meetings and internal/external events on behalf of the ARC, as appropriate
• Support the purchasing requirements of the ARC. To ensure that the receipt of goods and/or services is confirmed, and assist in the resolution of invoice, coding or expenses queries, to provide an efficient service to colleagues in the office and assist the office in adhering to the University’s Procurement Regulations
• Manage records, such as publications, funding awards and impact, that will contribute to the NIHR annual reporting requirements, to include taking responsibility for maintaining database(s) of information; gathering data from multiple sources, extracting reports on data as required and ensuring the integrity of data entered/recorded
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with members of the ARC, and across centres, to maximise communication
• Support communications plans, including co-ordination of material for promotion on the websites and via social media

• Support the process for payments and renumeration for public contributors working across ARC themes in line with the most recent regional guidance
• Undertake other similar duties and responsibilities as required by your line manager

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Excellent IT skills, including competent use of Microsoft Office software and aptitude for development in and use of core software and data systems
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to communicate with staff at all levels
• High levels of literacy and numeracy, with excellent attention to detail
• Experience of managing confidential and/or sensitive information with tact and discretion, and a working knowledge of GDPR
• Experience of basic finance and purchasing processes
• Experience of providing effective administrative support to teams, such as booking travel, taking minutes and arranging meetings and organising events
• Experience of prioritising workload and handling conflicting priorities
• Experience of working in a diverse team and with senior managers
• Experience of research administration

Desirable

• Experience of working in health and social care research
• Experience of public involvement or community engagement

Attributes and Behaviour

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Proactive and flexible approach to working
• Organisation skills
• People orientated, is approachable and willing to help others and share workloads
• Committed to equity, diversity and inclusion 
• Sees other areas and people as ‘customers’ and follows through on enquiries and requests
• Has a positive ‘can do’ attitude towards continuous process improvement
• Works in partnership with others and has excellent communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Demonstrates resilience to the demands of the role and pace of change 
• Promotes a culture of mutual respect
• Able to work well both autonomously and as part of a team

Qualifications

• Grades A-C in English Language and Mathematics GCSE (or equivalent) or vocational qualifications, plus work experience in a relevant role or a comparable setting

Desirable

• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience

Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.  As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society.  We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent.  We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality.  We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC.  We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.

In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe. 

Requisition ID: 29402