Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. Located at Harwell Science & Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, we enable world-leading research across a wide range of scientific disciplines and industrial applications.

The Diamond Science division currently has an opening for a Personal Assistant (PA) to provide high quality administrative support to the two Science Directors. The PA will be responsible for a range of tasks including diary and email management, coordination of travel itineraries of the Directors as well taking the lead administrative support role in the Science Division.

Key Skills: expert user of MS office IT systems including email, internet, word processing and databases. Highly literate and competent in drafting correspondence, prioritising tasks and a skilled organiser. 

• Provide high quality administrative support to the Science Directors, this includes the organisation and maintenance of diaries and making appointments on behalf of the Science Directors;
• Take the lead administrative support for Science Division, liaising with other Science Division administrative staff where appropriate;
• Organise Science Division meetings and advisory panels.  Prepare agendas and take notes and minutes of meetings;
• Devise and maintain office systems, including data management and filing;
• Coordinate workshops and other meetings with external groups within Science Division acting as the point of contact with other Diamond departments in particular the Diamond communications team;
• Screening telephone calls, enquiries and requests and handling them when appropriate on behalf of the Science Directors;
• To undertake any other duties appropriate to the post as determined by the Divisional Director or nominee.

• Excellent IT  skills – standard MS office, (word-processing, spreadsheets, presentations, web);
• Excellent oral and written communication manners;
• Strong organisational skills;
• Self motivated, pro-active and able to work flexibly;
• Strong sense of initiative;
• Good attention to detail;
• Ability to manage various activities and recognise interconnections;
• Ability to work well under pressure and reorganise tasks at short notice;
• Discretion and sensitivity when dealing with confidential matters;
• Ability to work with a range of people at all levels across the organisation;
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team;
• Relevant experience in a similar role.

• Education to “A”-level or equivalent;
• Understanding of science and scientific issues;
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment;
• Awareness of budgets and projects management;
• Proficiency in another language.

For an informal discussion about this vacancy, please email diamond.science@diamond.ac.uk and your enquiry will be directed accordingly.