Science Support Officer

To provide administrative support to complex projects which assess the quality of scientific research and determine the future funding level for Medical Research Council (MRC) large investments, including, Institutes, Units and Centres.

You will provide effective and proactive support to deliver a programme of reviews and other projects under the direction of the Senior Science Performance and Reviews Officer/Science Performance and Reviews Manager.

**Main duties and key responsibilities**:
You will provide effective and proactive support to each review project under the direction of the Senior Science Performance and Reviews Officer/ Science Performance and Reviews Manager in order to:
**Deliver work on unit/centre/institute review projects**:
Act as a central focus for each review project for which you are responsible, driving forward the actions required:

- Developing an understanding of the process used and managing the associated tasks
- Generating a robust audit trail; saving all documents appropriately within the electronic records management system
- Tracking and driving forward the administrative tasks involved in:

- Meeting organisation (external meeting bookings, coordination with multiple stakeholders/organisations)
- The coordination and assembly of electronic papers for meetings (e.g. agendas, papers for internal and external meetings with multiple stakeholders/organisations)
- Requesting and seeking reports from international experts
- Project managing activities to ensure that each project delivers to the agreed timeline
- Liaising with multiple internal and external stakeholders throughout the process, including Heads of Section/Programme Managers and large-investment Directors
- Upwardly managing both external stakeholders and MRC colleagues to keep the activities on track
- Organising and prioritising actions in order to progress more than one project at a time

**Support the delivery of the annual assurance programme for units**
- Scheduling and organising annual meetings with large-investment Directors and supporting the coordination and assembly of associated papers
- Supporting the collection of annual reports and returns from large investments and checking completion of templates
- Proactively supporting progress, processes and actions required to keep projects on track
- Organising high level ‘oversight’ meetings with the appropriate universities as required

**Administration and records management**
- Ensuring the efficient organisation of records and documents within the agreed file structures in line with current policies
- Supporting the Programme Manager for Large Investments in housekeeping updates and tasks
- Providing a professional and friendly service

**Working relationships**:
**Reports to**:Senior Science Performance and Reviews Officer

The post holder will be expected to build effective working relationships with Programme Managers, Heads of Section, other colleagues across MRC and relevant large-investment colleagues.

**Equality & Diversity**:
The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all. Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities. The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equality and diversity leadership and management.

**Corporate/Local responsibilities & requirements**:
The post holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s:

- Code of Conduct
- Equality and Diversity policy
- Health and Safety policy
- Data Protection and Security policy

Job descriptions should be reviewed on a regular basis and at the annual appraisal. Any changes should be made and agreed between the post holder and their manager.

The above lists are not exhaustive and the post holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC.

Person Specification

**Education / Qualifications / Training required**:

- Essential:_
- Educated to A level or equivalent
- English and Maths GCSE at grade C or above (or equivalent)
- Desirable:_
- Educated to degree level

**Previous work experience required**:

- Essential: _
- At least 1 year experience of working in an administrative role
- Experience of working with or supporting senior staff/managers
- Experience of supporting a busy office, organising meetings and ensuring appropriate papers (electronic) are assembled and circulated prior
- Desirable: _
- Experience of working in a funding/university/charity/scientific environment
- Experience in a customer-facing role
- Experience of dealing with ext