Administrator


Company:	Durham University
Salary:	£25,844 to £26,663 a year
Hours:	Part-time
Location:	Durham, DH1 3LE
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	28 Sept 2026
Closing date:	28 Oct 2026

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Summary

The Role and the Department

You will join a large and ambitious lab, the newly established Centre for Programmable Biological Matter (CPBM), led by Professor Jonathan Heddle.

At the CPBM, we are interested in understanding, designing and building natural and artificial bionanomachines. Bionanomachines are fascinating nanoscale devices made from biological molecules, typically proteins, lipids, RNA and DNA. In nature they carry out an amazing array of tasks, from copying our DNA to converting light into energy. Our exploratory work uses a mixture of biochemical, structural and computational techniques plus the most important ingredient, imagination, to make machines that exceed nature's capabilities,

Reporting to the Laboratory Manager, you will assist the managerial team in all administrative matters, helping the wider scientific team to focus on their core research goals. This will include handling scheduling, responding to internal and external requests for information, and assisting with lab finances and ordering. We are looking for someone professional, organised, diligent and conscientious to join us as the CPBM Administrator.

The Dept. of Biosciences partners with other areas of research strength in Durham University including Computational Sciences and Chemistry and encourages multidisciplinary research for Health and Wellbeing. Durham University was listed in the Times Higher World Top 50 Life Science Challengers (July 2017).

The post is 0.8FTE, fixed term until 9th February 2029

at Durham University Grade 4 point 13.

Qualifications/Experience

Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent experience.

2. Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience.

Experience of working in a busy office environment delivering front line administrative services or having relevant qualifications for the role.

Experience of managing time to meet deadlines and working under pressure without compromising on quality.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Excellent spoken and written communication skills.

6. Exceptional organisational skills.

7. Experience of working in a team and associated skills of communication and time management.

Good digital skills including experience in using core digital tools including internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, digital booking systems.

Evidence of relevant personal development to maintain skills.

10.

Relevant administrative experience in a busy office environment, especially in academic science, preferably biological sciences.

11. Experience of working on the front line with service delivery, and the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.

12.

Ability to solve problems as part of a team and resolve straightforward issues.

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