Research Administration Apprentice
University of Cambridge
Cambridge (CB2 0RE)
Closes in 30 days (Monday 23 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 23 May 2025
Contents
Summary
We’re a unique department of the University of Cambridge, core funded by Cancer Research UK’s charitable activities. You will be part of the Research Administration team and will cover many aspects within the Department by supporting the Core Facility teams.
- Wage
-
£19,781 a year
- Training course
- Business administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday , hours to be agreed at interview
36 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 5 August 2025
- Duration
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1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Join us at the world-leading Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.
We’re a unique department of the University of Cambridge, core funded by Cancer Research UK’s charitable activities, and we’re eagerly searching for our new Research Administration Apprentice.
The Apprentice will be part of the Research Administration team and will study the Business Administrator Level 3 qualification. The Research Administration Apprentice will, during their apprenticeship, cover many aspects of administration within the Department by supporting the Core Facility teams. The Institute has 11 scientific Core Facilities that work alongside researchers to enable access to cutting edge technologies.
You will be a great team player who has good organisation and prioritising skills. The apprentice will need to have basic IT skills and be able to follow instructions and learn new tasks. You will have good communication and interpersonal skills to communicate with staff at all levels.
Duties will include:
- Review emails to identify priorities and action as appropriate
- Research and book travel for the Core Facility teams and arrange conference registration
- Assist with completion of travel risk assessments in accordance with University policies and procedures
- Provide administrative support for the Core Facility teams
- Assist with HR administration in accordance with University policies and procedures
- Organise interviews and liaise with other teams within the Department to co-ordinate the new starter process
- Support the administration of visitors and external researchers to the Core Facilities using the appropriate process
- Assist with organisation of Experimental Design meetings
- Respond in a friendly and professional manner to any ad hoc in person requests for assistance from the Core Facility teams
- Take messages as required and pass to the relevant teams
- Manage diary of the Head of Core Facilities Operations and review daily
- Schedule meetings and rearrange diary appointments as necessary
- Assist with the organisation of events and meetings
- Coordinate and book meeting rooms, order refreshments, collate and distribute materials for events, seminars and meetings as required on an ad hoc basis
- Assist with administration of projects alongside the Core Facilities Co-ordinator and Head of Core Facilities Operations
- Process expenses using the University online system. Raise purchase orders for travel and related expenses
- Make purchases using the University Credit Card; submit a monthly return for authorisation
- Maintain SharePoint and external website pages for the Core Facility teams
- Liaise with other Operational teams within the Department as required
- Maintain Researchfish records for the Core Facility teams
- Maintain records of annual leave and sickness leave
- Participate in Research Administration team meetings and events
- Provide short-term reciprocal cover for other administrators as required
Where you'll work
CRUK Cambridge Institute
Cambridge
CB2 0RE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
College or training organisation
CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE
Your training course
Business administrator (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
- Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
- Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
- Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
- Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
- Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
- Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
- Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.
Your training plan
You will achieve a Level 3 Business Administration Standard via a work monitor and Cambridge Regional College assessor
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4 or C)
- Maths (grade 4 or C)
Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Team working
About this company
The Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, housed in the Li Ka Shing Centre, focuses on tumour ecology and evolution. We are one of 4 CRUK core-funded Institutes, the others being the Manchester Institute, The Scotland Institute, and The Francis Crick Institute. The CRUK CI has a diverse faculty comprising both basic and clinical investigators and aims not only to contribute fundamental discoveries in the basic biology of cancer but also to translate these into the clinic in a way that benefits patients. We have particular strengths in genomics, computational biology, and imaging, and currently devote significant research effort to cancers arising in the breast, pancreas, brain, and colon. Our underlying philosophy is that only by embracing the full complexity of human cancers will we be able to devise new and effective treatment strategies. This leads many of our groups to examine questions relating to tumour heterogeneity, both between and within individual patients, with a goal of understanding how genomic and phenotypic diversity impact the course of disease development and its response to treatment. We are a core-funded Institute, receiving generous and flexible support from CRUK, which is meant both to provide a state-of-the-art research environment and to enable investigators to engage in high risk/high reward and/or long-term strategic research programs that would be unlikely to be funded by other mechanisms. We are currently supported by 11 core facilities, whose remits range from genomics and proteomics to whole animal imaging. We also benefit from a dedicated, professional administrative staff.
After this apprenticeship
- Upon completion of this apprenticeship, the role holder would possess excellent administrative skills and could progress into other Administration roles
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
CAMBRIDGE REGIONAL COLLEGE
Camilla
01223 418778
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000322501.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Monday 23 June 2025 at 11:59pm)
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