The Office Administrator (Maternity Cover) will play a key role in supporting PSTT’s operations by handling administrative tasks, managing general enquiries, and coordinating logistics for events such as conferences and awards. This position offers an opportunity to work within a dynamic charity committed to improving science education in primary schools across the UK. Our preferred start date for this role is 7 January 2025 and the post will continue until mid-January 2026 or the return of the post holder, whichever comes sooner.
About the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT)
PSTT is a registered charity with a clear vision – we want to see excellent teaching of science in every primary classroom in the UK. We believe it is vital that children are engaged and inspired by science from an early age. We want to draw on their natural curiosity to help them explore, understand and ask questions about the world around them. Scientific skills and knowledge are essential for every child, whether or not they become a scientist, engineer or medic.
We’ve built a Primary Science Teacher College of over 200 outstanding Fellows, each helping to shape and influence science teaching across the UK. We produce great resources that improve how science is taught and planned, including through the award-winning Explorify website. We provide professional learning and development that supports thousands of schools each year, through our national CPD programme and our network of Regional Mentors across England.
Through our new strategy, we are refining PSTT’s approach (building our work around a clear definition of what excellence in primary science means), targeting our efforts (giving our most intensive support to schools and teachers that need it most) and focusing on the impact of our work.
More information on PSTT’s strategy, definition of excellence in primary science, and theory of change can be found here.
Job summary
The Office Administrator plays an important role in PSTT’s central administration, operations and office functions. They are the public first point of contact for general enquiries. They are responsible for various areas of administration involving our staff, Fellows, trustees and external organisations. They play a logistical role in several important areas of PSTT activity: supporting planning, logistics and key processes for our College Conference, awards, College Bulletin and other events and activities. The role also involves the collection, collation and maintenance of essential PSTT data sources.
This would be a great opportunity for someone with strong administration skills and/or for someone seeking their first post in the charity sector.
Key facts about this role
Salary Starting salary from £21,758 (FTE), subject to experience
Pension and benefits Employer pension scheme (5% contribution); enhanced sick pay and maternity/paternity/adoption pay, detailed in our pay and reward scheme
Location Hybrid – expected to spend at least 2 days per week at the office in central Bristol (BS1)
Hours 35 hours per week (full time), usually worked between Monday-Friday. There may be scope for job-sharing, so please apply if you are interested in taking a part-time role
Contractual basis Maternity cover
Travel The job may require some travel within the UK and occasional overnight stays. Expenses will be reimbursed
Line manager Operations Manager
Annual leave 28 days (of which 3 days must be taken during the Christmas closure period) plus public holidays
Start date Preferred start date 7 January 2025
A full list of job responsibilities can be found in the Application Pack.
How to apply
- If you would like more information before deciding whether to apply, please contact [email protected].
- Complete the official application form and return this to [email protected] by the deadline of 5:00pm, Friday 15 November. Please note that it is particularly important to complete the Supporting Statement as fully as possible. This section helps us to understand how you meet the key job criteria, and our shortlisting process will rely significantly on this statement. Please don’t send a CV or other information, as these will not be considered when shortlisting.
- Please complete our Equal Opportunities Monitoring questionnaire. Completing the survey is optional but provides PSTT with valuable information about the diversity of applicants. It is anonymous and we will not consider it as part of the application process. Please do not send us a copy of the completed survey.
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