Administrative Officer

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Department of Oncology at the University of Oxford as an Administrative Officer, based at the Old Road Campus Research Building in Headington, Oxford.

This role is a key part of the department's administrative support team, providing high-quality assistance to senior staff, including the Head of Department, Head of Administration and Finance, and Executive PA. Responsibilities include managing departmental inboxes and room bookings, supporting the Director of Graduate Studies, maintaining records, processing financial documentation using Oracle R12, and arranging travel.

You will lead the planning and delivery of departmental events, including seminars, research days and social events, coordinating speakers, venues, catering, travel and budgets. You will also deputise for the Executive PA to the Head of Department, managing diaries, correspondence and meetings, drafting communications, preparing papers and minutes, and handling enquiries with discretion and sound judgement. Other responsibilities include supporting departmental reporting, mailing lists and the PIL process, contributing to projects, and identifying improvements to administrative procedures.

The post is offered on a full-time or part-time basis (minimum 0.8 FTE) on a fixed-term contract for two years.

About you

You will have excellent organisational and administrative skills, with proven experience managing complex diaries, coordinating events and prioritising a busy workload to tight deadlines. You will be a confident communicator with excellent written and verbal skills, able to draft correspondence on behalf of senior staff and build positive working relationships across the department and wider University. You will demonstrate strong numeracy, attention to detail and IT skills, including Microsoft Office, alongside the ability to interpret procedures, maintain accurate records and handle financial information. A proactive, flexible and professional approach, with sound judgement, discretion and the ability to work independently and collaboratively, is essential. Experience in higher education or a similar environment, a senior management office, or financial and travel systems such as Oracle Financials and Key Travel would be an advantage.

What we offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees' wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer, including:

• An excellent contributory pension scheme
• 38 days' annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays, pro rata for part time)
• A comprehensive range of childcare services
• Family leave schemes
• Cycle loan scheme
• Discounted bus travel and season ticket travel loans
• Membership to a variety of social and sports clubs

Application process

You will be required to upload a supporting statement (setting out how you meet the selection criteria), a curriculum vitae (CV), and the names and contact details of two referees as part of your online application.

Only applications received before noon on Friday 13 November 2026 can be considered.

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or member of staff will be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Committed to equality and valuing diversity.