Job Description

Do you have great interpersonal and administrative skills? Interested in a role which is contributing to changing lives for the better? Looking for your next challenge?


We are recruiting an Administrative Assistant for the recruitment team who can support the process of enrolling large national cohorts of patients into the NIHR BioResource and their participation in subsequent research studies.

About NIHR BioResource:

Our mission is to facilitate human health research and its transformation into medical practice.


NIHR BioResource is a unique and powerful resource for studying disease mechanisms and for investigating the links between genes, the environment, health and disease, enabling scientific discoveries as well as facilitating translational medicine for the benefit of patients.


Further details on the NIHR BioResource, including some of our COVID-19 research studies, can be found on our website https://bioresource.nihr.ac.uk.

About the job:

The Administrative Assistant will provide administrative support to the process of recruiting volunteers into the NIHR BioResource, including liaison with the recruitment sites to obtain the relevant information such as, health questionnaires, etc.


The role will also assist in the processing of paperwork and updating databases relating to volunteer participation. The role holder will prepare study materials for NIHR BioResource volunteers and for the recruitment sites.


The role holder will also be required to be one of the primary points of contact for BioResource participants and recruitment sites, responding to all standard queries (via email or telephone) about the recruitment process. The role holder will report to, and work closely with the Senior Study Coordinator, ensuring that all data is recorded accurately and processed in line with data protection regulations.

About you:

Ideally you will be:

Highly competent in the following: Word processing, Excel spreadsheets and databases. Familiarity with email packages such as Outlook. Excellent interpersonal skills to be able to answer questions from research volunteers, ensuring they have the necessary information to make an informed decision to enrol to the BioResource. Relevant experience in a clerical/office post ideally acquired through working in Higher Education, the NHS or in a research/medical institution. Excellent organisational skills to be able to prioritise tasks.

What we offer:

The University offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, family friendly policies, an attractive pension scheme (employer's contribution is 12.6%) and 36 days' annual holiday (inclusive of public holidays). We encourage career development by providing extensive training & development opportunities.


This appointment is full-time, 36.5 hours per week; part-time to 80% will be considered. Work -life balance is important, and we are open to discussion on flexible working, including hybrid working.


The post is available on a fixed-term basis for 12 months or until return of the postholder, whichever is sooner. NIHR BioResource is funded by the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) on a 5-year funding cycle.


Our offices are on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus CB2 0QQ (approximately 2 miles south of the city centre).


See the Further Information link below for full details and Person Specification.


We encourage informal queries about the job or the application process - please contact Vicky Hills, Research Recruitment Manager, Vicky.Hills@bioresource.nihr.ac.uk.


Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.


Please ensure that you outline how you match the criteria for the post and why you are applying for this role on the online application form.


Please include details of your referees, including email address and phone number, one of which must be your most recent line manager.


Please quote reference RW46708 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.


The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.


The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.