Job Title: Receptionist / Administrator
Salary: £25,702 – £27,938 gross per annum
Contract Type: Up to 3 xOpen Ended Positions Permanent)
Hours: Full Time (We understand the importance of work-life balance, flexible working is available, but with at least 4 days a week on-site, 1-day working from home)
Grade: UKRI Band C
Location: Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
Due to the requirement of obtaining an enhanced security clearance for this role, we are only able to accept applications from persons who have been residents in the UK for the last 5 years. We cannot sponsor visa applications for this role.
About the role:
We have an exciting opportunity for Reception / Administration Support Staff to join the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). You will be working alongside scientists, engineers, developers and experts in quantum technologies working to enhance the UK’s quantum computing capabilities.
As first point of contact, the successful candidate will deliver a professional, efficient and security-conscious front-of-house role, and is an essential part of the NQCC and their new build premises. They would also be the first point of reflection of the NQCC culture, behaviours and values.
Working collaboratively and effectively with team members, you will be required to respond to operational needs to ensure that day-to-day tasks and functions are attended to.
What will I be doing?
• The ideal candidate will deliver a friendly and efficient service at reception. Creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all visitors, whilst undertaking a range of other administrative tasks as required
• Book meetings and register people in and out of the building
• Arranging parking permits or travel to/from the train station for visitors to the NQCC
• Providing administrative support for site visits and events
• Answer all calls efficiently and quickly, responding to queries or taking short messages, ensuring messages are forwarded immediately to the right person
• Deal with all enquiries in a professional and courteous manner, in person, on the telephone or via email
• Keep the reception area clean and tidy at all times, reporting any cleanliness or maintenance issues
• Greeting all visitors in a friendly and efficient manner and ensuring they sign in to the building. Alert the appropriate NQCC staff of their arrival and escort the person to the meeting room
• Maintain the meeting room diaries, ensuring that meetings do not overrun where a room is booked for another meeting
• Arrange catering for meetings as required
• Maintain stocks of staff refreshments, including milk, sugar coffee and tea
• Dealing with the incoming and outgoing post & parcels including delivery to the relevant people
• Delivery of excellent customer service at all times
This is an outline description of the key responsibilities and accountabilities involved in the role. This is not an exhaustive list, and the post-holder might be expected to undertake any other duties across the NQCC, appropriate to the Band and level of responsibility of this post, for which the post-holder has the necessary experience and/or training.
Our Benefits
UKRI recognises and values employees as individuals and aims to provide a pay and rewards package that motivates staff to perform to the best of their ability. The reward package includes a flexible working scheme (subject to business requirements), a Defined benefit pension scheme (employer contribution – currently up to 26%), and 30 days annual leave allowance plus 10.5 bank holiday/privilege days and several other benefits.
What experience do I need?
We offer significant development and training opportunities. Applicants for this role should meet the following criteria:
Essential
• Excellent communication skills
• A good working knowledge of Microsoft packages
• Accurate attention to detail
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to build good working relationships both internally and externally
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
• Ability to work under own initiative
Job-related aptitudes and personal qualities
• Smart and Presentable appearance
• Professional and welcoming manner
• Ability to learn quickly and engage with new environments, systems and processes
• Proactive communicator
• Strong team player
• Commitment to own professional development
The role requires significant face-to-face contact with NQCC scientists, technical staff and stakeholders; therefore, the role requires on-site presence (We understand the importance of work-life balance, flexible working available, with at least 4 days a week on-site, 1-day working from home). You would need to be available to occasionally travel/work within the UK and overseas when required
How do I apply for this role?
Please submit your CV and a Covering Letter that clearly outlines how you fulfil the role criteria and your motivation to join NQCC as attachments on your application. Please ensure that your name and the job reference number are in the file name of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit your application without a cover letter may result in your application not being considered.
About the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC)
As part of the UK’s National Quantum Technologies Programme, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is leading a programme to establish a National Quantum Computing Centre, which includes a commitment of £93m over 5 years, dedicated to drive development in the field of Quantum Computing and to place the UK at the forefront of the field. The Centre is a joint initiative of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
A purpose-built National Quantum Computing Centre will be built and operated by UKRI at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) campus in Oxfordshire. The Centre will be open and operational by December 2022. Until then, the NQCC’s activities are taking place in other facilities on the Harwell Campus or at partnering institutions. The NQCC will sit alongside other departments within the STFC National Laboratories and will be part of the broader National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP).
The primary purpose of the NQCC is to fill a key gap in the research and innovation landscape addressing the challenge of scaling quantum computing. However, this technology is immature and extensive development work is needed to scale the fundamental science to provide usable computing systems.
The NQCC’s initial 5 years will focus on developing a Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) machine to demonstrate the technology as well as software, algorithm and applications development. The longer-term aim is to scale the technology towards an error and noise-free fault-tolerant machine capability with benchmarking and verification demonstrated in collaboration with the UK and international partners. The NQCC will give assured and direct access to early prototype machines to developers and promote the formation of a strong UK-based quantum computing supply chain.
About The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, we ask the biggest questions in the universe to find answers that change the world around us. We seek understanding. We’re proud of the impact we make. And we’re committed to helping build a globally competitive, knowledge-based UK economy. Being part of all this means contributing to work that pushes boundaries and creates possibilities. You’ll work with, and learn from, true experts. Whatever your role, you’ll be free to question, and encouraged to share ideas. And, in a positive and supportive culture, you’ll discover just what a difference you can make when you’re equipped and inspired to excel.
We’re a place where curious minds thrive. Not bound by profit, we explore ideas that others don’t, ask questions that others won’t, and discover answers that others are not equipped to find. And, alongside Mars landings and black holes, we also explore diverse, international projects in everything from science and engineering to computing and technology. Our work is intellectually challenging whether at the cutting edge or behind the scenes. It’s very often ground-breaking. And it’s endlessly, irresistibly fascinating.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/
You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
About UK Research Innovation (UKRI)
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit the benefits of working for UKRI.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications are only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and cover letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a cover letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted cover letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.