Are you a highly organised individual who enjoys working at the heart of strategic programmes? Would you thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same? We’re looking for a proactive and collaborative professional to work with the Executive Director of Innovation at the University of Bath.

The University is growing its innovation ambition—supporting new ideas, civic impact, and business engagement as part of a major strategic drive. This post combines the trusted, professional role of Executive Assistant with the dynamic challenge of project coordination across a portfolio of innovation initiatives—from helping grow our Innovation District in Bath city centre to supporting Strategic Partnerships and entrepreneurship.

You’ll be based at the University and have the opportunity to work closely with academic leaders, external partners, and operational teams.

In this role, you will:

• Provide high-level executive support, including diary management, meeting preparation, and correspondence handling for the Executive Director of Innovation.
• Coordinate and track progress on a portfolio of strategic innovation projects, ensuring smooth delivery and effective communication.
• Draft briefings, reports, and presentations for internal and external audiences, often at short notice.
• Liaise with stakeholders across the University and beyond, including funders, civic partners, and business collaborators.

This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of a high-impact programme supporting the University’s long-term innovation strategy. If you’re driven, diplomatic, and detail-oriented—with an interest in supporting ideas that shape the future—this could be the perfect fit.

We’re looking for someone who thrives on variety, works well under pressure, and enjoys supporting strategic leadership while keeping projects running smoothly. You don’t need to have worked in a university before—but you do need to be organised, proactive, and able to deal confidently with people at all levels.

About you

• Excellent administrative and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and keep others on track.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing briefings, reports, and high-quality correspondence.
• Discretion, professionalism and judgement, especially when handling confidential or sensitive matters.
• Confidence working independently, while also being a collaborative team member who builds positive relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience supporting senior leaders or project teams, ideally in a fast-paced or complex organisation.
• Comfort with digital tools and systems, including Microsoft 365 (Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.) and document management platforms.

We are particularly interested in candidates who:

• Can bring experience working on or supporting strategic programmes or innovation activity
• Show enthusiasm for learning and contributing to a team focused on Innovation and partnerships 

Essential qualifications or equivalent experience:

• You should hold a good standard of education (e.g., A-levels or equivalent), ideally with evidence of further training or professional development in administration or project support.
• Equivalent experience in a relevant administrative, executive assistant, or programme coordination role will also be considered.

We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences. If you're not sure whether you meet every requirement but are excited by this role, we’d still love to hear from you.

This role is offered on a full-time (36.5 hours), open ended basis. For an informal discussion about the role please contact either Jon Hunt (Executive Director of Innovation) via jh298@bath.ac.uk or Suzanne Maxwell (Head of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office) via s.j.maxwell@bath.ac.uk.

What we can offer you

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our commitment.

We are very proud to be an autism friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• Local discounts and more
• A family-friendly workplace 
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Relocation allowance
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses

We are committed to continually expanding our benefits to better support you and enhance your experience with us. Find out more about our benefits.

Find out from our staff what makes the University of Bath a great place to work. Follow us and on X for more information.

Closing Date: 30 Jun 2025

Department: Management, Specialist and Administration

Salary: £30,805 to £37,174

With a proud history spanning over 50 years, the University of Bath has grown in both scale and reputation and is now home to a vibrant community of more than 20,000 students from 153 countries. Renowned for its excellence in teaching and research, the University consistently ranks among the UK’s top five in the Complete University Guide 2024 and is placed within the global top 150 in the QS World University Rankings. Named 'University of the Year' and ranked 8th in the UK by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023, Bath is celebrated for its outstanding student experience and teaching quality. Its three Faculties—Engineering & Design, Science, and Humanities & Social Sciences—alongside the School of Management, drive a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and global impact.

Role

The Deputy University Secretary plays a pivotal leadership role in shaping and delivering high-quality governance, compliance, risk management and organisational resilience and business continuity across the University. Reporting to the University Secretary and Registrar, the post holder will provide expert advice on legal, regulatory, and sector developments, ensuring robust frameworks for data protection, information governance, and organisational resilience and business continuity. This role involves strategic oversight of Council, Senate, and UEB operations, as well as strong stakeholder engagement, sound judgment, and the ability to manage complex challenges across both strategic and operational levels.

• Lead the Governance, Compliance, Risk and organisational resilience and business continuity Teams, ensuring high-quality support for Council, Senate, UEB, and their committees.
• Provide expert advice on governance, legal, and regulatory matters, including data protection and sector developments.
• Ensure compliance with the University’s Charter, Statutes, Ordinances, and the CUC Governance Code.
• Oversee implementation of governance decisions and effectiveness reviews, embedding improvements across the institution.
• Support induction, training, and engagement of Council, Senate, and UEB members.
• Handle risk, compliance, organisational resilience and business continuity frameworks, using data to inform strategic decisions.
• Produce and oversee high-quality reports, committee papers, and governance documentation.
• Maintain and enhance the University’s governance frameworks, policies, and website content.
• Promote best practice in secretariat services and governance across the University.
• Manage team resources and budgets, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.

About You

This is an exciting opportunity to join the University of Bath—a top-ranking institution with bold ambitions and a relentless drive for excellence. We’re on the lookout for a strategic and inspiring leader ready to take charge and bring together governance, compliance, risk, organisational resilience and business continuity into one high-performing, unified team. You’ll bring sharp expertise in governance, UK charity and company law, and the higher education regulatory landscape, including data protection legislation. With a proven ability to lead, influence, and deliver results in complex environments, you’ll thrive on managing change, supporting senior committees, and driving continuous improvement. Your strengths in planning, analysis, and communication will be key, along with sound judgment and the confidence to engage at the highest levels. If you're ready to make a lasting impact, build strong partnerships, and help shape the University’s future resilience - this is your moment!

Campus interviews are expected on the week commencing 14th July 2025.

Travel to Bath

Bath, known for its Georgian architecture and natural hot springs, has been a desirable place to live since Roman times. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it holds legal protection for its cultural significance. Residents appreciate the green surroundings, parks, hills, and independent shops alongside the iconic Georgian landscape. The city hosts various cultural events like the Bath Literature, Music, and Comedy Festivals, "Bath in Fashion" Week, and the annual Bath Digital Festival, providing entertainment for residents. Find essential travel advice at Travel advice (bath.ac.uk).

What we can offer you

• a very generous employer contributory pension scheme
• generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work-life balance.
• we are a family-friendly University and with an increasingly agile workforce, are open to flexible working arrangements.
• an excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities
• several support options available for new and existing staff to help with the cost of some immigration expenses which you may be eligible for: Relocation allowance, Visa Reimbursement, and Interest-Free Loan.

Equal Opportunity

We aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students, so we encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on our teams.

We are very proud to be an autism-friendly university and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader; committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff.

Further Details (attachments)

• Job Description
• Candidate Pack
• Terms and Conditions of Employment

Closing Date: 30 Jun 2025

Department: Management, Specialist and Administration

Salary: £90,000 to £100,000