Group
Partnerships & Public Affairs
Duration
2 year fixed term appointment
Salary
£28, 254 - £31, 084
Administration Lead – Marine Science UK
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
2-year fixed term contract
Part time (22.2 hours per week)
£29, 243 (full-time equivalent salary)
We are expecting a high number of applications for this position and may close the advert early. We encourage anyone interested in the position to apply as soon as they can.
Who are we?
We are the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) - the UK’s leading institution for integrated coastal and deep ocean research. Through our ground-breaking research, collaboration, and game-changing innovation we work to gain a deeper understanding of our ocean, helping every living thing on our planet flourish.
We are made up of a dynamic and vibrant community focused on solving challenging long-term marine science problems, underpinning international and UK public policy, business and societal outcomes.
The ocean has the potential to provide the solutions to so many of the social, economic and environmental challenges we face worldwide. To truly harness the value of the ocean, we put ocean research, science and discovery at the heart of our culture.
Join us in shaping the future of oceanographic research and contribute your unique perspective to our organisation.
Marine Science UK
Marine Science UK is an umbrella organisation that acts as a collective voice for marine science across UK universities and research organisations. It champions the seas and ocean and to communicate robust and coherent marine science evidence to government, industry and the wider community.
We do this by:
- Being a trusted and impactful voice
- Informing and impacting policy and opinion nationally and internationally
- Bringing our scientists together to take collective action
- Providing insight into the value of the ocean through marine science for the future
- Complementing the efforts of others to maximise the impact of the wider marine science community
About the role
This role supports the delivery of stakeholder engagement, membership and outreach activities that promote MSUK's mission and objectives. Working closely with members, partners and key stakeholders, the post-holder will help coordinate engagement initiatives, support organisational activities and ensure the effective administration of MSUK's membership network. This includes administrative and secretariat roles for MSUK’s Executive Committee and membership, alongside external facing roles such as supporting on event organisation and membership outreach.
The role will be responsible for organising meetings and events, maintaining accurate membership records and supporting communications activities to ensure consistent messaging across stakeholder groups. The post-holder will act as a key point of contact for members, managing correspondence and helping to strengthen engagement across the network.
The post-holder will also support the development of written responses to Government and parliamentary consultations, helping to ensure that the views and interests of MSUK members are effectively represented.
The successful candidate will be an employee of the National Oceanography Centre and based at our site in Southampton. The individual will be seconded to MSUK for the duration of the appointment. The National Oceanography Centre is a founding member of MSUK.
Please note while we are using the title ‘Administration Lead’ for this advert, the formal internal job title will be ‘MSUK Secretariat’.
About you
We are looking for someone with exceptional administration skills and a genuine interest in marine/ocean science, engineering, and technology.
You will have experience of supporting team members rapidly and professionally, excellent communication skills (both written and verbal), and a positive and solutions-focused approach to tackling challenges.
Good organisation skills with excellent attention to detail will be vital in this position.
Right to work
We are unable to offer sponsorship for this position, and can therefore only consider applicants who currently have the right to work in the UK.
Why NOC?
We offer a generous set of benefits, including:
- 30 days contractual annual leave, plus 3.5 extra closure days and bank holidays
- a 10% employer contribution pension scheme (with a 15% NI saving on employee contributions made above 5%, if in the salary sacrifice scheme)
- Death in Service (3 times annual salary) provided by Aviva from day one of employment, plus access to a range of other Aviva wellbeing services
- financial support for relocation
- a salary sacrifice scheme for electric / hybrid vehicles (qualifying period applies)
- access to our Employee Assistance Programme, offering free and confidential support on mental, physical, emotional, health and financial issues
- access to a flexible benefits portal offering online discounts, cashback and eGift cards
- a Cycle2Work scheme allowing employees to acquire bikes and accessories
- a great working environment with a number of social events, including summer and Christmas celebrations
- we are proud to be a Living Wage Employer
Location
This position will be based in Southampton. The centre is well connected by public transport and has ample cycle parking in addition to free onsite car-parking with over 40 EV charging points.
We have a hybrid working approach where for most positions staff can work from home up to 2 days per week (pro-rated for part-time staff). If you are interested in this position, but require a more flexible working arrangement, please contact the recruitment team using the contact details below.
Submitting an application
Please submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter outlining why you are interested in this position. Applications submitted without a cover letter will not be considered. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the NOC recruitment team at [email protected] / 07955 851648.
Please note that as part of your application you will be asked the following:
'In no more than 300 words, please give an example of when you have effectively managed a large group of stakeholders with a common aim.’
Before submitting your application please ensure you have reviewed the attached job description and person specification.
We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We actively encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply for this position, as we strive to create a supportive and equitable environment where all voices are valued and heard.
Those seeking employment at NOC are considered solely on their qualifications, skills and experience, without regard to gender, gender identity, age, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, relationship status, family status (including pregnancy / maternity leave) or any other protected characteristic.
There is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the position and declare a disability.
Date advert posted: 30/07/2026.
Closing date: 27/08/2026.
Please note we are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this position.
