Main Purpose of the Job

The main purpose of this role is to support ELIXIR‑UK’s communications and events activities, alongside providing essential administrative support to the ELIXIR‑UK Node Coordination Office hosted at the Earlham Institute (EI). This includes helping organise engagement activities, coordinating events, preparing clear and accessible communications, and ensuring accurate and well‑maintained records across the Node’s activities and processing payment.

You will also coordinate the Earlham Institute Seminar Series, providing logistical and communications support to ensure the smooth delivery of these weekly events.

Key Relationships

Internal: Reporting to the ELIXIR-UK Node coordinator. This role will sit within the Research Faculty Office and work closely with the ELIXIR-UK Communications & Community Manager,  the members of the ELIXIR-UK coordination office, members of the Earlham Institute Research Faculty Office and Communications teams at Earlham Institute. 
External: members of ELIXIR-UK, ELIXIR and ELIXIR Hub, UKRI

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Events 
• Coordinate and manage logistics for ELIXIR-UK workshops and town meetings.
• Coordinate and manage logistics for Earlham Institute’s  Seminars Series (maintenance of the schedule, room bookings, tech setup, attendee liaison).
• Maintain accurate and GDPR compliant records of event attendance and feedback.

40

Communications support
• Draft content for ELIXIR-UK website, newsletters, blogs and social media following good SEO and digital content practices.
• Adapt content for different audiences (Node members, researchers, funders, partners) and formats, following established tone-of-voice and brand guidelines.
• Prepare event-related communications, including promotional copy, registration information, joining instructions and post-event summaries, for review and approval.
• Note-taking and Summary Preparation for Meetings, ensuring accurate records and clear communication for distribution.
• Assisting with the preparation and drafting of progress and outcome reports, including gathering content, contributing text, and proofreading for clarity and accuracy.

35

Administration
• Manage invoice monitoring and financial record-keeping for individual Flexible Fund awards, ensuring documentation is accurate and up to date.
• Establishing effective systems and maintaining the central records for the Node and Research Faculty Office (RFO).
• Centralised calendar management for both the Node and RFO, arranging and dealing with logistics of meeting bookings.
• Management of the ELIXIR-UK Node and RFO Outlook inboxes: handling general enquiries, triaging tasks to the responsible person and filing.

20

As agreed with line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the role.

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Degree level qualified or equivalent experience

Essential

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Competent in the use and application of IT systems and computer packages

Essential

Excellent organisational skills

Essential

Comfortable using digital communication tools with the ability to learn quickly and apply new systems

Essential

Competent in Zoom and online meeting platforms

Essential

Ability to apply established brand guidelines for tone of voice and visual identity when preparing communications materials

Essential

Familiarity with basic content or design tools (e.g. Adobe Creative Suite or equivalent) to support event and promotional materials

Desirable

Familiarity with project management tools (ClickUp, Asana, Monday.com)

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience organising events (online and in-person)

Desirable

Experience drafting content for web, newsletters or social media under editorial guidance

Desirable

Experience using specific tools such as WordPress, MailerLite, Google Workspace or similar content and email platforms

Desirable

Experience of administration, personal assistant or office manager

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Demonstrated ability to work independently, using initiative and applying problem solving skills

Essential

Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work as part of a team

Essential

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare clear drafts and respond constructively to feedback

Essential

Good communication skills, both written and verbal

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of information where appropriate

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Ability to work effectively with researchers and professional services staff across multiple institutions, adapting communication style to suit academic, technical, and non-specialist audiences

Desirable

Willingness to occasionally travel within the UK for events and meetings (less than 5% time)

Desirable

An interest in data-driven research, bioinformatics and computational biology

Desirable

Earlham Institute

About the Earlham Institute
The Earlham Institute is a hub of life science research, training, and innovation focused on understanding the natural world through the lens of genomics.

We are building a future where the biology of any organism can be understood by analysing its genome. Our mission is to decode the scale and complexity of living systems so we can understand, benefit from, and protect life on Earth.

The Earlham Institute is based on the Norwich Research Park and is one of eight institutes that receive strategic funding from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council (BBSRC).

Our Science
Earlham Institute scientists specialise in developing and testing the latest tools and approaches needed to decode living systems and make predictions about biology.

We are home to state-of-the-art facilities and technology, creating a unique combination of expertise and infrastructure. We have dedicated laboratories for genome sequencing, single-cell analysis, engineering biology, and large-scale automation; as well as one of the largest supercomputing facilities for life science research in Europe. Our Advanced Training team also provides access to specialised scientific training to upskill the next generation of research and technical staff.

Our Culture
The Earlham Institute champions 'team science'. Our collegiate and innovative research environment comes with significant support, including a commitment to your professional development, research and administrative assistance, and opportunities to build collaborations with scientists and industry on the Norwich Research Park, across the UK, and internationally.

The Institute is also home to talented technical and operational staff, whose invaluable contributions enable our science to have the maximum impact. We aim to recognise, reward, and develop all staff and students so that every individual feels able to achieve their best with us.

We work hard to nurture an engaged and positive workplace, centred on core values that include openness, technical excellence, and collaboration. We attract staff from around the world who contribute to - and benefit from - an environment that enables them to deliver world-class science alongside a supportive and social community.

For more information about working at the Earlham Institute, please click here.

Further Information:

Our Vision and Mission

Our Strategy

Our Culture

Life at Earlham Institute

Department

Research Faculty Office

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Events and Communication Assistant

Applications are invited for an Events and Communications Assistant to join the team, supporting national and international collaborations that enable data‑driven life science research at the Earlham Institute, based in Norwich, UK.

Background:

ELIXIR is a European research infrastructure that coordinates and develops life science data resources, enabling researchers to find, analyse and share data, exchange expertise and adopt best practices. ELIXIR-UK, a consortium of 30 organisations, connects the UK life science community to this European digital research infrastructure by supporting participation in ELIXIR communities and projects, building national communities of practice, and promoting FAIR data, open science and good research data management.

The role:

The main purpose of this role is to support ELIXIR‑UK’s communications and events activities, alongside providing essential administrative support to the ELIXIR‑UK Node Coordination Office hosted at the Earlham Institute (EI). This includes helping organise engagement activities, coordinating events, preparing clear and accessible communications, and ensuring accurate and well‑maintained records across the Node’s activities and processing payment.

You will also coordinate the Earlham Institute Seminar Series, providing logistical and communications support to ensure the smooth delivery of these weekly events.

The ideal candidate:

Candidates should have excellent organisational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks. Experience in events coordination, communications, administration or working within collaborative teams is advantageous.

Additional information:

This is a part-time post until March 2030, based at the Earlham Institute, Norwich, with flexible working arrangements.

Salary on appointment will be within the range £28,890 to £32,100 per annum, pro rata, depending on qualifications and experience. This is a part-time post, 29.5 hours per week for a contract of 47 months.

Interviews will be held on 30th April 2026.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

The closing date for applications will be 9th April 2026.