Studio Assistant

The Royal Society is the independent scientific academy of the UK. Our aim is to recognise, promote and support excellence in science, and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. The Society’s Fellows have played a part in some of the most fundamental, significant and life-changing discoveries in scientific history and Royal Society scientists continue to make outstanding contributions to science in many research areas.

The Design team serves as a centralised support function, collaborating with all departments across the Society. They create printed and digital communications, provide branding guidance, and support the implementation of the Society’s strategy through effective design solutions.

The Studio Assistant plays a vital role in the Design team, providing critical administrative support by assisting with the smooth day-to-day running of the team’s workflow and acting as the first point of contact for queries. They also assist in the creation, curation and management of photography used to promote the work of the Society.

Reports to: Design and Brand Manager

Line manages: N/A

Location: Carlton House Terrace, London

Hours: Full-time, 35 per week

Salary Band: B

Salary: £28, 850

Contract type: Permanent 

Application closing date: 28 February 2025 at 23:59.

Interviews will be 11, 12 & 13 March 2025. 

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

• Support the smooth-running of the design studio by accurately using Teamwork Projects (the design project management tool) to add project details, generate schedules and monitor project progress.
• Guide stakeholders through the design process, advising on lead times and conducting onboarding sessions in Teamwork Project
  
• Manage photography requests and work with our photographers to assist in the creation, curation, and asset management of imagery that reflects and promotes the work of the Society.
  
• Manage regular orders, such as business cards and name badges, from collating details to obtaining quotes and placing orders.
  
• Assist with document translations by liaising with suppliers, and ensuring materials are returned in the correct format for publication.
  
• Oversee the team email inbox, taking ownership of enquiries, resolving or escalating promptly.
  
• Compile monthly reports to track project performance against KPIs.
  
• Assist with archiving completed projects, helping to maintain organised physical and digital files, and regularly adding printed items to the Society’s collections.
  
• Act as an ambassador for the Society, promoting a positive and professional image of the brand.
  
• Demonstrate the Society’s values:
• • We make a difference
  • We strive for excellence
  • We respect each other
  • We are collaborative

Essential

• Proven experience in an administrative role within a project-based environment.
• Knowledge of Teamwork Projects or another project management /scheduling tool.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively.
• A keen eye for photography and proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, with experience in retouching and image optimisation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a clear and concise writing style.
• Attention to detail, methodical approach, and the ability to follow procedures accurately.
• Proactive and independent, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate with a wide range of people.
• Competent in using Mac OS and Adobe Photoshop – familiarity with InDesign is advantageous.

 Desirable

• Experience of client/account management within a design studio, production or publishing environment.
• Knowledge of Digital Asset Management.
• Knowledge of printing processes.
• Good knowledge of Mac OSX operating system and Apple hardware.
• Good knowledge of InDesign.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Excel applications.
• An interest in science.
• An interest in design.

At Band B you will hold an administrative or operational support role. Pay Band B roles are described in the following dimensions: 

Decision-making – your work is varied and you have a range of administrative or technical tasks. You take decisions in line with specific routines, guidelines or procedures.  You plan your own work and coordinate with others on how your work fits into a broader plan of activities.  Supervision is available for issues that fall outside of existing operating guidelines or your realm of knowledge 

Thinking challenges – solutions to issues or problems are not always obvious and the investigation is needed before you choose a way forward. Your initiative is required to help find ways to improve working practices and procedures in your area of work, in sorting out problems that occur in day-to-day work or improvements to work processes.  

Communicating – you maintain relationships which involve liaison or coordinating with a range of internal and/or external contacts on mainly transactional issues.    

Developing people – you may be responsible for allocating work to or checking the work of less experienced colleagues.  

Managing resources – you might perform activities such as reconciling information/data or analyses of expenditure or income, adhering to agreed procedures.     

Applying knowledge and expertise – you are proficient in and keep up to date with the skills required for your area of work or technical skills acquired through relevant work experience and/or vocational qualification.  

The competency levels for a pay Band B role are described below.