UK Young Academy Assistant

Education / qualifications / knowledge / interests

¨       Excellent knowledge of office systems and procedures, including computer skills in Microsoft Office

Essential

¨       Evidenced interest the research and innovation landscape and its broader social significance.

Desirable

Experience

¨       Good written and oral communication skills, and clear writing style

Essential

¨       Highly organised, and able to manage multiple conflicting priorities and deadlines

Essential

¨       Good time-management and prioritisation skills

Essential

¨       Good attention to detail

Essential

¨       An ability to work under pressure as part of a team in a proactive way

Essential

Circumstances

¨       Able to be flexible about working hours, including working evenings and weekends on occasion, and travel across the UK.

Essential

¨       Able to work in a non-smoking environment

Essential

Self-management

·         Enthusiastic and positive attitude

·         Reliable and consistent

·         Output is accurate and of high quality

·         Punctual and meets deadlines

·         Confident of own abilities

·         Knows personal values, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and limits

·         Gains insight and learns from mistakes

·         ‘Let’s go’ of an issue and knows when to move on

·         Is open and non-defensive when faced with criticism

·         Ensures actions are consistent with words and messages

Working with others

·         Willing to cooperate and share knowledge within the team, Shares all relevant, critical and useful information

·         Willing to help others in times of need

·         Listens to and acts upon feedback from senior colleagues and willingly learns from others

·         Able to give simple presentations to sectional colleagues

·         Understands that one’s own actions and behaviours will influence how others perceive and engage with the Society

·         Offers their assistance if they have the capacity, without the need to be asked.

·         Actively seeks opportunities for gaining feedback from others

·         Presents with confidence within own section and area of remit.

·         Communicates confidently, asks questions and checks for understanding.

·         Values the input of others, balances that with a sense of purpose to get the job done

·         Possesses self-awareness and senses situations prior to acting or communicating.

Resource management

·         Is aware of and works within budgetary and resource constraints

·         Organises own workload prioritising according to business need

·         Is flexible and adapts to changing circumstances and priorities

·         Looks for ways to improve quality or results

·         Meets the standards of quality expected of their role

·         Maintains high standards despite pressing deadlines

·         Does work right first time, corrects own errors and regularly produces accurate, thorough, professional work.

·         Is able to multitask and manage urgency in a calm and practical manner.

·         performs a wide variety of tasks and changes focus quickly as demands change

·         Undertakes additional responsibilities and responds to situations as they arise with minimal fuss and supervision.

Critical thinking

·         Thinks tasks, queries and problems through and considers what they need to know

·         Uses relevant information when providing a service, solving a problem or dealing with a query

·         Is open to new ideas and willing to try them

·         Makes decisions within well-defined guidelines

·         Uses initiative to select most appropriate solution to straightforward problems

·         Analyses both successes and failures for clues to improvement

·         Prepares for problems or opportunities in advance

·         Distinguishes the main issues from side issues

·         Proposes various solutions or options for consideration defining the pros and cons of each

Adaptability

·         Adapts to changes in workload without letting standards slip

·         Listens to and accommodates the alternative views of others

·         Takes on new challenges when asked to do so

·         Is receptive and accommodating when asked to take on new projects outside of their usual job specification.

·         Remains open-minded and changes opinions on the basis of new information

·         Performs a wide variety of tasks and changes focus quickly as demands change and with minimal disruption or fuss

Managing people and relationships

·         Values and appreciates the importance of feedback

·         Shares responsibility for the performance and workload of the team where appropriate

·         Handles requests promptly and politely

·         Respects opinions and deals appropriately with complaints

·         Works to improve the performance of oneself and others by pursuing opportunities for continuous learning.

·         Constructively helps others in their development.

·         Exhibits a “can-do, will-do” approach and inspires peers to excel.

·         Asks questions and probes to understand stated and underlying needs, issues, concerns and problems

·         Addresses concerns and problems fairly, empathetically, decisively and promptly, maintaining a diplomatic and professional manner

·         Manages expectations and keeps everyone concerned up-to-date on progress

·         Raises concerns and recommends potential solutions for those processes that negatively impact on relationships, customer service or the fair treatment of customers.