Job description

Do you want to make a difference?  If you are a quick-thinking individual, who loves working with a variety of people, and are looking for a career with social impact, this role is for you.   

King’s Sanctuary Programme was formed in 2015 in response to the global issue of forced displacement. The programme leads on initiatives that create positive opportunities for people whose education and research has been disrupted due to being displaced.  

The UNHCR reports that over 100 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. Only 5% of refugees have access to higher education compared to a global average of 39%. This global challenge is complex and will therefore continue to impact our student and staff body, and the communities with which King’s engages locally, nationally and across the world.  

The Sanctuary Project Officer will play a key role in establishing and maintaining high-level operational support for the newly formed Sanctuary Hub. You will support case management, project co-ordination and reporting, event and meeting logistics, and financial administration. You will also be responsible for coordinating volunteer support, including regular communication and training sessions with stakeholders across the university. This is an opportunity for you to grow your skills in project management and stakeholder engagement. 

You will report into the Head of Operations and work closely with the Academic Director and Programme Manager as well as interact with students and staff from across the university and on occasion external partners. Our team works in a hybrid way, spending part of their working week on campus and the remainder working remotely.   

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 2 years 

This is a full-time post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

•        Case management including managing mailbox enquiries that are non-standard and sometimes sensitive in nature. In addition, escalating issues to senior members of the team where required. 

•        Conducting desk research, collating, analysing and clearly presenting data and information. 

•        Supporting with the drafting of papers, presentations and reports for meetings, using own initiative, research and analysis. 

•        Budget monitoring and financial processing including purchasing, invoicing, and expenses claims. 

•        Ensuring financial processing is in compliance with financial policies and regulations.  

•        Information and knowledge management including maintaining network mailing lists, updating SharePoint sites and filing key documents. 

•        Coordinating and supporting volunteers (including hosts) by providing up-to-date information, guidance, answering queries and facilitating training.  

•        Working with the Programme Manager on communications support for key stakeholder engagement campaigns (e.g. Refugee Week 2023). 

•        Process mapping, working with colleagues in the Sanctuary team as well as teams across the university, to ensure operations run as efficiently as possible. 

•        Scheduling online and in person meetings, liaising with multiple stakeholders. 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria

1.      Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to draft documents and correspondence autonomously to a broad range of audiences.  

2.      Strong numeracy skills and ability to analyse complex numerical data.  

3.      Excellent time management and organisational skills and the ability to work to tight deadlines.  

4.      Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft packages and the ability to work on new systems.  

5.      Experience in the use of databases and information systems to provide management information data to a high level of detail and accuracy.  

6.      Experience of stakeholder management, ability to work with a broad range of stakeholders in a professional and assured manner.  

7.      Experience of managing and delivering a varied portfolio work, with a proactive, development focused and transparent approach.   

8.      A methodical but flexible approach to work, maintaining a high level of accuracy.  

9.      Collaborative and relationship-oriented approach to teamwork.  

10.   Ability to work under pressure to complete a range of competing priorities, and requesting and utilising support as and when required.   

Desirable criteria

11.  Degree level or equivalent qualification or work experience.  

12.  Experience of working in higher education administration environment.    

13.  Experience of supporting access to services within local authority or charity sector. 

Further information

Your application should clearly set out how you meet the essential criteria as this is how we shortlist applications. Learn more about how we recruit, including tips on writing your application and supporting statement on our website:    https://jobs.kcl.ac.uk/gb/en/applying     

The King’s Sanctuary Programme reflects our deep and historical commitment to serving society and making the world a better place. We support an inclusive culture and diversity for our staff and students. We are committed to encouraging further growth from diverse groups, and we welcome applications from people of all abilities and currently under-represented groups, which we are able to support with our range of flexible and inclusive benefits.   

We will consider contextualised applications from those with experience of forced migration.