Job Description

The Royal College of Art is an internationally renowned postgraduate art and design institution. Founded in 1837, it is also the world’s oldest art and design institution in continuous operation and the most research intensive. The RCA has been ranked by the highly regarded QS survey, as the number one art and design institution in the world for the six consecutive years in which the survey has been conducted between 2015 and 2020. Among its core audiences – students, artists and designers – the RCA brand is legendary. The generations of world-leading designers and artists who have studied or taught at the RCA is a roster of international repute.

The Royal College of Art is setting up a new design institute dedicated to supporting the UK Government’s Grand Challenge on Ageing. The new centre, the Design Age Institute (DAI), will provide a range of strategic design services to business and industry as part of the Government’s industrial strategy, which aims to position the UK as a major exporter of new products and services for the global longevity economy. This initiative builds on nearly 30 years of research and practice in inclusive design undertaken by the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design (HHCD).

We are looking for an outstanding Administrative Assistant to support the inception and operationalisation of the Design Age Institute. The Design Age Institute Administrative Assistant will play a key role in supporting the day to day working of the Design Age Institute, including some key duties such as:

• Provide comprehensive administrative support for the Design Age Institute;
• Ensure a high-quality experience for all visitors and enquiries;
• Administer Finance and record-keeping;
• Support delivery of marketing, communications, and events; and
• Coordinate Institute needs which may include travel arrangements, room bookings, financial processing, event support.

The ideal candidate will be educated to A-level or equivalent and have excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills with a high degree of tact and diplomacy. They will be confident working with a variety of stakeholders and partners with a high level of professionalism.

In addition, it is essential that candidates have:

• Administrative experience of working in a dynamic business and customer focused environment with the ability to deal with a variety of issues with tact and sensitivity.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail and excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to communicate well and with confidence to a diverse range of people verbally and in writing including external business partners.
• Proficiency in the use of productivity suites such as Microsoft office or Google for work, with an aptitude for finance management processes.
• The ability to use initiative, multi-task, and work as part of a team.

Interviews and assessments are scheduled for week commencing 28 September 2020.

NB: Please ensure that you apply for this position at your earliest opportunity as the advert may close early.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Administrative experience of working in a dynamic business and customer focused environment with the ability to deal with a variety of issues with tact and sensitivity. • High level of accuracy and attention to detail and excellent organisational skills. • Ability to communicate well and with confidence to a diverse range of people verbally and in writing including external business partners. • Proficiency in the use of productivity suites such as Microsoft office or Google for work, with an aptitude for finance management processes. • The ability to use initiative, multi-task, and work as part of a team.