The University of Edinburgh
Common Ground Leadership Assistant
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UE05: £29,588 - £33,951 per annum pro rata
University Secretary’s Group (USG)
Part Time: 9 hours per week
Fixed term: Monday 28th September 2026 – Friday 25th June 2027
The Opportunity
Your next step starts here. Be part of something bigger.
Make a meaningful impact. Here, you can continue to make a difference in everything around you. Take on new challenges, grow your career, be recognised for your contributions, and benefit from our commitment to your wellbeing. Be part of something bigger — where your work has real impact and your development matters. There are so many reasons to take your next step with us.
The Common Ground leaders programme
The programme is a new, selective, co-curricular Edinburgh Award pilot programme designed to equip students with the practical skills, experience and reflective capacity to lead in a context of growing social and political polarisation.
The programme responds to a defining challenge for universities and wider society: how to sustain shared civic life in the face of deepening division, fragmentation and mistrust. It aims to give students meaningful opportunities to explore these challenges while developing their confidence and capacity to engage constructively across differences.
Common Ground will be built around experiential, practice-based development. Rather than simply studying division, students will engage with it directly, applying their learning and leadership skills to real-world challenges. The pilot is also planned to involve partnership with high-profile public figures in Scotland, bringing additional perspectives and experience to the programme.
Role Description
As Programme Assistant, you will provide the administrative and coordination support needed to help establish and deliver the programme successfully. You will also engage directly with participating students, helping to create a well-organised, supportive and positive experience throughout their involvement in Common Ground.
This is an opportunity to contribute to a new programme from an early stage, working with colleagues and partners to help turn an ambitious concept into a high-quality experience for University of Edinburgh students.
About Us
As part of the University, you are part of our community. We look for colleagues with diverse experiences, with drive, curiosity, and a genuine passion for their work. We are a place where everyone is welcome, and we offer a range of great policies and benefits designed to give you meaningful support inside and outside of work.
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A career with us has a range of other benefits that can be tailored to your lifestyle:
- Opportunities to develop new skills and broaden your experience
- Responsibility and autonomy
- Contributing to the work and purpose of the University
- Variety every day
Working with Us
This post is part time (9 hours per week); however, we are open to how these hours are worked within a week. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.
How to Apply
Please ensure you include the following documents in your application:
- CV
- Cover Letter
For guidance on writing an effective application, see the additional information section of the Job Description.
What We Offer
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page (opens in a new tab) and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
This role is part of the Employ.ed for PhDs Programme. The programme offers work experience designed to enhance your professional skills. It will also help widen your professional network and provide an insight into a different workplace, discipline or industry. As an Employ.ed for PhDs intern, you will also receive tailored developmental support from the Careers Service to help you make the most of your internship.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.
We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from candidates widening participation (WP) backgrounds.
Get help with your application
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Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab). Please also note that you are only eligible for this opportunity if you are a current University of Edinburgh PhD student, who will be based in the UK for the duration of the internship.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 4 September 2026.
Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browser's local time zone.
Interviews will be held Monday 7th October and/or Thursday 10th October.
The University will employ full-time PGR students for no more than an average of 9 hours per week across the academic year (as per its policy), and you must make sure any employment complies with any visa or funding conditions you may have.
Should you be successful, you will require written confirmation from your academic supervisor that you can undertake the internship. We recommend that students discuss the internship with their supervisor, as well as with their employer, before applying.
About Us
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
The University's Secretary Group (USG) Business Unit provides a range of services to the Professional Services Group.
- Working with Professional services, including Estates, Finance, Health and Safety, HR and IS, on behalf of all units in USG.
- Support to the University Secretary's Office and Principal's Office.
- Leading on planning for the University Secretary's Group.
- Leading on USG wide initiatives.
For more information please visit the USG website (Opens in new browser tab).
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