Research Administrator

Vacancy ID: 13001 Location: Leicester School/Division: Global, Lifestyle and Metabolic Health Vacancy terms: Full-time, part-time (minimum 30 hours per week), or job share considered, fixed term contract for 24 months Salary details: Grade 4 - £24,590 to £26,707 per annum, pro-rata if part-time Hours per week: 35 Advert closes midnight on: 26 Apr 2026

About the role The Diabetes Research Centre and NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre are looking to recruit a talented, motivated individual with administrative and/or secretarial expertise, to join an established, successful research team and play a key role in delivering cutting-edge research into the impact of physical activity, exercise and other lifestyle behaviours on health and wellbeing in people with long-term conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

The post holder will provide administrative support to the programme of work led by the Leicester Lifestyle and Health Research Group, which also provides leadership to the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Lifestyle Theme. Most prominently they will support the delivery of the Plant Your Health Randomised Control Trial, which is a large single-centre dietary intervention study comparing vegan, vegetarian and omnivorous diets in adults with overweight or obesity. A major component of the role will involve participant-facing administrative duties, including managing expressions of interest, conducting pre-screening telephone calls, and coordinating and booking study visits, requiring regular direct contact with research participants.

As part of this role, the post holder will have regular contact with the Lifestyle Group Academic Lead, Lifestyle Group Manager, and the project leads of individual projects (including Plant Your Health), as well as other members of the research group (including senior and early career researchers, students and support staff) as required for individual tasks. They will also work closely with other research administrators and trial delivery teams across the Diabetes Research Centre.

The appointed individual will be based at the Leicester Diabetes Centre (Leicester General Hospital), which is internationally recognised for its research in the prevention and management of obesity, diabetes and other long-term conditions, and also hosts the NIHR Leicester BRC and the NIHR Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Commercial Research Delivery Centre (CRDC).

The post holder will sit within a diverse multidisciplinary research team, working closely with clinical and non-clinical academics, technical support staff, research managers and administrators to support our portfolio of clinical research trials.

About you The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, hardworking and enthusiastic individual, with administrative expertise, ideally in higher education or NHS environment. Experience of working in a clinical research environment is desirable but not essential. They will have suitable qualifications and/or suitable experience for the role (please see job summary for details) along with a working knowledge/experience of relevant systems, equipment, processes and procedures, including Microsoft Office software packages. They will have excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work independently (with appropriate guidance and supervision) and as part of a team. They will have good time management skills and a professional approach to work (including maintaining confidential information), as well as a willingness to learn and adapt as part of growing team.

Additional information Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Jack Sargeant on jack.sargeant@nhs.net

Applications for job share will be considered.

The University of Leicester has been changing the world, and changing people’s lives, for 100 years. When you join us, you’ll become part of a community of Citizens of Change, which includes not only our staff and our current students but also thousands of Leicester graduates around the world.

As a diverse and forward-thinking employer, we embed the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion into everything we do. That includes not just our core missions of teaching and research, but also our support for staff, students and our local community through our values of Inspiring, Impactful and Inclusive.

We’re committed to the wellbeing of all our staff and to the sustainability of our environment, on our campus and beyond. We offer a competitive salary package, excellent pension scheme and a generous annual leave allowance, along with opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.