2 Facilities and administration officer jobs in Newcastle

About Degrees 

The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that builds the capacity of the Global South to evaluate solar radiation modification (SRM) geoengineering, a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that the Global South should be empowered to conduct their own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions. The initiative has been working in different forms for over a decade, and our work receives worldwide coverage and widespread acclaim. 

Role

The Events Officer will coordinate and support the planning and delivery of Degrees’ international events, including workshops bringing together Degrees-funded researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders, and the biennial Degrees Global Forum. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, the Events Officer will help ensure high-quality events that strengthen collaboration, showcase research outcomes, facilitate engagement with policymakers and advance Degrees’ mission to build capacity in the Global South to engage equitably in SRM deliberations.

The Events Officer will also provide general administrative support to the Policy Engagement team.

This role is ideal for a highly organised individual who enjoys coordinating complex logistics, managing multiple priorities, improving processes and ensuring that events run smoothly.

Key responsibilities

The Events Officer works under the supervision of the Events & Projects Manager, while supporting the Policy Engagement team in cooperation with the Policy Engagement Director. Responsibilities will include:

Events

• Arrange travel, lodging and other travel logistics for, funded scientists, policymakers, and other external participants;
• Maintain event budgets and expenditure records, working with the Events & Projects Manager and Operations and Finance team to monitor expenditure against budget;
• Arrange meeting facilities;
• Facilitate requests for visas and other travel authorisations;
• Serve as a point of contact for external event participants’ queries about travel and events;
• Assist Degrees staff with travel questions;
• Ensure proper distribution of participant documents in a timely manner;
• Maintain accurate event plans, timelines, trackers, action logs and participant records, and proactively follow up outstanding actions;
• Coordinate communications and follow-up actions between the Events & Projects Manager and other Degrees teams;
• Support supplier management and contracting processes as directed by the Events & Projects Manager;
• Support the development and maintenance of appropriate event risk assessments;
• Support post-event close-out, including participant feedback, reconciliation of records and expenditure, documentation and lessons learned.

Degrees Global Forum

• Support the Events & Projects Manager and the Conference Manager in the planning and delivery of the Degrees Global Forum;
• Coordinate participant registration processes and attendee records;
• Support abstract, poster and session submission processes;
• Support coordination with the venue, destination management company and other event suppliers, including maintaining schedules, requirements and action logs;
• Coordinate travel and accommodation arrangements for funded participants.

Support of policy engagement team

• Maintain the list of external policy engagement contacts.
• Draft general and formal correspondence; reviewing and formatting documents and slides according to style;
• Organise and maintain the policy engagement team’s shared mailbox and filing system;
• Schedule staff and other meetings;
• Support the administration and maintenance of Policy Engagement team processes, including agreed monitoring, evaluation and learning systems;

Key relationships

• Events & Projects Manager (line manager)
• Policy Engagement team, especially its Director
• Conference Manager
• Programmes team
• Fundraising Manager
• Operations and Finance team
• external venues, travel providers, and other suppliers

Qualifications

Essential

• At least two years’ relevant experience in administration, project coordination, events, or a similar role;
• Experience supporting the delivery of events, workshops, conferences, or similar activities, including coordinating travel and other logistics;
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or an additional three years of relevant professional experience;
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines and work effectively under pressure;
• Strong attention to detail and a professional, responsible approach to work;
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a dynamic, remote environment;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English;
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with colleagues and external stakeholders from a wide range of backgrounds;
• Excellent Microsoft 365 skills, particularly Excel, SharePoint, Word, PowerPoint, Teams and Outlook, and confidence learning new digital tools;
• Experience maintaining financial records, monitoring or reconciling budgets, and working with spreadsheets;
• Experience using CRM systems, project management tools or similar databases;
• Ability to travel internationally when required, including to attend the biennial Degrees Global Forum; and
• Legal right to work in the United Kingdom.

Desirable

• Experience supporting international conferences, academic events, or other complex multi-day events;
• Experience with event registration or conference management systems;
• Experience using travel management platforms and supporting visa or travel-authorisation processes;
• Experience developing or maintaining standard operating processes;
• Knowledge of project management methodologies;
• Advanced digital skills, such as specialised spreadsheet functions, database administration or online form and workflow tools;
• Experience working in the charity, international development, research, non-governmental or intergovernmental sectors;
• One or more additional languages; and
• An interest in climate change, international development or international research collaboration.

Benefits of working at Degrees

• You will join a growing and dynamic charity operating at the intersection of climate change and global development.
• You will have the opportunity to contribute to a potentially high-impact issue by helping shape global conversations on climate science, empowering researchers in the Global South, and collaborating with some of the world’s leading SRM experts.
• The role is fully remote, allowing you to live anywhere within the United Kingdom. The charity has no central office and offers each employee up to £250 per month (including VAT) to cover co-working space costs. The team meets face-to-face at quarterly ‘awaydays’ in the UK, which are organised and paid for by the charity.
• Degrees provides an 8% employer pension contribution with no required employee contribution, which is generous by the standards of the UK third sector.
• The role includes opportunities for international travel.
• You will receive 25 days of annual leave per year, in addition to UK public holidays. If the charity closes between Christmas and New Year, you may also receive up to three extra days of leave.
• Personal development budget of £1,000 per year.