Operations and Executive Assistant

The Science Media Centre is a small, high-impact charity that works to get expert scientific voices into the media on the biggest and most controversial stories of the day so that news is accurate and evidence-based.  We're looking for a confident, engaged, and enthusiastic Operations and Executive Assistant to ensure our CEO and the wider team can function at pace. This is an exciting opportunity for someone early in their career to partner with a high-profile CEO at a highly-regarded scientific organisation, that has worked behind the scenes for over 20 years to deliver real impact to the public.

The core aspect of this role will be supporting our CEO. You will manage her diary and inbox, prepare her for speaking events, handle all travel and logistics, be the first port of call for tech queries, and generally act as her second brain. But on top of that, this broad role includes running our internship programme, managing events, coordinating projects for the Senior Management Team, assisting with governance and finance admin, and keeping the office running smoothly.

What we are looking for

You will be someone with outstanding organisational skills, meticulous attention to detail, strong initiative, and a clear head. On top of that, you should be genuinely excited by SMC's work and curious about the science and media stories we engage with. We want someone with good judgement who is excited to learn the ropes and develop their skills in a small but high-impact office.

What we can offer you

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays + Christmas closure, increasing after 5 years’ service
• Annual performance and pay reviews
• Generous pension, healthcare, and family-friendly provisions
• Free gym and discounted lunch options

Selection process

• Application (CV and cover letter)
• In-person interview consisting of a 40min task and 40min panel interview on 13th May 2026
• References

This is an on-site role based at our offices in London (Euston). Staff are expected to be in the office five days a week. Start date mid-May to early June (exact date to be agreed).

How to apply

Send your CV and a covering letter (no more than 1 side of A4) detailing why you want this particular role, and how you fit the essential and desirable requirements as outlined in the role profile. You can also apply by emailing your CV and covering letter to the jobs@ address listed on our website.

Applicants must have a pre-existing right to work full time in the UK as we are unfortunately unable to sponsor visas.

We know that some demographics are less likely to apply for roles if they don’t feel they meet every requirement. We encourage all applicants who have a strong interest in our work and believe they have the right skills to succeed to apply for the role.