Programmes Officer
Salary: £29,157, per annum pro rata (full time equivalent of £41,735 per annum)
Location: Cambridge, St Edmund’s College
Contract Type: Permanent, Part-Time, 25.5 hours per week
The Programmes Officer role
ensures effective delivery of a wide range of programmes in support of the integrated strategy of St Edmund’s College and its research centre, the Von Hügel Institute (VHI). This programming covers intellectual, engagement, and operational programming, with audiences ranging from senior researchers to students, College staff and the general public.
Reporting to the Programmes Manager, you will work closely both with other members of the VHI team and of the Programmes and Strategy team, ensuring consistency in approach and leveraging opportunities to extend suitable College programming to VHI audiences; and with other functions in the College, making sure programming activity for VHI audiences is cohesive and well-aligned with current and emerging needs of our key target constituencies. VHI academic programming ranges from major lectures, seminars, conferences, research initiatives, to networking and other events in support of the VHI’s objectives. You will also plan and manage external communications for VHI programmes, and programme impact and evaluation.
The nature of the role means there may be a requirement occasional work outside standard hours.
Key duties & responsibilities
- Support the VHI Director and Director of Programmes and Strategy in in delivering the VHI’s priorities in relation to academic programming.
- Identify and scope potential opportunities for new academic programmes that address a relevant priority need in one or more of the VHI’s key target constituencies, and/or enable and collate existing activities into coherent and imaginatively positioned programmes.
- Organise and deliver high-quality key events to support the VHI and wider College, ensuring they run smoothly, within budget, and to a professional standard.
- Manage ongoing implementation and administration of successful programmes, in collaboration with other appropriate functions in the College, ensuring tailoring to diverse audiences and continuing alignment with VHI and College strategic objectives.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including close partnership working with colleagues in other universities or institutions globally.
- Ensure effective management of risk and compliance issues relevant to the area of work and to implement continuous improvement.
- Conduct post event evaluation and follow-up to enhance future engagement.
- Deliver reporting on programme delivery and impact as required.
- In collaboration with the College’s Senior Communications Manager, oversee external communications and act as the primary liaison between the VHI and internal/external parties.
- Collaborate with the Development Team to ensure optimal engagement with potential donors.
- Complete appropriate ad hoc tasks as required.
Person Specification
Essential experience
- Experience in project AND/OR programme management, ideally in an education, charity or public sector environment
- Experience in planning and organising events
- Experience in balancing a number of priorities simultaneously
- Experience in an administrative role with substantial autonomy
- Editorial experience, e.g., collecting, generating and collating information; qualitative analysis and report-writing skills
- Understanding of or interest in global Roman Catholic contexts, particularly in relation to academic or charitable work
Desirable experience
- Experience in communications, including social media
Skills
- Excellent communication skills (oral, written)
- Excellent IT skills, including Excel
- Excellent organisational skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Proven ability to think creatively and drive innovation
- Proven ability to work in a small team
- Sensitivity to the diversity and goals of the Catholic intellectual and ethical traditions
- Excellent time-management skills
As well as a great salary and friendly team, you will also receive:
- Working daily allowance for food and drinks*
- Free car parking (where available)
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (increasing with length of service)
- Generous pension contributions
- Discounts at restaurants, shops & more
- Outdoor gym
- Death in service
- Access to LinkedIn Learning & Business Disability Forum
*when Dining Hall or Edspresso is open.
About St Edmund’s College
St Edmund’s College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. Our vibrant student body is made up of around 420 postgraduates and 130 mature undergraduates. With over 260 senior members and around 120 staff, you will be joining a dynamic and growing College with an ambitious vision for its role in shaping the future of higher education and collaborative research.
The maturity of our community means we have earned a reputation as the friendly college. Relaxed, non‑hierarchical and diverse, we pride ourselves on being a place in Cambridge where people of all backgrounds are welcomed, feel at home, and can flourish. We therefore welcome applications from candidates of all demographic backgrounds.
How to apply
To apply, please send your cover letter and CV to the HR Team at hr@st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk.
Closing date for completed applications: 16th August 2026
Interviews will be held on: 24th August 2026
If you have informal enquiries about the post, please email the Director of Programmes & Strategy on klp47@cam.ac.uk.
In applying for this role, you will provide personal data which the College will process in accordance with its data protection obligations and its Data Protection Policy: http://www.stedmunds.cam.ac.uk/data-protection
Any offer of employment is subject to evidence of your right to work in the UK and the receipt of satisfactory references
Please note that this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship, as it does not meet the required criteria therefore applicants must have the right to work in the UK.