Senior Support Services Assistant (Edinburgh, SCT, GB, EH3 7QJ)

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

As part of the Support Services team, you’ll help ensure the smooth day-to-day running of The Open University in Scotland. Reporting to the Support Services Coordinator, you’ll provide practical support and advice to staff across areas including people services, IT, estates, health and safety, sustainability, finance, and events.

This role combines front-line service delivery with coordination of key operational activities, helping us maintain a safe, efficient, and welcoming environment for staff, students, and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

General Support 

• Provide guidance and operational support to colleagues across the OU in Scotland. 
• Respond to a wide range of enquiries from students, staff, and external contacts, ensuring a high-quality, customer-focused service. 
• Handle confidential information appropriately and follow data protection and records management policies. 
• Contribute to continuous improvement by suggesting ways to enhance efficiency and service quality. 
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Office and Estates Operations 

• Support coordination of day-to-day building operations, including maintenance, security, mail handling, stationery orders, and visitor reception. 
• Report and track facilities issues through the estates helpdesk and liaise with contractors and suppliers as needed. 
• Support office moves or space changes (light to moderate lifting may be required). 
• Assist with estates and infrastructure projects and help ensure the office environment is safe, well-maintained, and welcoming. 

For a full list of all key responsibilities, as well as all essential and desirable criteria, please view the job description: here. 

About You

Essential

• Good standard of literacy and numeracy.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally in written English.
• Experience in a customer service or office environment, with a commitment to excellent service.
• Confident in using Microsoft Office and learning new IT systems.
• Experience managing multiple tasks and working effectively under pressure.
• Familiarity with office procedures, data handling, and record-keeping.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team.
• Positive, solutions-focused attitude with good judgement and initiative.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent organisation, multitasking, and attention to detail.
• Reliable, adaptable, and able to prioritise effectively under pressure.
• Committed to teamwork, quality service, and continuous improvement.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email careers@open.ac.uk quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

Flexible working

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Please note: This an office based role, and the successful candidate will be required to work their contracted hours across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from our Edinburgh offices. 

Next steps in the Recruitment process

Interviews are likely to take place across the 6/7 November 

Early closing date notification

We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications.

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit the following document(s):

• CV
• As part of your application, you will be asked to answer three, example based questions. Each answer should be no more than 200 words. 

You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system.  Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates.