Common Ground Leadership Assistant

Job Description

UE05: £29,588 - £33,951 per annum pro rata

University Secretary's Group (USG)

Part Time: 9 hours per week

Fixed term:
Monday 28th September 2026 - Friday 25th June 2027

Your next step starts here. Be part of something bigger.

Make a meaningful impact. Here, you can continue to make a difference in everything around you. Take on new challenges, grow your career, be recognised for your contributions, and benefit from our commitment to your wellbeing. Be part of something bigger - where your work has real impact and your development matters. There are so many reasons to take your next step with us.

The Common Ground leaders programme is a new, selective, co-curricular Edinburgh Award pilot programme designed to equip students with the practical skills, experience and reflective capacity to lead in a context of growing social and political polarisation.

The programme responds to a defining challenge for universities and wider society: how to sustain shared civic life in the face of deepening division, fragmentation and mistrust. It aims to give students meaningful opportunities to explore these challenges while developing their confidence and capacity to engage constructively across differences.

Common Ground will be built around experiential, practice-based development. Rather than simply studying division, students will engage with it directly, applying their learning and leadership skills to real-world challenges. The pilot is also planned to involve partnership with high-profile public figures in Scotland, bringing additional perspectives and experience to the programme.

As Programme Assistant, you will provide the administrative and coordination support needed to help establish and deliver the programme successfully. You will also engage directly with participating students, helping to create a well-organised, supportive and positive experience throughout their involvement in Common Ground.

This is an opportunity to contribute to a new programme from an early stage, working with colleagues and partners to help turn an ambitious concept into a high-quality experience for University of Edinburgh students.

As part of the University, you are part of our community. We look for colleagues with diverse experiences, with drive, curiosity, and a genuine passion for your work. We are a place where everyone is welcome, and we offer a range of great policies and benefits designed to give you meaningful support inside and outside of work.

This role is part of the Employ.ed for PhDs Programme. The programme offers work experience designed to enhance your professional skills. It will also help widen your professional network and provide an insight into a different workplace, discipline or industry. As an Employ.ed for PhDs intern, you will also receive tailored developmental support from the Careers Service to help you make the most of your internship.

• Opportunities to develop new skills and broaden your experience
• Responsibility and autonomy
• Contributing to the work and purpose of the University
• Variety every day

This post is part time (9 hours per week); however, we are open to how these hours are worked within a week. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ equality.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and particularly encourage applications from candidates widening participation (WP) backgrounds.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages (opens new browser tab). Please also note that you are only eligible for this opportunity if you are a…