A CAREER AS A SCIENCE ADMINISTRATOR
This area of work relies heavily on networking to get into. Projects may be more ad-hoc and given to people already working in the organisation who have expressed an interest.
The work may involve some of the following types of skills:
- Knowledge of contracts and grants preparation and management.
- Ability to manage research projects.
- Skill in formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
- Skill in budget preparation and fiscal management.
- Ability to develop scientific reports.
- Ability to supervise and train employees, to include organising, prioritising, and scheduling work assignments.
- Knowledge and understanding of scientific research methodology, principles, and procedures.
- Skill in organising resources and establishing priorities.
- Knowledge of current and developing trends in research technology.
- Ability to develop, plan, and implement goals.
- Knowledge of laws, regulations, methods, and techniques.
- Ability to organise and co-ordinate research projects.
- Ability to provide technical advice, guidance, and support to professional staff.
Likely employers include:
Professional societies
- Royal Society of Chemistry www.rsc.org
- Society for General Microbiology www.socgenmicrobiol.org.uk
- The British Science Association www.britishscienceassociation.org/web
- Medical Research Council www.mrc.ac.uk
- The Society of Biology www.societyofbiology.org/home
Government Departments
- Department for Trade and Industry DEFRA
Universities
- The Open University - positions like Course Administrator
- Working as an administrator in a science department in most universities
The European Space Agency - www.esa.int
Recruitment Agencies such as SRG Labstaff. See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitephar.htm#ScientificRecAgencies for a list of these.
Last fully updated June 2012