Programme Assistant, Commonwealth Scholarships

£26,101 - £29,645 pro rata (£15,660.60 - £17,787 for 21 hours a week)  | Permanent  | Part time, 21 hours per week | London WC1H

The Programme Assistant will support the delivery of the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK’s (CSC) alumni engagement strategy, designed to enhance alumni experience and increase post-Scholarship engagement with the CSC. This includes updating the CSC alumni database with information on engaged members of the Alumni Network; providing administrative and communications support for online and print publications; coordinating alumni activities at core UK-based events; and providing administrative support for the annual Taylor & Francis Commonwealth Scholar Best Journal Article Prize. The postholder will also be required to provide support to the CSC’s Programme and Evaluation and Monitoring Teams as required.

The ACU is an international organisation dedicated to building a better world through higher education.

We believe that international collaboration is central to this ambition. By bringing universities together from around the world – and crucially the people who study and work within them - we help to advance knowledge, promote understanding, broaden minds, and improve lives.

We champion higher education as a cornerstone of stronger societies, supporting our members, partners, and stakeholders as they adapt to a changing world.

As Programme Assistant, your responsibilities will include:

  • Updating CSC alumni records, inputting information into the in-house database to facilitate accurate reporting and working with colleagues to ensure effective data management.
  • Providing administrative and communications support for the production of online and print content, including the CSC community magazine, Common Knowledge, and alumni email newsletter.
  • Assist in coordinating alumni activities at UK-based events for current Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows as required, including annual Welcome and Farewell events, and alumni talks.
  • Providing administrative support for the annual Taylor & Francis Commonwealth Scholar Best Journal Article Prize
  • Monitoring content posted in the CSC’s Knowledge Hubs and Scholar and alumni registration to record and report back on engagement.
  • Working with external colleagues to record alumni event attendance and engagement and produce online content.
  • Assisting the Programme Officer-Finance with the processing of invoices and updating of financial information into the in-house database, as requested.
  • Supporting the research activities of and providing administrative support to the CSC Evaluation Team, as requested.

Some of the skills you need to be able to demonstrate include:

  • Demonstrable experience of working in a customer-oriented office environment
  • High level of proven competence of Microsoft Office Suite.
  • The ability to manage multiple tasks over a period of time, and the capacity and flexibility to complete these tasks to deadlines as required.
  • The ability to carry out data and finance-related tasks with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Good communication skills, both written and verbal, combined with a tactful and helpful manner when dealing with enquiries either online, via telephone, or face to face with both internal and external stakeholders.

Our benefits include 31 days holiday per year (including 4 Christmas closure days) plus bank holidays, competitive pension scheme (10% employer contribution plus 5% employee contribution), season ticket loan and excellent support for learning and development through a range of educational and networking activities.


At the ACU, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of gender, race, religion, marital status, disability, age, and sexual orientation.

As Programme Assistant you will be employed by ACU Trading Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary.

Please note the 21 hours can be worked over any combination of days of the week, to include Wednesday mornings

How to apply

Closing date: 16 March (12pm)
Interview date: w/c 30 March

Job profile
Application form

Applicants should submit their application form, along with a current CV and a detailed covering letter (maximum two pages). The covering letter must state what you can bring to the post and how you meet all the criteria of the role. Please also provide details of your current salary.

Applicants should also complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring form

Please send the application form, covering letter, CV and completed Equality and Diversity Monitoring form by email to recruitment@acu.ac.uk by 12pm (GMT) on 16 March. Please indicate in the subject line of your email that you are applying for the post of Programme Assistant. Applicants may address the covering letter to the Head of HR

Please note, if we do not receive a completed application form, we will be unable to consider your application.