Main Purpose of the Job

The Food Safety Research Network (FSRN) and the AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary Network (AMAST) are two UKRI-funded national networks based at Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB).

We connect academia, industry, government and other stakeholders around shared research priorities in, respectively, microbial food safety and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in agrifood systems.

FSRN has recently secured additional UKRI investment to accelerate delivery of high-priority activity in response to the recent increase in foodborne disease, while AMAST is now at the midpoint of its four-year programme of network activity.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Project Coordinator to join QIB on a part-time (0.5-0.8 FTE), 18-month basis, providing coordination support primarily to FSRN's additional programme of work, with scope to extend the role to also support AMAST. The post is available at any FTE between 0.5 and 0.8.

The post holder will help administer competitive funding calls, coordinate a series of national and regional workshops and events, draft workshop and meeting reports, support monitoring and reporting activities, and represent the Quadram Institute at partner events.

This role is well suited to someone who enjoys organising complex, multi-stranded activities across more than one programme, working with a wide range of stakeholders, and contributing to a fast-paced, collaborative team environment. Candidates are invited to indicate their preferred working hours (between 0.5 and 0.8 FTE) as part of their application.

Key Relationships

The post holder will be line-managed by the FSRN Network Manager, in coordination with the AMAST Network Manager, in proportion to the time allocated to each programme. The post holder will also interact regularly with:
- Members of the Networks’ Executive Teams and Advisory Boards
- Project partners and community stakeholders who directly contribute to strategic decisions
- External partners and speakers involved in workshops and events
- Applicants to, and awardees of, competitive funding calls, who will span academic, industry and government background
- QIB's Finance, Contracts, Communications and Business Development teams
- Representatives of FSRN's and AMAST's funders (UKRI, BBSRC and FSA), primarily via the respective Network Managers

Main Activities & Responsibilities

Percentage

Workshops & event coordination
• Coordinate strategic planning and delivery of workshops, meetings and events
• Manage event logistics, speaker and delegate liaison, and administer travel arrangements and support (including for speakers and ECR/ EDI travel support)

30

Funding & programme coordination
• Lead on the coordination of competitive calls for collaborative projects
• Liaise with applicants and funded project teams; track projects against agreed milestones and budgets

20

Workshop & meeting reporting
• Responsible for drafting clear, accurate reports of delivered workshops, network meetings and stakeholder events
• Responsible for drafting case studies and other outputs summarising network activities and outcomes

15

QIB promotion & travel
• Represent the Quadram Institute at partner conferences, meetings and sector events to raise its profile and promote programming
• Travel within the UK as required to support event delivery and stakeholder engagement

10

Monitoring & reporting
• Support the FSRN and AMAST Network Managers in monitoring progress, expenditure and outputs against agreed plans
• Responsible for drafting monitoring returns and reports for funders (UKRI, BBSRC, FSA)

10

General administration
• Maintain accurate records of funded activities and events across both networks
• Support internal communications and liaise with QIB's Finance and Communications teams

10

Other duties
• As agreed with the line manager, any other duties commensurate with the nature of the post

5

Education & Qualifications

Requirement

Importance

Educated to degree level, or equivalent experience, in a biological science, food science or related discipline

Essential

Project or event coordination qualification, or equivalent demonstrable experience

Desirable

Specialist Knowledge & Skills

Requirement

Importance

Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple concurrent activities and deadlines

Essential

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel) or equivalent tools

Essential

Ability to maintain clear, accurate records and to help produce reports for internal and external stakeholders

Essential

Broad awareness of, or willingness to quickly develop understanding of, microbial food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or related public health topics relevant to FSRN's and AMAST's work

Essential

Ability to assimilate information from a variety of sources and stakeholders and present it clearly

Essential

Basic understanding of research funding processes and financial administration, e.g. tracking spend against budget

Desirable

Relevant Experience

Requirement

Importance

Experience of coordinating projects, events or administrative processes involving multiple stakeholders

Essential

Experience of working with colleagues and external partners across different organisations

Essential

Experience of working in a research, academic, or similarly complex multi-stakeholder environment

Desirable

Experience of organising workshops, meetings or events, including logistics and delegate liaison

Desirable

Experience of supporting funding calls, grant administration or contract monitoring

Desirable

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

Requirement

Importance

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders at all levels

Essential

Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across a diverse network of partners

Essential

Ability to work well within a small team, supporting the Network Manager and escalating issues appropriately

Essential

Ability to prioritise and plan own workload in agreement with the line manager

Essential

Additional Requirements

Requirement

Importance

Attention to detail

Essential

Able to present a positive image of self and the Institute, promoting both the international reputation and public engagement aims of the Institute

Essential

Willingness to travel within the UK to support workshops and events

Essential

Comfortable working flexibly and adapting to changing priorities within a fast-moving programme

Essential

Willingness to embrace the expected values and behaviours of all staff at the Institute, ensuring it is a great place to work

Essential

Excellent time management and organisational skills

Essential

Promotes equality and values diversity

Essential

Willingness to work outside standard working hours when required

Essential

Quadram Institute Bioscience

The Quadram Institute is at the forefront of a new interface between food science, gut biology and health, developing solutions to worldwide challenges in food-related disease and human health.

We are engaged in fundamental and translational food and health research, alongside clinical studies, endoscopy and industry, working together to become a leading international hub for food and health research, combining scientific excellence and clinical expertise, delivering impacts on patient care and accelerating innovation.

The Quadram Institute is a diverse and multicultural scientific community. We thrive on our international and European links, appointing staff from across the world. Any candidate who would like further information on current or anticipated immigration requirements can contact the HR Team on +44 (0)1603 450888 or nbi.recruitment@nbi.ac.uk.

For more information about working at Quadram Institute Bioscience, please click here.

Department

Microbes and Food Safety

Living in Norfolk

• Visit Norfolk
• Schools in Norfolk
• Childcare in Norfolk

Project Coordinator – FSRN & AMAST

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Project Coordinator to join Quadram Institute Bioscience (QIB)on a part-time basis (0.8 FTE, by negotiation) basis, providing coordination support to the Food Safety Research Network (FSRN) and, depending on the hours agreed, the AMR in Agrifood Systems Transdisciplinary Network (AMAST).

About FSRN and AMAST:
FSRN was established by BBSRC and the Food Standards Agency to connect academia, industry, government and third-sector partners around shared microbial food safety research priorities. AMAST is a UKRI-funded transdisciplinary network, bringing together agrifood researchers, industry, policy and consumer groups to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) challenges across UK agrifood systems. FSRN has recently secured additional UKRI investment to accelerate delivery of high-priority activity in response to the recent increase in foodborne disease, while AMAST is now at the midpoint of its four-year programme of network activity. 

The role:
The post holder will help administer competitive funding calls, coordinate a series of workshops and events across both networks, draft workshop and meeting reports, represent the Quadram Institute at partner events, and contribute to monitoring and reporting on both programmes' progress to funders.

The ideal candidate:
You will have a degree in a relevant biological, food or agricultural science discipline (or equivalent experience), strong organisational skills and experience coordinating projects or events involving multiple stakeholders. You will be an excellent communicator, comfortable working across diverse networks of academic, industry and government partners, and able to work flexibly across more than one programme as part of a small, fast-moving team.

Additional information:
This is a part-time post for a contract of 18 months. Start date: As soon as possible, subject to notice periods.

Please indicate your preferred working hours (between 0.5 and 0.8 FTE) in your application. Part time (0.8 FTE, 29.6 hours per week)
Salary on appointment will be within the range £38,000 to £46,500, pro rata, per annum depending on qualifications and experience.

Interviews are planned for 29th and 30th October.

Please note, this post does not meet UKVI requirements to provide visa sponsorship.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all sectors of society. The institute values of People-Centred Impact, Inclusive Excellence, Trusted Integrity, Collaborative Spirit and Agile Innovation are at the heart of all we do, and we expect all employees to share and display these values. To support our commitment, we have a range of family, faith and diversity friendly working arrangements to help all staff achieve excellence in their area of work.

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to offer an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for this vacancy.

About the Quadram Institute:

The Quadram Institute is an interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Our vision is Healthy living by design: promoting lifelong health by decoding the interactions between food science, nutrition, microbes, microbiomes and human physiology, and transforming this knowledge into innovative solutions for society.

A partnership between Quadram Institute Bioscience, the University of East Anglia, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and BBSRC, The Quadram Institute brings together scientists and clinicians in a state-of-the-art building on the Norwich Research Park. This is one of Europe’s largest centres of life sciences and home of the John Innes Centre and The Earlham Institute. (https://quadram.ac.uk/).

The closing date for applications will be 18 October 2026.

The Quadram Institute Bioscience is a registered charity (No. 1058499) and is an Equal Opportunities Employer.