Engagement and Support Officer for the Magan Centre of Applied Mycology

Role Description

We welcome applications from passionate, skilled, committed applicants to join an exciting growing research centre and play a key role in supporting its operations, engagement and communications as it explores the potential of fungi to help create a more sustainable future.

About the Role

As Engagement and Support Officer, you will provide a varied mix of operational, administrative and communications support to the Magan Centre of Applied Mycology. Working closely with the Project Manager and academics, as well as research and technical colleagues, you will help coordinate the Centre’s day-to-day activities, events, visits and outreach, maintain accurate records, and gather information to support reporting to funders and other stakeholders. You will also contribute to promoting the Centre’s research, collaborations and achievements through its website, social media, blogs, newsletters and other communication channels, working with colleagues across the University to ensure engaging and accurate content reaches a wide range of audiences.

About You

You will have experience of providing operational and administrative support in a busy environment, with excellent organisational and time management skills, and the ability to manage competing priorities. You will be a confident communicator, with experience of producing clear and engaging written content for a range of audiences and have strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy. You will be comfortable working independently, using initiative and judgement within established procedures, while also building effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.

Experience of coordinating events, meetings or visits, maintaining records and using Microsoft Office and other digital systems is essential. Experience of working within Higher Education or a research environment, supporting externally funded projects, or updating websites and social media would be advantageous.

About Us

As a specialist postgraduate university, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships are creating leaders in technology and management globally. Learn more about Cranfield and our unique impact here.

The Magan Centre of Applied Mycology (MCAM) is a growing multidisciplinary research centre established through a £7.2 million award from Research England’s Expanding Excellence in England fund. The Centre brings together academics, research, technical and professional services expertise to unlock the potential of fungi in addressing some of society’s most significant environmental, industrial and food security challenges.

MCAM's research spans six interconnected areas: Fungal Biomaterials, Fungal-based Bioenergy, Sustainable Biomanufacturing, Indoor and Environmental Mycology, Sustainable Mycoremediation and Sustainable Food Production. Through research, innovation and knowledge exchange, the Centre works with academic, industrial and governmental partners to develop solutions that can contribute to a more sustainable future.

This is an exciting opportunity to join MCAM at an important stage in its development and contribute to the effective operation, visibility and continued growth of the Centre.

Our Values and Commitments

Our shared, stated values help to define who we are and underpin everything we do: Ambition; Impact; Respect; and Community. Find out more here.

We aim to create and maintain a culture in which everyone can work and study together and realise their full potential. We are a Disability Confident Employer. We are committed to actively exploring flexible working options for each role and have been ranked in the Top 30 family friendly employers in the UK by the charity Working Families. Find out more about our key commitments to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Flexible Working here.

Working Arrangements

Collaborating and connecting are integral to so much of what we do. Our Working Arrangements Framework provides many staff with the opportunity to flexibly combine on-site and remote working, where job roles allow, balancing the needs of our community of staff, students, clients and partners.

How to apply                                   

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Tania Rice, Project Manager for the Magan Centre of Applied Mycology, on (T): 01234 754069 or (E): t.c.rice@cranfield.ac.uk

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details on (E): peoplerecruitment@cranfield.ac.uk. Please quote reference number 5388.

Closing date for receipt of applications:   18 October 2026

Interviews to be held: 4 November 2026

Deadline to fill the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion complementary survey: 22 October 2026

(This is mandatory but does not form part of the selection process, the surveys will not be shared with the recruiting manager or shortlisting panel)

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert prior to the stated closing date should we receive sufficient numbers of applications. Therefore, we would encourage you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.