The posting
Job Description
Logistics Operative Science and Technology Facilities Council Salary: £25,842 Contract Type: Fixed-term contract (23 months) Hours: Full-time Location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX Closing date: 17th November 2026
Together, our scientists, technologists, engineers and business support team explore the unknown and turn what they find into work that changes the world around us. Whether it’s sending probes into space or finding new ways to treat cancer, everyone here plays a vital role in making a positive difference to society.
Come and discover how much you can achieve when you’re surrounded by world-leading experts, encouraged to constantly learn and empowered to explore your curiosity.
Key accountabilities
As part of the Logistics Team, this core role is key to the day-to-day provision of a diverse range of logistics-related services, delivering efficiently and to a high standard to staff and collaborators.
This post will include a range of responsibilities for logistics and shipping activities including despatch, front desk duties, on-site deliveries, porterage of equipment, postal services, gas delivery and supply and care and custody provision, handling dangerous goods and undertaking administrative duties and data entry.
The post holder will ensure that the daily activities and operations comply with STFC Safety, Health and Environment Codes and regulatory standards, and that plant is maintained and checked daily. Taking responsibility to use PPE equipment and to adhere to safe working practices.
The post will work collaboratively and effectively with team members and those from other teams, providing cover for all activities and services. This role is part of a wider logistics function and is an integral area within Estates Services.
Role Remit and Responsibilities
General
Undertake and respond to the daily and weekly core logistics activities and duties, to ensure that they are discharged efficiently and timely, including (but not limited to):
- Front desk covered – first point of contact for customers.
- Provision of the postal function.
- Service Logistics inbox is responded to.
- Internal deliveries to site maintained and timely.
- Gas supply and servicing.
- Care and custody of stored goods.
- Despatch and shipping activities and tasks.
- Ensure that the local logistics Service Level Agreements are supported and met, and that customer feedback is recorded and responded to.
Other tasks and responsibilities
- Site deliveries using vans, buggies or forklift trucks.
- Safe loading and unloading of vehicles.
- Sorting, delivery and collection and franking of daily in/out-coming post from/for Royal Mail.
- Filling, handling and site delivery/collection of liquid nitrogen dewars.
- Handling and storage of hazardous materials such as oils, acids and chemicals.
- As required, processing/booking UK dispatches using couriers or freight agents, this includes database work and physical packing and labelling.
- Adopt agreed standard operating processes for tasks and functions to ensure consistent practice.
- Actively contribute to ensuring that the logistics building operating area is clean and debris free using the machinery available to keep clean.
- Maintaining basic parts of fleet vehicles, including checking/replacing bulbs, washer fluid levels and wiper blades.
- Occasional delivery of goods in the local area.
- Support continuous improvement and undertake training.
- Undertake additional duties at the request of the Logistics Service Manager, or Estates Senior Managers, that are considered reasonable and commensurate with your post.
Health and Safety
- Undertake all required mandatory H&S training.
- Undertake risk assessments to ensure safe manual handling.
- To ensure principles of good housekeeping are maintained and to ensure health and safety for your own actions as well as others.
Administration
- Entering data into databases and using web-based systems.
- Retain and manage records and data efficiently and electronically where possible.
- Responsibility for providing up to date and accurate information on usage so that customers and users can be recharged.
Corporate Responsibilities
- Provide a professional and effective service and respond to corporate requirements as requested, helping to maintain the excellent reputation held by STFC.
- Contribute to wider campus activities.
Person Specification Qualifications Essential
- 5 GCSEs (including English and Maths, or other equivalent qualifications/experience). (S)
- Hold a full, valid UK manual driving licence (automatic-only licences will not meet this requirement). (S)
- Hold a valid FLT (forklift truck) licence. (S&I)
- Be able to undertake the practical, hands-on aspects of the role, which include physical duties alongside computer-based tasks and administration. (S)
Desirable
- First aid qualification. (S)
Knowledge, Skills and Experience Essential
- Relevant health and safety knowledge and awareness. (I)
- Good level of literacy and numeracy with attention to detail and accuracy. (I)
- Prior experience of working in a busy logistics or warehouse environment. (S)
- Experience of working and co-operating within teams. (S&I)
- Use initiative to prioritise and follow standard operating procedures. (I)
- Use of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook). (S&I)
- Ability to use web-based systems with ease. (I)
- Experience of maintaining and retrieving data records and recording information accurately. (I)
Desirable
- Dangerous goods and handling. (I)
- Awareness of despatch and courier systems and suppliers and freight agents for bulk. (I)
STFC values their employees by offering a benefits package designed to provide an excellent work/life balance including 30 days’ annual leave, 10.5 public and privilege holidays, flexible working hours, a workplace nursery, exceptional average salary pension scheme, social and sporting activities and societies and a subsidised restaurant.
As one of Europe’s largest research organisations, this is a place where there’s always something new to learn about the world around us, about your career, but most of all, about yourself. Join us and discover what’s possible.
As this job does not fulfil the UK Government minimum criterion for obtaining sponsored migrant worker status, we will be unable to apply for sponsorship for anyone not eligible to work in the UK. At interview, all shortlisted candidates are required to bring with them identification documents and original documents that prove they hold or can obtain the right to work in the UK. You can check your eligibility here: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
About Us
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world’s most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at www.ukri.org.
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be rejected and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
As part of the pre-employment checks there is a requirement to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Screening. BPSS is a pre-condition of employment and failure to achieve it may mean that the employment offer is rescinded. UKRI reserves the right to run, or re-run, security clearance as required during the course of employment.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science organisation where curiosity-driven, blue-skies thinking meets practical, application-led science and engineering. Our goal is to deliver economic, societal, scientific and international benefits to the UK and its people – and more broadly to the world.
One of Europe’s largest research organisations, we’re trusted to support, enable and undertake cutting-edge projects in an amazing diversity of fields. Through world-class facilities and people, we’re driving ground-breaking advances in science, engineering, computing and technology. Our research seeks to understand the Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the tiniest constituents of matter, yet creates impact on a very tangible, human scale.
For more information about STFC please visit https://stfc.ukri.org/ You can also visit our careers site https://www.stfccareers.co.uk/
