This is a particularly exciting time for the Trust as we define, develop and communicate our strategy for the next 5+ years.
This role is a great opportunity to ensure all our scholars have a positive experience – from the moment they apply for funding to the point they complete their studies.
We are looking for someone who is confident, proactive and collaborative. You’ll join a friendly team that are committed to helping Trust scholars realise their potential and thrive at one of the world’s greatest universities.
The closing date for applications is Friday 14 August 2026. To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter of a maximum of 500 words to [email protected]. Interviews are likely to be held on 1 and 2 September 2026.
Overview
At the heart of Cambridge’s global academic community is the Cambridge Trust, a charity driven by a simple but powerful mission – to open doors to the University of Cambridge for talented students from across the world, whatever their circumstances.
By partnering with organisations worldwide, the Trust offers the largest number of scholarships to international students at Cambridge. Every year we help around 400 applicants pursue their dreams, awarding scholarships that support study in any subject, at any of the University’s 31 Colleges.
In our 40-year history we have transformed over 22,000 lives from 149 countries, providing both full- and part-scholarships that honour academic excellence and make education accessible to those facing financial or other access barriers.
By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to help unlock human potential and enable the brightest minds to thrive at one of the world’s greatest universities.
Context For This Role
This important role is critical to supporting the lifecycle of scholarship administration across pre- and post-award activity. The role holder is a primary point of contact, responding to a wide range of pre- and post-award queries from applicants, current scholars, funding partners, and representatives from the University of Cambridge and its 31 Colleges.
The role holder will join at an exciting time for the Trust as it is defining, developing and communicating its strategy for the next 5+ years, building on the outputs of the Trust’s Strategic Review in 2024. One of the Trust’s priorities is to develop and enhance the scholar experience, and this role holder can expect to be involved in making a difference by contributing to a positive scholar experience from the point of application for funding to the point of completion of studies and graduation.
The successful candidate will be a confident and proactive team player with excellent communication and technical skills, and capable of following and applying established policies and processes with minimal supervision. The role holder can expect to develop new skills and gain valuable experience in this impact-focused organisation with a global reach.
Key Responsibilities
The role is responsible for supporting pre- and post-award activity in the Awards Team, and is a key point of contact for all queries from applicants, scholars, funding partners, and University and College representatives.
1. Act as a primary point of contact for all queries from applicants, scholars, funding partners and University and College representatives.
2. Research the background to queries and, where appropriate, liaise with relevant stakeholders in Schools, Departments, Colleges and the University’s central administration for input.
3. Respond to queries in a timely manner. Work closely with Senior Awards Coordinators for particularly complex queries.
4. Provide relevant information on applicants and scholars to funding partners using agreed, secure data-sharing solutions.
5. Support pre-award work such as:
─ Provide long- and short-lists for specific scholarship programmes in accordance with current memoranda of understanding and Trust selection and awarding principles and policies.
─ Produce offer letters for scholarships.
─ Update the Trust database as necessary and ensure awardees records are accurate and up to date.
─ Monitor and follow-up applicant response forms and other information required to confirm awards and make payments.
6. Support post-award work such as:
─ Research the background to requests for additional funding.
─ Participate in Additional Funding Meetings, as required.
─ Update the Trust Database and ensure scholar records are accurate and up to date.
─ Support matters relating to invoicing.
7. For both pre- and post-award work, take personal responsibility to:
─ pay close attention to detail and maintain the highest standards of data quality.
─ regularly use the Customer Relationship Management System (Blackbaud) to check the details of individual scholarship programmes.
─ make full use of technical and automated solutions to support work. Attend training to enable adoption of automated solutions for standard queries.
─ Uphold GDPR requirements concerning the gathering and sharing of personal data.
8. Participate in work to seek input from scholars via annual surveys or other means of
communication.
9. Participate in work to support bids for scholarships.
10. Participate in and represent the Trust, as required, at scholar events.
Experience, skills and knowledge
Essential
• Self-starter who works well independently but also contributes actively to and thrives in a team environment.
• Demonstrates excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to complete multiple tasks in an organised way, within time constraints and with minimal supervision.
• Collaborative team player with willingness to share knowledge and expertise, and respond positively to constructive feedback.
• Excellent communication skills, confident in articulating complex information concisely and clearly without recourse to jargon.
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable working under pressure.
• Interest in education and research, and a strong commitment to the mission and values of the Cambridge Trust.
• Politically and culturally sensitive.
• Proficient, confident and independent use of systems including database and Microsoft Office packages, especially Excel.
Desirable
• Competent using data visualisation and analytics tools such as Power BI.
Behavioural Attributes associated with this role:
• Communication: Communicates effectively and appropriately with a variety of stakeholders including external partners, teams, colleagues and contacts.
• Relationship Building: Maintains collaborative and constructive working relationships with existing partners. Works effectively within a team or work group as appropriate.
• Valuing Diversity: Considers and respects the ideas, circumstances and feelings of others. Treats everyone with fairness and respect, adhering to the principles of diversity and inclusion.
• Achieving Results: Gathers information to understand problems and issues, making
recommendations and/or taking action as appropriate. Manages own workload effectively.
• Strategic Focus: Demonstrates awareness of the Trust's direction; understands and supports its mission.
• People Development: Takes ownership of own performance and development. Assists and supports the development of others where appropriate.
• Negotiating and Influencing: Persuades and influences colleagues through involvement and consultation.
• Innovation and Change: Understands the need for change, demonstrates flexibility and is willing to try new approaches.
Qualifications and Education
• Educated to degree level or equivalent work experience.
• Experience in Higher Education or the charitable sector is desirable, but not essential.
Benefits
• Competitive salary, from £34k - £38k.
• Generous package of benefits.
Other Things You Need to Know
• We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates. However, as we are unable to sponsor visas, applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.
• We aim to have the team working in our office in central Cambridge most of the time, but will always consider the best way of working to achieve what is needed for both the Trust and the individual.
• Occasional out-of-hours work will be required such as attending the Welcome Event for new scholars.
How to Apply
• Please submit your CV and a cover letter of a maximum of 500 words to [email protected], describing your motivation for this role and your relevant skills, knowledge and experience.
• Interviews are likely to be held on 1 and 2 September.