Projects Officer
Job description
Overview of the role
Beacon is seeking a Projects Officer to join our growing Projects Team. Alongside the Projects Manager, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), and the new Digital Resources Manager, the Projects Team is responsible for delivering and developing the organisation’s core patient group training and community building activities.
As Projects Officer you will support the delivery and administration of Beacon’s projects, which will include responsibilities in project planning and delivery, event logistics, speaker and attendee management and production of pre- and post-project materials. As an entry-level role, you will benefit from working closely with the COO and Projects Manager, learning directly from their combined 9 years of experience in project management and delivery at Beacon, and taking on new responsibilities and opportunities that appeal to you and match your skill set.
The successful candidate will be a strong team player, with good communication skills and confident working independently. You will have good organisational and problem-solving abilities and be experienced with keeping on top of multiple tasks.

About Beacon
Beacon (formerly known as Findacure) is a UK-based charity that is building a united rare disease community with patient groups at its heart.
Our vision: a world in which no one faces their rare journey alone.
Rare diseases affect around 3.5 million of the UK population. Sadly, this population struggles to receive a diagnosis, treatment or meet others with the same condition. Patient groups are a lifeline for those living with a rare disease. They provide emotional support and advice for day-to-day living, as well as drive wide-scale changes in policy, treatment and care.
Our charity upskills rare disease patient groups through trainings, guided programmes, community projects and research initiatives. We help these groups maximise their impact and deliver change for the world’s often neglected rare disease patients.
We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, professional projects that make everyone feel welcome and heard; providing opportunities to connect and collaborate with others across the rare disease space.
By working in partnership with patient organisations and other stakeholders, we are breaking the isolation felt by those living with a rare condition, uniting all rare diseases into a single unified force.
Beacon has a small, tight-knit team with a friendly atmosphere and strong commitment to our beneficiaries. We aim to give all employees opportunities to pursue their interests, develop their skills and shape their career paths.
Key details
SALARY
£21,000
HOURS
Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
START DATE
May or June 2023
RESPONSIBLE TO
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
TERM
One year fixed-term with the potential to move to a permanent role
LOCATION
Beacon Office, Cambridge, CB1 2BL; hybrid working options available though regular work (minmum 2-3 days per week) in the office is required
Main duties and responsibilities
PROJECT SUPPORT
- Supporting the COO in the delivery of the annual Rare Disease Showcase Series and Drug Repurposing Conference, including speaker and attendee management, event logistics and material production.
- Supporting the Projects Manager in the delivery of the Patient Group Mentoring Programme and Student Voice Prize.
- Editing and uploading post-event videos.
- Overseeing the administration of event-specific spaces on The Resources Hub.
- Working with the wider Projects Team to deliver a new ‘core curriculum’ training strategy.
PROJECT DELIVERY
- Coordinating and delivering online training workshops and webinars, working together with the COO and Projects Manager to plan content and source speakers, and overseeing logistics, attendee management and hosting.
- Organising Beacon’s RareChat series, including topic identification, logistics, attendee management and co-ordinating Beacon staff to host.
IMPACT MEASUREMENT
- Implementing feedback measures across projects and reporting their impact.
- Working together with the COO and Fundraising Team to ensure projects meet their strategic objectives and impact targets.
- Working together with the Administrative and Fundraising Officers to collate impact and record engagement across the breadth of Beacon’s work.
In line with the nature of small team working, additional responsibilities and duties may be added on an ad-hoc or long-term basis according to the needs of the organisation and interest of the successful applicant.
Personal specifications
This is an entry-level role, suitable for someone looking to develop skills and gain experience in project and event management in a non-profit environment.
ESSENTIAL
- Exceptional organisational and time management skills, with experience of balancing
and prioritising multiple tasks. - Impact driven with strong attention to detail.
- A desire to deliver a first-class experience to those engaging with our events and projects.
- Excellent command of written and spoken English.
- A confident communicator, capable of presenting to a wide-ranging audience.
- An ability to build strong working relationships with a variety of people.
- Drive, determination, and self-motivation. Takes pride in work with a positive outlook.
- Excellent interpersonal and team working skills and confidence working independently.
- Computer literate and confident using all MS Office software.
- Understanding of, and commitment to, the objectives of Beacon.
- Ability to deliver occasional out of hours work to accommodate Beacon events or travel in the UK and internationally.
DESIRABLE
- Experience presenting in front of an audience.
- Experience in organising events or projects.
- Experience using Photoshop and/or Premier Elements.
- Experience working or volunteering with charities.
- An understanding of rare diseases and/or the UK healthcare system.
Benefits




25 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays and additional leave for office Christmas closure
5% pension contribution
Flexible working practices, including hybrid working and flexitime
Time off in lieu to support appropriate work/life balance




Access to free mental health support, counselling and 24/7 telephone GP for you and your family
Shopping savings at major retailers and supermarkets
Discounted gym memberships
Dedicated training budget to support personal and professional training opportunities




Valuable experience working in the charity and healthcare sector
Frequent opportunities to meet and interact with beneficiaries, supporters and collaborators
Opportunities to expand your professional network through attending events and conferences
A close knit and friendly small team environment, giving you a meaningful voice in the direction of the charity
Application process
Please email an up-to-date CV and cover letter to Mary Rose Roberts (Chief Operating Officer) and Rick Thompson (CEO) at recruitment@rarebeacon.org by 9 am on the 19th April, outlining your relevant skills and experience.
As we are recruiting for numerous roles simultaneously, please ensure your name and the role you are applying for is noted clearly in the email subject line (e.g. Stevie Wonder – Application for Projects Officer).
Shortlisted candidates will initially be contacted for a phone interview, with the final round of interviews likely taking place between the 17th April and 5th May. Please note, our first round of phone interviews will be scheduled as and when applications come in.
If you have any questions, or would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact us at the email listed above.
You must have a right to work in the UK and we are unable to sponsor UK VISA applications under any circumstances.