Job Posting: Bilingual Office Administrator (Arabic/English) – The Islamic Manuscript Association (Cambridge, UK)

Bilingual Office Administrator, The Islamic Manuscript Association
The Islamic Manuscript Association is one of the principal projects of the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation. The Association is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting Islamic manuscript collections and supporting those who work with them. It was formed in
response to the urgent need to address the poor preservation and inaccessibility of many Islamic manuscript collections around the world.
The Association is currently seeking an Arabic and English speaking office administrator. The position is full-time and is based at the Association’s office in Cambridge, UK. The contract is a one-year fixed term contract. Employment in Cambridge will be through the foundation’s representative company, Tradigital, which is based in Cairo, Egypt. The salary will be £23,000-£25,000 gross per annum, and all UK statutory benefits and entitlements apply. The employee will
receive 30 days’ paid holiday in addition to all UK bank holidays.
The successful candidate will assist with the day-to-day running of the Association, including the organisation of conferences, board meetings, and short courses; the management of the Association’s membership records; and the coordination of the Association’s grant scheme. He or
she will be able to work well as part of a small team and also under his or her own direction when necessary. Excellent interpersonal skills and an enthusiasm for the Association’s aims are essential. Occasional travel to locations within the UK and abroad may be required as part of the role. The administrator will report to the executive director.
Main duties of the job
Assist with the following in cooperation with the executive director and other Association staff:
• Day-to-day administration of the Association.
• Preparation of original Arabic correspondence; translation of English correspondence into Arabic
and vice versa; making Arabic phone and Skype calls.
• Creation of Arabic content for the Association’s website.
• Maintenance of up-to-date membership records.
• Organisation of events including conferences, board meetings, and short courses.
• Coordination of the Association’s annual grant scheme.
• Coordination of the Association’s volunteer programme.
• Organisation and stocktaking of office equipment, supplies, and books.
• Maintenance of the office’s physical premises, including utilities, insurance, fire and intruder
alarms, and cleaning.
• Supporting other Foundation projects, if needed.
Essential skills, experience, and qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Fluency in spoken and written Arabic.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and phone manner.
• Proven experience in events coordination and administration.
• Excellent computer literacy: professional-level competency with word processors, spreadsheets,
databases, email clients, and web-based social media.
• Capable of handling multiple demanding priorities in a busy environment.
• Willing to travel internationally.
Desirable skills, experience, and qualifications
• Proficiency in minute taking and touch typing.
• First aid qualification.
• Knowledge of a discipline relating to the care and management of manuscript collections (e.g.
cataloguing, conservation, or digitisation), Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, and/or codicology.
• Knowledge of other foreign languages, especially Persian and Turkish.
To apply please send a cover letter, CV, and the contact information for two references to the address below. Please include the title of the position for which you are applying in the subject line of your email.
The Islamic Manuscript Association Ltd
c/o 33 Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1QY
United Kingdom
Email: vacancies@islamicmanuscript.org
Please note that the Association will only consider applicants who already possess the right to work in the United Kingdom. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Application Deadline: Open until filled