Melissa Donald
Banchory
Summary
Versatile and dynamic Project Coordinator, with over two decades at Robert Gordon University, mastering administrative leadership and adaptability. Experienced in all aspects of project co-ordination and operations management skills including managing financial accounts.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
8
8
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Project Coordinator (Fixed Term)
SSE
Aberdeen, Aberdeen City
07.2025 - Current
- Manage the project accounts, raising purchase orders, making sure suppliers are paid on time and dealing with external supplier queries.
- Coordinate and prepare project related meetings, making sure these are scheduled, attended and minutes are recorded to a high quality.
- Support the project team to meet Project Governance milestones and deadlines.
- Coordinate all project reporting and presentation packs – making sure these are produced on time and to a high-quality standard.
- Order PPE kits and coordinate onboarding activities for new members of staff.
- Arrange room bookings/logistics at various SSE sites.
- Assist with any additional project specific administration duties.
Programmes Coordinator - School of Engineering
Robert Gordon University
Aberdeen
09.2014 - 12.2024
- Team Lead for the Postgraduate Administration Team including the completion of staff appraisals
- Experience in the use of university systems, development and presentation of materials delivered online on Virtual Campus platform, Moodle platform, Zoom and Teams
- Coordinating the external Accreditation (Energy Institute) for the MSc Engineering programmes every 5 years
- Project Manager for corporate Japanese programmes (Nippon Foundation and Kobe City Government) delivered annually
- Attended various events to promote MSc courses such as Offshore Europe and All Energy conferences
- Further Experience: Course/Exams Timetabling, assisting students with additional learning needs (ALN), Gender Based Violence First Responder and Mental Health First Aider
- Drafted correspondence, reports and other documents based on instructions from supervisors or managers
- Raised purchase orders/goods receipting within university's PECOS finance system
MSc Programmes Coordinator - Energy Centre
Robert Gordon University
Aberdeen
06.2005 - 09.2014
- Responsible for making decisions on MSc Oil & Gas Engineering student applications
- Line Manager of 2 x Clerical Assistants
- Responsible for organisation of MSc student offsite exams in various UK and overseas locations
- Liaising with British Councils, Universities, Colleges, Offshore OIMs
- Participated in promotional events such as recruitment Open Days/Open Evenings, online chatrooms for UK/EU and overseas applicants
- Project Manager for various MSc courses for corporate clients delivered overseas, including travel to: PdVSA in Caracas, Oilteam in Sochi and Sonatrach in Algeria
- Responsible for student support and pastoral care for on-campus and online students based in UK and overseas
- Liaised with internal Academics and External Industry Lecturers/speakers
MSc Admin Assistant/Quality Administrator - Univation Ltd
Robert Gordon University
Aberdeen
07.2002 - 06.2005
- Responsibility for the continuing implementation of the internal Quality Management System of Univation Ltd (ISO; 9001:2000) alongside the Quality Manager and gaining a certificate in Internal Auditing
- Overall responsibility for the MSc courses in Asset Management and Drilling & Well Engineering
- (Budgetary control, daily student liaison, lecturer contract negotiation, student invoicing, Assessment Board liaison, SITS input, MSc material preparation, timetabling, student induction etc)
- Ongoing responsibility for Univation Ltd's Health & Safety policies and procedures
- Maintained files and filing, keeping sensitive information confidential
Secretary - Univation Ltd
Robert Gordon University
Aberdeen
09.1998 - 07.2002
- Secretary to the Managing Director
- Reception duties including answering telephone, typing memos before email systems were implemented, filing and distributing mail
- Organised and attended meetings, took minutes, and distributed notes
- Drafted, proofread, and edited confidential correspondence and documents
- Greeted visitors and callers and handled inquiries and directed them to appropriate persons according to needs
- Learnt to operate new office technologies as were developed and implemented
- Created leaflets and invitations for conferences or special events
- Ordered and dispensed supplies to maintain office inventory
Education
MSc - Quality Management
Robert Gordon University
01.2000 - 01.2005
HNC & HND - Administration and Information Management
Aberdeen College
01.1996 - 01.1998
SVQ NC - Office Administration
Aberdeen College
01.1995 - 01.1996
Skills
- Administrative leadership
- Business administration
- Project coordination
- Operations management
- Event coordination
- Adaptability and flexibility
Certification
- Advanced HE's Aurora Women's Leadership Development Programme, 2022
- The City and Guilds of London Institute ILM Level 5 Award in Leadership and Management, 2022
- The City and Guilds of London Institute ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management, 2020
- Fellow of The Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2019
References
Available on request.
Timeline
Project Coordinator (Fixed Term)
SSE
07.2025 - Current
Programmes Coordinator - School of Engineering
Robert Gordon University
09.2014 - 12.2024
MSc Programmes Coordinator - Energy Centre
Robert Gordon University
06.2005 - 09.2014
MSc Admin Assistant/Quality Administrator - Univation Ltd
Robert Gordon University
07.2002 - 06.2005
MSc - Quality Management
Robert Gordon University
01.2000 - 01.2005
Secretary - Univation Ltd
Robert Gordon University
09.1998 - 07.2002
HNC & HND - Administration and Information Management
Aberdeen College
01.1996 - 01.1998
SVQ NC - Office Administration
Aberdeen College
01.1995 - 01.1996
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