Personal Assistant to Director of Operations (South & East) - 8531

We are seeking a confident and efficient Personal Assistant to provide a first class service to the Director of Operations South & East. This is a high profile role demanding a proactive approach and someone who can plan, anticipate and act on their own initiative. You will work alongside the Director’s Business Manager to manage and support delivery of the Director’s business and leadership priorities. With exemplary communication and customer service skills, you will often act as an ambassador for the Director, acting as the main contact point for internal and external customers when the Director is out of the office. You will calmly progress a number of issues at once with excellent attention to detail, including providing a comprehensive secretarial and administrative service across a range of duties; travel, diary, email and action management; secretariat support for key meetings and action-taking. You will feel comfortable building and maintaining strong networks across the senior leadership in the Environment Agency and the Offices of Chief Executives of companies the Director account manages. These include major Water and Waste Companies. You will feel comfortable working in and role modelling to a strong culture of customer care, sustainability and diversity inclusion.

In this varied and interesting role, you will support and facilitate a virtual team working across the PAs who support the 6 Area Directors in the South & East with the aim of sharing best practice and ideas, integrating work and doing things efficiently once.

The core team comprises the Director, PA and Business Manager who work in harmony to support effective operational delivery and leadership, and who support one another.

• Experience as a proactive and professional personal assistant at director level

• Able to respect and adhere to strict confidentiality and security protocols

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to confidently build effective working relationships quickly.

• Able to calmly progress a number of issues at once with excellent attention to detail.

• A proven track record for working well under pressure and to tight deadlines.

• A resilient self-starter who uses their initiative and works effectively and efficiently on their own, dealing comfortably and confidently with ambiguity, and flexing to last minute changes.

• Efficient meeting organisation so that meetings run smoothly and the best use is made of all participant's time.

• Strong computer skills - Microsoft Word and Excel skills

Closing Date: 26th July 2018 at 23:55 hours

The information in the candidate pack is taken from a generic role profile so, whilst relevant, it is not specifically tailored to this position. The advert provides you with details of key accountabilities and skills needed to succeed in this role.

For further information about the role please contact sarah.chare@environment-agency.gov.uk

The preferred location is Solihull, however London, Reading and other locations within the South East will be considered.

There will be travel requirements to London approximately every two weeks and occasionally further afield across the South and East for national meetings.

**Interview date is planned for Weds 8 August in our Solihull office**

"Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses"

The successful candidate will be representing the Director. They have to be able to understand the needs of both the Director they are representing and the customers they are working with in order to reach the best solution on arrangements and requests. Please provide an example of a time when you have understood the needs of your customers to provide them with an excellent service.

Please note, your answer will be used for interview selection.

"Has full awareness of own strengths, weaknesses, impact and approach. Effectively organises self and takes personal responsibility for own role in the Environment Agency"

The successful candidate will work closely with the Director they are supporting and the PA network, and they need to be able to take a steer, demonstrate initiative and move work on. They need to be organised, self-starting and strike the right balance between being confident to move actions on and checking in on what is needed. Please provide an example of how you have managed your work by organising yourself and taking initiative on work delivery.

Please note, your answer will be used for interview selection.

"Works co-operatively as part of a team to achieve common goals."

The role requires work across many teams – with the senior leadership of the organisation and their PAs. The successful candidate has to be an accomplished team player with the ability to develop relationships and resolve conflicting priorities with a wide group of people including those remotely based. Please provide an example of when you have worked effectively as a part of a team to deliver work.

Please note, your answer will be used for interview selection.