Executive Adviser - 28863

We are looking for two adaptable, highly organised and flexible individuals to join this busy team focused on providing essential support to the Executive Director of Operations (EDO). Both roles will work closely with others in the EDO Office, the Executive Leadership Team’s private offices, colleagues from across the organisation, and external partners.

One role will be focussed on:
- Commissioning and coordinating written and verbal briefings for visits, events, speeches, internal and external meetings
- Managing correspondence and requests for information
- Overseeing a plan of visits and events for the Exec Director
- Alongside the PA, providing essential support to the Exec Director.

The other role will act as secretariat for Operations lead meetings. Managing the planning, delivery and record keeping for inclusive and effective meetings of:
- Operations Leadership Team;
- Operational Performance Sub-Group;
- Operations Executive Group; and
- managing the forward look of Operations items to the Executive Directors Team and EA Board.

As you will be required to work on a variety of different tasks, you must be good at managing your own time, prioritising your workload, and capable of delivering to deadlines. For team resilience it is expected that these duties may flex between roles as needed.

The Executive Director’s office works collectively to ensure the Executive Director is able to undertake their role efficiently and effectively. You will work closely with the Business Manager, Executive Coordination Manager, Directors and offices across Operations. We are a supportive, friendly and welcoming dispersed team and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

The essential skills and experience we are looking for:
• Someone comfortable working with senior leaders, operating with discretion and experience handling sensitive information.
• An ability to prioritise a busy workload and maintain excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Someone self-motivated, who works well within a team environment or under their own initiative.
• For the Secretariat role; experience of delivering meetings and taking accurate minutes in formal/informal meeting.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders, or working with customers and partners to maintain the positive reputation of an office or service.
• A quick learner, able to deliver high quality work to deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
• An ability to lead, motivate, support and develop a dispersed team; delivering outcomes through others.

For an informal conversation about this role please contact: James Farrell (James.Farrell@environment-agency.gov.uk) between 8-15 April or Kathryn McDonald (Kathryn.mcdonald@environment-agency.gov.uk) from 15th April.

We operate as a dispersed group, all base locations will be considered (subject to agreement by local Facilities Management). There will be a requirement for some national travel for meetings, particularly Birmingham and London. We support flexible working patterns for all our vacancies.

Please describe your motivations for applying for this role, your strengths and weaknesses and what experience you hope to gain. If you have a preference between the two roles, please state it here.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response.

These will be fast paced and reactive roles. You need to be able to adapt quickly to changing demands and pressures whilst keeping an eye on the longer term goals. You should also be resilient to changes in direction and opinion.

Please give a specific example of where you have delivered a key piece of work to a deadline, adapting to changing priorities or demands.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response.

This is a busy role and you will need to deliver results for senior customers through the team and through colleagues across the organisation. Drawing on examples please demonstrate how you go about delivering results through others.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response.

This role will involve working with a variety of customers and partners, both internal and external. Please give an example of when you have responded to the needs of senior members of staff or high profile stakeholders.

PLEASE NOTE: Your answer will be used for interview selection – please draw out your skills and experience in your response.