Personal Assistant to Deputy Director Portfolio Assurance - 10221

Working in a fast paced environment you’ll be the initial point of contact and executive support to the Deputy Director’s office.
You’re required to be fully flexible, use a “yes if…” approach and provide comprehensive administrative support and effective communication to the Deputy Director and senior leadership team, based nationally.
You’ll be a trusted confidante, often managing highly sensitive information coming from external sources, national teams and directors. A high level of initiative is required to prioritise tasks and information so the Deputy Director is kept fully informed on key messages and items to help manage the effectiveness of her time. Extensive mailbox, diary and travel management will be required and the ability to forward look and prioritise effectively is a must.
Being of a pragmatic nature prioritising will come naturally to you, allowing you the ability to achieve timely outcomes in line with policies and procedures.
The department regularly liaises across the whole organisation, including the Chief Executive’s Office to respond to parliamentary questions, and with external partners, often with tight deadlines. You’ll be responsible for facilitating the responses to correspondence we receive from these sources whilst maintaining the professional face of the Deputy Directors Office and function.

Asset and Programme Management (APM) National Operations is transforming the way the Environment Agency works and aims to achieve world class asset management and professional programme management. The Portfolio Assurance team is a new team within APM responsible for monitoring, reporting and assuring operational delivery across FCRM and progressively further afield.
Working directly for the Deputy Director of these departments, you’ll work closely with the senior management team and team leaders.

You will have experience working as a PA or in a similar role. You will be able to work efficiently and effectively at a fast pace to constantly shifting deadlines and parameters without compromising on quality. You will always be looking for opportunities to add value as to how the role is delivered.
You will possess effective communication skills as there will be regular contact with senior directors across the whole organisation. You will be able to build strong networks with other areas, national teams and organisations.
You will be able to pick up new IT systems quickly and be competent in using IT services such as Microsoft Office programmes (for example Outlook, Word, Excel etc.).
You will have the ability to work proactively whilst being primarily unsupervised.

Closing Date: 23rd April 2019 at 23:55 hours

Benefits include generous pension provision and leave entitlement. Our flexible working practices support a healthy work/life balance and offer choices to help accommodate personal commitments. Excellent training and learning opportunities are available for those wanting to progress or restart their career, including personal and professional development. As this role supports a nationally based team the base location is flexible. Occasional travel (regionally or nationally) and overnight stays are required. Salary: £22,792 (potentially more for exceptional candidates, based on skills and experience). For further information contact Jennie Cooper on 07747472168 or jennie.cooper@environment-agency.gov.uk

In this role you will need to be in-tune with the key themes, hot topics and issues taking place around the function and organisation, and often required to communicate messages on behalf of the Deputy Director. Provide an example that demonstrates how you communicate key issues to the relevant people, ensuring the most appropriate style and type of communication is used and considers the impact of those communications.

The post holder will be required to identify where long, short and medium term plans will need to be put in place. They will need to use their initiative to be able plan ahead, draw out interdependencies and where things need to join up.
Provide an example that demonstrates how you have used your initiative to ensure your business priorities are identified and a plan put in place to deliver them.

In this role you will be working as part of a team; provide an example that demonstrates how you are a strong team player that looks for opportunities to work collaboratively and support the delivery of team goals.