Personal Assistant

Job Introduction

About Us

We are a dedicated and dynamic Executive Support Team within the Chief Executive’s Office, committed to providing unparalleled professional support to the Executive Directors and Directors of the council. Our mission is to ensure that both internal and external customers receive the highest standard of service, and we pride ourselves on our proactive approach and our ability to adapt to the ever-changing needs of the council and its residents.  

About the Role

As a Personal Assistant to two directors (Director of HR & Cultural Change and Director of Financial and Commercial Services), you will be at the heart of our operations, playing a pivotal role in the smooth functioning of the Strategic Leadership Team. Your responsibilities will include providing comprehensive and confidential support to the Directors ensuring they can perform their roles with maximum efficiency. This role demands a high level of professionalism, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. 

Your key duties will encompass managing diary commitments, arranging and minuting meetings, handling sensitive correspondence, and responding to some emails . You will coordinate service events and large-scale meetings. You will also be responsible for processing invoices, and assisting with the elections process as required. Importantly you will learn about the service areas and represent the Strategic Leadership Team with a positive, customer-focused attitude, always striving to enhance current practices and introduce innovative solutions. You will also be alert to politically sensitive issues and bring them to the attention of the Directors at the earliest opportunity.   

About you

We are looking for someone with a high level of professionalism, who is highly organised and methodical with a keen eye for detail. As an experienced PA you will have well established ways of working that provide rigour and structure to your work. You will have experience of supporting senior team members, managing diaries and ensuring that they are fully prepared for every appointment. Advanced skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) are essential, as is the ability to work under pressure and meet unpredictable deadlines. Experience of using CoPilot for minute-taking and action notes would be an advantage. 

You should be adept at using your initiative to find solutions and have a flexible attitude towards handling change. Experience in using financial, payroll, and administrative systems is also required. You will have a degree or NVQ 2 or higher in administration or a PA qualification, or an equivalent level of evidenced experience and experience in the public sector would be advantageous. 

For a discussion about the role in more detail, please contact Emma Castle, Business Support Manager on 01865 815438 or email Emma.Castle@Oxfordshire.gov.uk 

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working   
• Technology to support agile working where role permits  
• 29 day’s holiday p.a. plus bank holidays  
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday  
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support  
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9%  
• Enhanced family friendly policies  
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel  
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development.  

Our commitment to:

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:

Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:

Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:

Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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If you encounter any technical issues with the application system, please contact us at: careers@oxfordshire.gov.uk