Executive Assistant to Executive Director, Operations - 30678

Environment Agency; Beverley; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000

Job description

Executive Assistant to Executive Director, Operations - 30678

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly-organised Executive Assistant to join the team and help manage the Executive Director’s daily business and administration.

Working with initiative and a high-degree of independence, as part of the Operations Executive Office (EDO) you will aid the Executive Director to lead the work that Operations does with Environment Agency colleagues, Defra, Government, and partners to create better places for people and wildlife.

Working closely with others in the EDO, the Leadership Team’s private offices, colleagues across the organisation, and external partners, you will:

1. Manage the Executive Director’s diary and mailbox to triage/distribute accordingly.
2. Co-ordinate the Executive Director’s travel/annual leave/expenses and wider Executive colleagues.
3. Manage the shared inbox and be the initial contact for the Office with the ability to action/commission requests or assign independently to others.
4. Handle/oversee all line manager and administrative tasks of the wider leadership team.
5. Work closely with the team to update the Executive Director on their day-to-day activities/priorities.
6. Provide support with leadership meetings and note taking/minuting.
7. Provide ad-hoc support to the Executive Director and their office, occasionally outside of the scope of your primary responsibilities.
8. Ability to work flexibly supporting the Executive Director occasionally outside of your preferred working hours.

You will have the opportunity to join the Executive Director in some internal and external engagement opportunities and to pursue your own personal development goals within the wide-ranging work of the team.

The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment. During your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all equipment required for your role.

Experience/skills Required

This is a fast-paced office, priorities can change quickly to address incidents, media attention and political steer. You’ll need to be proactive, adaptable, be willing to use your established networks and have an outcome-based approach.

Essential:

1. Excellent customer service and communication skills (written and verbal), ability to adapt these to different audiences.
2. Ability to identify/solve problems, knowing when to draw in support and able to use initiative and work independently.
3. Excellent organisational/prioritisation skills whilst working at pace in busy environment.
4. Ability to develop/maintain relationships with internal/external customers.
5. Team player, delivering quality results alone and with others.
6. Ability to join dots and draw conclusions based on available information.
7. Experience supporting senior leaders.
8. Good knowledge and understanding of organisational procedures/processes.
9. Working with high level sensitive information.
10. Resilience, determination and ability to respond to changing situations.

Desirable:

Good business & corporate awareness.

Contact and additional information

We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, so please clearly include any information on your preferred working arrangements on your application. The successful applicant can be based at any location, and we support hybrid working, but the expectation is that the successful candidate will spend a minimum of 2 days per week at 2 Marsham St in London, with some limited travel around the country.

Everyone joining us is required to undertake training and participate in incident response duties. An incident role is an essential part of working for the Environment Agency and a way to support communities and prevent harm to the environment. See candidate pack for further information.

Contact Tejal Solanki on [e-mail] if you'd like to discuss this role further.

Competences

Competence 1: Achieves Results

Description: Sets and delivers high work standards, demonstrates the drive to meet targets. Prioritises and organises tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results.

QUESTION: In this role you will set and deliver high work standards and prioritise and organise tasks and resources to ensure timely achievement of results. Please give an example of when you organised/planned an event or a project to a tight deadline whilst managing conflicting demands.

Competence 2: Communicates Effectively

Description: Listens and questions to understand and engage. Conveys information and ideas clearly, accurately and persuasively through speech and writing.

Question: Please tell us about a when you have had to communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders, explaining how you made sure your message was understood by all?

Competence 3: Focuses on Customers and Partners

Description: Addresses the needs of internal and external customers, provides rapid and effective responses.

QUESTION: This role requires that you address the needs of internal and external customers, providing rapid and effective responses. Please give an example of how you balance the needs of all your customers to ensure that you provide them all with a timely service?

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non-Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs.