Assistant Chief of Staff

The Gambling Commission; Willenhall; Hybrid; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading regulatory authority in the UK is seeking an experienced Assistant Chief of Staff to manage high-level communications and support the CEO. This role offers a hybrid working model and involves key responsibilities such as managing inboxes, overseeing commissions, and supporting decision-making processes. The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent communication skills and experience in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension with employer contribution

26 days' holiday, rising to 29 after two years

Flexible working and family-friendly policies

Collaborative workplace culture

Qualifications

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and balance competing priorities.
• Experience managing inboxes and workflows.
• Experience working with Senior Stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Deputy CEO's inbox and meetings.
• Oversee commissioning and management tasks.
• Provide secretariat support as needed.

Skills

Effective triage skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Discretion and confidentiality

Multitasking ability

Job description

Job title : Assistant Chief of Staff

Location : Hybrid – Birmingham office, one day per week, depending on business needs

Contract : Permanent

Hours : Full-time (37 hours per week)

Salary : £40,000 per annum

Grade : 12

Job ref : DCE3

The role :

The Assistant Chief of Staff (ACS) is a demanding, varied role, and requires someone who is flexible, proactive, responsive and has a keen political antenna. This position requires excellent communication, discretion, and the ability to manage a diverse range of responsibilities in a fast‑paced environment. The ideal candidate may have experience of working in an Arm’s Length Body (ALB) or Government Department, is driven and wants a challenging opportunity. The Gambling Commission is open to offering this to an existing Civil Servant on a secondment basis.

The ACS will support the Gambling Commission Private Office, working with the Chief of Staff, supporting the CEO and Deputy CEO. Regular travel and occasional overnight stays are required for this role.

The team :

Joining the Gambling Commission’s Private Office, supporting the Deputy CEO, offers a unique opportunity to be at the heart of strategic decision-making and policy development in a high‑profile regulatory environment. You would gain unparalleled insight into how national regulation operates, contribute to shaping initiatives and develop strong professional networks across government and industry. The role combines challenge and influence, giving you the chance to support leadership at the highest level while building skills in governance, stakeholder management, and strategic communication that will accelerate your career.

Our offer to you :

• Civil Service Pension, with 28.97% employer contribution
• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 29 days after two years’ service (pro rata)
• Holiday purchase scheme (option to buy up to five extra days’ annual leave)
• Flexible working & family‑friendly policies
• Ergonomic, fully accessible office, very close to Birmingham New Street Station
• Open, collaborative and people‑focused culture

Your responsibilities :

• Proactive and reactive management of the Deputy CEO’s inbox, and where required the CEO’s inbox, responding to requests, escalating issues, prioritising work, cascading information and tracking deadlines.
• Oversight of the commissioning and management of the Deputy CEO’s and where required the CEO’s required commissions, e.g. briefings, engagements, correspondence, etc.
• Oversight of the Deputy CEO’s diary management and line management of their Personal Assistant (PA).
• Identifying and monitoring actions, ensuring updates are sought and documented prior to meetings or as required.
• Providing secretariat support across the Deputy CEO’s area as needed, producing accurate and timely outputs/actions/minutes as required.
• Maintaining / reviewing ‘Action Logs’ and ‘Forward Looks’ for meetings, including proactively ensuring actions are reported on.
• Regular chairing of key meetings, such as DCEO Private Office, Private Office Network and Complex Correspondence.
• Provision and/or management of some sensitive records, such as staff and workforce, etc., where appropriate.
• Ad hoc tasks as requested by the Deputy CEO and Chief of Staff.

This role requires regular travel and some overnight stays.

The above does not constitute an exhaustive list of duties. The post holder may be required to perform any reasonable tasks commensurate with the level of responsibility at the request of their manager.

What we’re looking for :

Essential criteria :

• The ability to work in a fast‑paced and pressured environment and balance a number of competing priorities.
• Effective triage skills, including experience of inbox and workflow management. Be highly competent across the Microsoft Office suite of tools.
• Have experience of working with Senior Stakeholders, and the ability to work with discretion and confidentiality.
• Good communication and organisational skills and the ability to multitask, prioritise and respond innovatively to changes.

Desirable criteria :

• Experience of working in a similar role either as a Chief of Staff, Private Secretary or Assistant Chief of Staff.

Your application :

We value diversity in our workplace and are committed to a culture where each individual is engaged and feels that their contribution is valued and respected. We welcome all applications from candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Enquiries are welcome and should be made to Hamish Giles.

To apply for this position, please see the Gambling Commission.

The Gambling Commission have an anonymised recruitment process, so you should not attach a CV to your application. Instead, application questions will ask you to evidence how your personal skills, qualities and experience match the essential criteria for the role.

The selection process for this vacancy will comprise of a remote (Teams) interview consisting of competency questions. To prepare for your interview, please familiarise yourself with the STAR technique for answering interview questions. The preferred candidates after interview will have a short meeting with the Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

The closing date for this role is midnight on 2nd December 2025. Interviews are expected to be held on 10th and 11th December 2025.

Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before applying as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship. Incomplete applications will be discounted from shortlisting. Please ensure your application is fully completed and submitted before logging out of your account.

About us :

The Gambling Commission is the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing and regulating gambling activities in the United Kingdom. Our primary role is to ensure that gambling is conducted fairly, openly, and free from crime, while also protecting vulnerable individuals from harm.

We regulate various forms of gambling, including casinos, bingo, sports betting, and lotteries, and issue licences to operators. We are committed to ensuring a safe and responsible gambling environment, promoting transparency, and enforcing compliance with legal standards to maintain public trust in the industry.

We’re proud to have notable industry recognition, including the Regulatory Excellence Award from the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This prestigious award recognised the Commission's international leadership in enhancing consumer protection through industry collaboration.

Please apply if you want to be part of an organisation that is a force for good.