Diary Manager to Director General

Brook Street; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work pattern

Job summary

Defra in London is seeking a Strategic Diary Manager to work directly with the Director General. This is a high-visibility, fast-paced role that goes beyond diarykeeping, coordinating internal, external and international engagements and acting as a trusted point of contact.

You will lead diary planning, manage travel and expenses, triage inboxes, and maintain forward engagement plans while balancing competing priorities with professionalism and discretion.

Qualifications

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Comfortable operating at pace with shifting priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Director General's diary, prioritising meetings and engagements.
• Run weekly diary meetings to resolve clashes and propose solutions.
• Coordinate internal, external and international engagements with senior stakeholders.
• Plan and support staff calls, events, and stakeholder visits.
• Manage travel, accommodation and expenses for the Director General.
• Triage shared inboxes and ensure follow-up actions.

Skills

Highly organised

Stakeholder management

Communication

Ability to work at pace

Decision-making

Job description

Strategic Diary Manager to Director General | Defra

London | Hybrid - 4 days per week in the office | £20.74 per hour | Full-time | Initial 3-month temporary assignment with potential for extension

Want a role where you will genuinely be at the heart of senior-level decision making?

We have a fantastic opportunity to join Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) as a Strategic Diary Manager, working directly with a Director General in a highly visible, fast-paced and engaging role.

This is far more than simply managing a diary.

You will become a trusted point of contact for the Director General, taking ownership of a complex and constantly evolving schedule while helping to coordinate important internal, external and international engagements.

Working as part of a supportive team of five, you will need to think ahead, spot potential challenges before they arise and confidently balance competing priorities.

What will you be doing?

You will:

• Take the lead on the Director General's diary, strategically prioritising meetings, commitments and engagements.
• Lead weekly diary meetings, resolving clashes and recommending practical solutions.
• Coordinate high-profile internal and external engagement, including activity with international partners and senior stakeholders.
• Plan and support all-staff calls, hub events, stakeholder visits and other key engagement opportunities.
• Manage travel, accommodation and expenses for the Director General.
• Take ownership of shared inboxes, triaging correspondence and ensuring actions are followed through.
• Maintain forward plans and engagement trackers, keeping upcoming priorities firmly on the radar.
• Identify emerging issues, risks and sensitivities and ensure these are escalated appropriately.
• Work closely with Private Offices, policy teams, corporate colleagues and senior stakeholders across the organisation.

Who are we looking for?

This opportunity would suit someone who is highly organised, confident and comfortable operating at pace.

You will thrive in an environment where priorities can change quickly and where excellent judgement, attention to detail and communication are essential.

You are likely to be someone who:

• Is an exceptional organiser and natural problem solver.
• Can confidently manage multiple competing priorities.
• Has excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Is comfortable working with senior leaders and high-profile stakeholders.
• Can anticipate issues and take action rather than simply reacting to them.
• Remains calm, professional and solutions-focused under pressure.
• Enjoys being part of a collaborative and supportive team.

Why Defra?

Defra's work touches almost every part of everyday life, from the food we eat and the air we breathe to the water we drink and the environment around us.

This is an opportunity to gain fantastic experience within a major UK government department while working directly alongside senior leadership and gaining exposure to a wide range of internal, external and international stakeholders.

Ready for your next challenge?

If you are looking for a role that combines organisation, strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement and senior-level exposure, this could be an outstanding next step.

£20.74 per hour | London SW1P 4DF | Full-time | Hybrid, 4 days office based | Initial 3 months with potential to extend