Executive Assistant

WMJobs; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 33,699 - 36,363; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Local government pension scheme

Professional development

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to provide high-level, confidential support to the Cabinet and senior management within the Executive Support team. The role requires a proactive, organised individual with a can-do attitude and strong communication skills.

We offer hybrid and flexible working options, a competitive salary, and a strong local authority pension scheme, with opportunities for professional development and training.

Qualifications

• Executive support / personal assistant experience required.
• Able to communicate effectively and manage difficult situations.
• Excellent organisational skills with a methodical approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide full bespoke professional EA service to Cabinet and senior management.
• Operate with independence, resolving and responding to communications and queries.
• Be the main contact for Cabinet and senior management staff and manage the flow of work.
• Screen incoming calls, visits and communications; draft, coordinate and proof replies with confidentiality.
• Manage Cabinet members' and senior managers' emails and diaries; arrange meetings.
• Ensure replies are timely and within designated timelines.

Skills

Executive support experience

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Job description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Directorate: Resources, Section: Regulatory, Employment and Support Services, Location: Civic Centre, Grade: Level 8, Salary: £33,699 - £36,363 per annum, Hours: 37 hours per week, This advert is open to both Internal and External applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improvingindependence for the people who live and work in the city. And that’s where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

An exciting opportunity has arisen working within the Executive Support team to provide a high level of professional, pro-active confidential and customer focussed support to the Executive functions of the City Council.

We are looking for an experienced individual with a ‘can do’ attitude who enjoys working as part of a team. A confident communicator with excellent organisational skills who is able to use their own initiative to resolve problems.

Proposed interview date 4th September 2026.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide a full-bespoke professional EA service to members of the Cabinet and the senior management team, ensuring efficient and effective support, proactively anticipating their needs and actions, working on own initiative with no supervision to a high level of strategic and operational service
• Work with a high level of independence and autonomy, resolving and responding to incoming communications, seek advice (by exception) where necessary.
• Be the principle point of contact for members of the Cabinet and the senior management team and proactively manage the flow of work through the office in the most effective way ensuring all queries are resolved, as far as possible, through own initiative or redirected.
• To effectively screen all incoming calls, visits and communications, initiating, drafting, co-ordinating and proof reading replies to correspondence in a pro-active and timely manner with due regard to confidentiality, a customer centric approach, Data Protection and Customer Care policies.
• To manage the Cabinet members/senior management teams mail and email through prioritisation, action under own initiative, redirection where appropriate and follow up to ensure that replies are within specified timelines.
• To proactively manage and hold the responsibility of the Cabinet members/senior management teams diaries ensuring that it is accurate and timely, arranging internal and external meetings.

About You:

• Have executive support / personal assistant experience
• Able to communicate effectively and deal with difficult situations
• Have excellent organisation skills with a methodical approach

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Jill Leech, [e-mail]

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies. No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council. Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.