Personal Assistant

Laing O'Rourke; Dartford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident scheme

Job summary

Laing O\'Rourke, a leading international engineering and construction company, seeks an exceptional Personal Assistant to join our Strategic Programmes Team. You will partner with senior leaders and drive strategic initiatives across the UK and beyond.

As the trusted right-hand to the Strategic Programmes Leadership Team, you will manage complex diaries, travel, reports and events, while building strong relationships across the business and supporting cross‑continental collaboration with

Qualifications

• Experience supporting senior leaders in a dynamic, fast-paced business.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and discretion.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Proactively manage complex diaries, meetings and priorities across time zones.
• Arrange travel, accommodation and itineraries with foresight.
• Consolidate presentation packs and reports using dashboard data.
• Build trusted relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Act as gatekeeper to protect executive time and wellbeing.
• Support planning and delivery of events and strategic communications.

Skills

Diary management

Stakeholder management

Time management

Communication

Planning & organizing

Team collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Job description

We're on the lookout for an exceptional Personal Assistant to join our Strategic Programmes Team. This is more than just a support role, it's an opportunity to work at the heart of the business, partnering with senior leaders and helping to drive exciting strategic initiatives that are transforming the way we work across the UK and beyond.

As a trusted right-hand partner to our Strategic Programmes Leadership Team, you'll play a key role in keeping priorities moving, coordinating complex activities, and ensuring everything runs seamlessly behind the scenes. Building strong relationships across the business, you'll thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. You'll also be part of a collaborative and supportive PA network, working alongside colleagues across the UK and globally to deliver exceptional support and make a real impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively manage complex diaries, meetings and priorities, both locally and across time zones (UK and Australia).
• Arrange travel, accommodation and detailed itineraries with foresight and care.
• Consolidate presentation packs and reports using dashboard data, charts and insights.
• Build trusted relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders alike.
• Be the key point of contact for international colleagues visiting the UK.
• Act as a gatekeeper to protect executive time and support wellbeing.
• Attend PA meetings and contribute to our wider support network.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.
• Manage expenses, approvals and team support requests with accuracy and efficiency.
• Support the planning and delivery of events, broadcasts and strategic communications.
• Coordinate and organise Strategic Programmes Town Halls.

Skills & Attributes Required

You’ll Have

• Experience supporting senior leaders in a dynamic, fast-paced business.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, especially Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Outstanding time management skills, attention to detail and the ability to stay two steps ahead.
• Confidence communicating at all levels, including with clients and senior stakeholders.
• A collaborative mindset, comfortable working independently and as part of a wider team.
• A curious, strategic mindset, able to understand context and adapt priorities accordingly.
• An excellent eye for detail when compiling and proofreading documents, with the confidence to challenge when standards are not being maintained.
• Experience supporting and managing Senior Leadership documentation.

About You

• Brings energy, initiative and a positive, can-do approach.
• Identifies what needs to be done and takes ownership without waiting to be asked.
• Is proactive, credible and reliable in everything they do.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and can effectively manage competing priorities.
• Demonstrates resilience and remains calm when navigating ambiguity and change.
• Is flexible and able to adapt quickly as business priorities evolve.
• Follows through on commitments and delivers to a consistently high standard.
• Builds trust and strong working relationships with leaders, teams and stakeholders.
• Is organised, proactive and dependable, with a strong attention to detail.
• Enjoys supporting senior leaders and enabling them to perform at their best.

Don't match all the criteria? We are open and always happy to hear from people with transferable skill sets and a commitment to learning.

About Us

We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email [e-mail]