Personal Assistant

Pertemps; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution is seeking a proactive Personal Assistant to support the Heads of Department in a dynamic environment. This full-time, fixed-term role involves managing communications, organising meetings, and providing administrative support to ensure smooth operations within the departments. Ideal candidates will possess strong IT and organisational skills, along with proven administrative experience, particularly in higher education settings.

Qualifications

• Proven administrative and PA experience, ideally in a higher education or public sector setting.
• Strong IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Excellent communication, time management, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated PA support to Heads of Department, including diary and inbox management.
• Organise and support departmental meetings, taking minutes and tracking action items.
• Assist with departmental HR and budget administration.

Skills

Communication

Organisational skills

IT skills

Job description

Job Title: PA to Head of Department and Department Secretary
Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Salary: £13.96-£15.97ph
Job Type: Full-time, Fixed Term (Part-time considered)
Duration: Temporary for 2-6 months
Start Date: ASAP

The Role

Our client, The Open University, is seeking a proactive and highly organised Personal Assistant and Department Secretary to support the Heads of Department for Public Leadership and Social Enterprise (PuLSE) and Accounting and Finance (DAF) within the Faculty of Business and Law. This is a full-time, fixed-term role based in Milton Keynes, offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced administrator to join a dynamic academic environment.
You will play a key role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of both departments by providing a confidential and professional PA service, supporting meetings and events, managing departmental communications, and assisting with administrative tasks. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player with excellent IT, communication, and organisational skills.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide dedicated PA support to Heads of Department (PuLSE and DAF), including diary and inbox management, meeting coordination, and travel arrangements.
• Offer general secretarial assistance to academic staff across the departments, ensuring professional and timely support.
• Maintain departmental records in accordance with data protection standards.
• Assist with departmental HR and budget administration, including leave records, induction coordination, and expenditure tracking.
• Act as the first point of contact for visitors and enquiries, handling correspondence professionally and efficiently.
• Organise and support departmental meetings, taking minutes and tracking action items.
• Contribute actively to the wider PA/Secretarial support team and provide cross-departmental cover as required.
• Support the planning and delivery of departmental seminars and conferences.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Proven administrative and PA experience, ideally in a higher education or public sector setting.
• Strong IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, internet, and database use).
• Excellent communication, time management, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks with discretion and attention to detail.
• Familiarity with data protection principles and managing confidential information.
• Minute-taking experience and the ability to support senior management effectively.
• A flexible and adaptable approach to changing duties and workloads.

Interested?

Please click to apply or contact us for more information about this role. Pertemps acts as both an employment business and an employment agency.