Personal Assistant

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

Job summary

A leading university seeks a dedicated PA to support the Head of Department. This full-time role is vital for ensuring efficient departmental operations and offers competitive pay. Ideal candidates will have proven administrative skills, strong IT abilities, and a collaborative spirit.

Qualifications

• Proven administrative and PA experience, ideally in a higher education or public sector setting.
• Familiarity with data protection principles and managing confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Provide dedicated PA support, including diary and inbox management.
• Assist with departmental HR and budget administration.
• Organise and support departmental meetings, taking minutes.

Skills

IT skills

Communication

Organisational skills

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Job Title: PA to Head of Department and Department Secretary
Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Salary: £16-£19ph
Job Type: Full-time
Duration: Temporary for 2-6 months
Start Date: ASAP

The Role

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.