Personal Assistant to Area Director, South East (SECBF20)

Arts Council England; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Final salary pension

Generous annual leave

Hybrid working

Job summary

Arts Council England is seeking a proactive Personal Assistant to the South East Area Director. The role requires senior level administrative experience, diary management, governance duties and drafting publishable minutes.

Location is Cambridge or Brighton with a hybrid blend of home and on-site days. The fixed-term contract runs until 31 August 2027, 35 hours per week, with a final salary pension, generous annual leave and flexible working.

Qualifications

• Senior level administrative experience in a similar role.
• Experience managing a busy diary with conflicting demands.
• Experience of governance work – organising and drafting minutes to a publishable standard.

Responsibilities

• Manage director's diary and schedule, coordinating meetings and priorities.
• Prepare and draft minutes for governance meetings and ensure action tracking.

Skills

Diary management

Governance know-how

Senior administrative experience

Job description

Personal Assistant to Area Director, South East (SECBF20)

Contract: Fixed term until 31 August 2027, working 35 hours per week (Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcome applications from individuals who require flexibility)

Salary: £30,500 per annum Grade E plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.

Location: Cambridge or Brighton ( The role will be based in any of the locations listed; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week)

We are seeking a proactive personal assistant for the South East Area Director. To succeed in this role, you will have senior level administrative experience in a similar role. You will have managed a busy diary with many conflicting demands in a fast-moving environment, and you will need to have experience of governance work – organising and managing committee meetings and drafting minutes to a publishable standard.

You will be highly organised, with the ability to plan and prioritise, as well as exercise effective judgement when managing complex tasks. Experience and/or a good understanding of the public sector and/or arts and culture sector is desirable.

Disabled people, those from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, and people under 30 are under-represented in our workforce so we particularly encourage applications from people in these groups.

The role will be hybrid (office/working from home) however you will be required to attend and manage in-person meetings regularly in Cambridge/ Brighton. Interviews will be held in-person at the central London office.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council.

If there are any adjustments that would support you in your application, please do let us know when you apply. If you are disabled, Evenbreak are able to provide support with your application. For further information please visit their website.

We participate in the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme which means that we offer an interview to any disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role they’re applying to, subject to the volume of applications received. Disabled candidates, those living with a long-term condition and/ or neurodivergent candidates may be eligible for this scheme. The scheme uses the definition of disability from the Equality Act 2010 to determine eligibility. More information is included in the application guidance.

About us

Arts Council offers a range of benefits to our employees including hybrid and flexible working, a generous annual leave allowance and the Arts Council Retirement Plan - a final salary scheme. To find out more.

Our Code of Ethics requires that employees of the Arts Council are not able to receive an Arts Council grant, investment or loan funding - either in person, as a member of a partnership, or for any organisation they own. There are also limitations on board or CEO positions employees can hold in organisations we fund. For more information on this, please talk to the recruiting manager or contact [e-mail]

Job ref

SECBF20

Interviews

(In person at the London Office) Friday 04 December 2026

Please note: We do NOT accept CVs or cover letters as part of our recruitment process. If you require any documentation in an alternative format, please contact [e-mail]