Personal Assistant to Director

pladis Global; Chiswick; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Plan

Private medical Insurance

25 days + bank holidays

Life Assurance

Job summary

pladis Global in London (Chiswick) is seeking a proactive Personal Assistant to support UK Leadership Team members, ensuring smooth diary management, travel planning, and meeting coordination. The role requires office presence five days a week, proactive collaboration, and high standards of organisation.

You will coordinate onboarding for extended leadership, manage emails, and prepare presentations while working closely with global teams to drive business objectives.

Qualifications

• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage complex calendars.
• Experience providing PA support to senior HR stakeholders/leaders.
• Able to work independently and drive initiatives with minimal instruction.
• Experience in a fast-paced business environment with multiple priorities.
• Strong partner management and stakeholder engagement across teams.

Responsibilities

• Diary management for UK Leadership Team members.
• Co-ordinate travel arrangements.
• Manage and coordinate internal/external meetings; prioritise agenda, take minutes, manage attendees.
• Organise conferences and meetings.
• Manage projects and initiatives.
• Coordinate onboarding inductions of extended leadership team.
• Collaborate with global/region/site teams to support business activities.
• Maintain alignment with the wider PA network and seek process improvements.
• Manage requisitions and purchase orders.
• Email management and responses on behalf of Leadership team.
• Craft PowerPoint presentations for leadership.
• Set up and manage team SharePoint sites.

Skills

Strong organisational skills

PA support to senior HR leaders

Independent / self-driven

Experience in fast-paced environment

Partner management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

SharePoint

Job description

Family and ideas have always been our ingredients. Our founding families believed biscuits and chocolates could bring moments of happiness to the world. Their ideas have stood the test of time. Their spirit continues to inspire our future. It’s in the care and the craft we bake into biscuits and chocolates that have been loved for generations. And it’s in the fresh ideas, the new twists, flavours and textures we add to old and new favourites.

Our 16,000 colleagues across our global network of bakers, distribution sites and offices each with their own unique, diverse experience. To bring happiness with every bite.

If you’re a part of the pladis team, you know what it means to bring it. Whether it’s or resilience, team spirit or go-getting attitude. Our courage and compassion. Our ownership. Our whole selves. We Bring it. Day in, day out.

Inspired by you

Our founders didn’t follow rules and recipes, they created them. We’re looking for fresh thinkers to help us create the next chapter for pladis.

pladis succeeds because of people like you. People who wake up in the morning excited to get to work. Who believe in themselves and their potential. Who want to grow as part of a global community of like‑minded colleagues! Because growth is our oxygen and our fuel. And it’s our deep and abiding belief that growth comes from working together, helping each other out, always passionate about our purpose to bring happiness with every bite.

Our Purpose

Bring happiness with every bite!

It’s a purpose that every one of our colleagues, all around the world believes in. And while we’re all unique, we also share the same values.

Each of our values is important on its own. In combination they’re incredibly powerful.

Our values have deep personal meaning to us. They’re part of who we are and what we stand for as an employer.

Living our pladis values is a key part of success, look out for questions in your interview that link to these key pladis values.

Role Title:

Personal Assistant

Site Introduction

In 2021, pladis proudly opened the doors to our vibrant global hub, the MIU Campus. Located in the heart of Chiswick Park, West London. Just a short 5‑minute walk from Gunnersbury Station, our campus is nestled within 33 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, offering a welcoming and inspiring environment for all. Chiswick Park is home to both our UK and Global Corporate teams, bringing together diverse teams across the business.

This role requires you to be in the office 5 days a week.

What will this role achieve?

You will work with specific UK Leadership team members to support diary management, team coordination and other support activities to ensure that the leadership team member is able to operate effectively and manage the team to deliver their business objectives. Your days will be varied due to the unique requirements of each team and activities may include conference organisation, travel arrangements, diary management, PO management and meeting preparation. Overall you will need to be extremely proactive, collaborative and a standout colleague to the team!

What will be your key deliverables?

• Diary Management for the UK Leadership Team members
• Coordinating travel
• Managing and coordinating internal and external meetings including prioritising the agenda, taking minutes, managing attendees
• Conference and meeting organisation
• Managing projects and initiatives
• Coordinating onboarding inductions of extended leadership team
• Collaborating closely with global / other region / site teams to support business activities
• Maintaining alignment and collaboration with wider PA network, actively seeking opportunities for process and organisation improvement
• Managing requisitions and purchase orders
• Email management and response on behalf of Leadership team member
• Crafting power point presentations
• Proactive set up, management and ownership of team share‑point sites

Bring your experience!

• Strong organisational skills
• experience of providing PA support to senior HR stakeholders/leaders
• Proven ability to work independently and drive initiatives with minimal instruction
• Experience of working within a fast‑paced business
• Strong partner management experience and ability to manage multiple tasks
• Microsoft office / outlook / SharePoint expertise

What will the interview process be?

• Initial Telephone call with Talent Acquisition
• 1st stage interview – 45 minutes competency‑based interview based on our company values and your experiences.
• 2nd stage interview – 90 minutes – a technical interview to understand your skill set/case study or presentation interview.

What does pladis offer you?

• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) – this is the business’s annual bonus scheme.
• Opportunity to self‑enrol into Health Cash Plan
• Private medical Insurance (if eligible by grade)
• Enhanced parental leave and a supportive phased return‑to‑work program to help colleagues balance family and career.
• Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• 25 days + bank holidays
• 1 Volunteering Day per year
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership – Carlisle and Chiswick only
• Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets and services
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial Wellbeing Support
• Access to great training and development opportunities

Our Values

Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite

Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers.

Positive – We’re highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better

Resilient - We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward

Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together

pladis is an equal opportunities employer, like every great recipe we’re a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive.

Accessibility at Chiswick:

Our Chiswick site has step‑free access, accessible entrances nad lifts between floors to support with individuals with mobility needs. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, and where possible to perform key job functions.