Personal Assistant

Environment Agency; Norwich; Hybrid; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK seeks an organized and proactive Personal Assistant to support Area Directors in East Anglia. The role involves managing diary and email, preparing meetings, and handling inquiries. Ideal candidates have experience in customer service, strong organizational skills, and excellent communication abilities. Consideration for part-time hours is available, and flexible work arrangements are encouraged. A supportive and inclusive workplace is emphasized.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Award-winning Pension Fund

Qualifications

• Experience working as a Personal Assistant or in a similar role.
• Ability to work unsupervised and collaboratively.
• Proficient in managing workloads and prioritizing tasks.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage diary and email for senior leaders.
• Prepare meetings and travel arrangements.
• Provide administrative support to the Executive Support Office.

Skills

Customer service

Building relationships

Data Protection

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Job description

Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for a talented and proactive individual to work as part of the team supporting the two Environment Agency Area Directors in East Anglia.

Key Responsibilities

• diary and email management.
• tracking of actions.
• preparing meetings, both in person and virtual formats.
• hotel and travel arrangements.
• key system and process administration.
• handling enquiries and requests.

However, expect to be involved with a wide range of other tasks as you facilitate working with senior leaders, colleagues and partners from our own and external organisations, often at a fast pace.

You will work closely with two other Personal Assistants and the wider Executive Support Office, including the Business Manager and Executive Co-ordination Managers.

This role is advertised as full-time but consideration will be given to part-time (minimum 3 days per week), but we need the successful candidate to work Thursdays and Fridays, the remaining time to be agreed.

We work flexibly but we would expect you to be based in one of our Area offices; Brampton (Huntingdon), Ely, Norwich or Ipswich.

Responding to incidents is a central part of what we do. Everyone that joins us is required to undertake training and participate. You’ll have an inclusive incident management objective in your development plan. We’ll help you find a role to suit your needs. Appropriate training will be given. Please see the candidate pack for more on how you will support with this.

In East Anglia we want to create a diverse workplace where people are respected, valued and listened to. We’re all different, and it is our ambition to build a workforce to represent the communities we serve.

Experience/skills Required

We are looking for a practical and self‑motivated individual who is confident working unsupervised but equally happy working as part of a wider team when required.

• have experience of providing excellent customer service, primarily working as a Personal Assistant or in a similar role.
• be great at building and sustaining working relationships with colleagues from across the organisation.
• be confident with Data Protection and handling sensitive business and personal information.
• be organised, able to manage yourself and your own workload effectively.
• have good written and spoken communication skills, able to act as an initial point of contact, communicating and filtering information so it is conveyed accurately, efficiently and in a timely manner.

Driving licence is not essential but it would help if held to enable travel to other offices and sites which may be rural.

Contact and additional information

The role is based at one of our area offices; however our hybrid working model means we work from home as well, based on business need. Some travel across East Anglia will be required.

This role is advertised as full‑time (37 hours per week) but we would consider part‑time working (minimum 22.2 hours per week over 3 days, which must include Thursday and Friday).

We offer a fantastic benefits package including an attractive salary, flexible working, 25 days annual leave, and an award‑winning Pension Fund. See the candidate pack for more details.Interviews are planned to be held face to face on Monday 2nd March.

If you have any questions please do contact Graham Verrier via: [e-mail]

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Competence 1 : Manages Self

Please note we do not assess CVs. Answers to these competency questions will be used for interview selection so ensure you draw out your skills and experience in your responses. You have up to 250 words so please do use them to tell us what we need to know about you. See Candidate pack for more details and a link to our capability dictionary.

In this role you will need dedication and commitment to deliver work to a high standard that helps the environment Agency achieve its goals. You will need to prioritise and organise your work to meet targets.

Please explain why you are interested in this role and how your approach will help you succeed.

Competence 2 : Focuses on Customers and Partners

You will need to respond to many internal and external customers in a timely and effective way, while balancing competing priorities and pressures.

Please provide an example to show how you balance the needs of your customers (this could also include colleagues) to ensure you deliver a professional and timely service.

Competence 3 : Achieves Results

You will need a positive and enthusiastic approach, taking responsibility for how your own work contributes to the Environment Agency’s goals.

Please provide an example of when you have introduced a new way of working (or changed an existing way of working) to improve performance or efficiency. What did you do and how did this make things better?

If you are applying from the Civil Service please note that the Environment Agency is not a part of HM Civil Service and you would not be a Crown Servant in the event of being appointed. Therefore, you will not be eligible for continuous service. For applicants who currently work in local government or other bodies listed in the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government etc) (Modification) Order 1999, you may be eligible for continuous service for the purpose of calculating any future redundancy payment. If you are unsure of your status then you should contact your own HR Team.

We are fully committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies, including job share, so please include clearly any information regarding your preferred working arrangements on your application.

We also have a Guaranteed Interview Policy to support those with a disability who are seeking employment. We have committed to guaranteeing an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

The Environment Agency, as a Non‑Departmental Public Body, is committed to providing value for money and utilises Central Government frameworks and contracts for all external recruitment needs. For this reason, we are unable to engage with the market directly through post, email or phone calls. Should you wish to become a support supplier on one of these frameworks or contracts please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-crown-commercial-service-supplier/becoming-a-supplier-through-the-crown-commercial-service-what-you-need-to-know for more information.

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Although the Environment Agency is a non‑Departmental public body sponsored by Defra, we subscribe to and align with the candidate guidance on the use of artificial intelligence found on the Civil Service Careers website. Please review for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.