Project Executive Assistant

Volkerrail Group; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading infrastructure contractor as a Project Executive Assistant for the prestigious East West Rail Alliance project. You will support executive management in administrative tasks, logistics planning, and event coordination, contributing to the success of a major UK infrastructure programme. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills, proven administrative experience, and a proactive approach to their work.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual leave with an extra day off for birthday

Pension

Life Assurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Vouchers and discounts

Comprehensive training opportunities

Enhanced maternity benefits

Employee Assistance programme

Support for mental, physical, and financial health

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs including English and Maths.
• Proven experience in a similar role.
• Strong communication and logistical skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as Executive Assistant to the Alliance Director and Commercial Director.
• Coordinate diary management and produce board packs.
• Plan and execute events and manage administrative staff.

Skills

Communication

Logistical planning

Organisational skills

Discretion

Proactivity

Flexibility

Education

GCSE Grade C or above in English and Maths

Tools

Standard software packages

Job description

VolkerRail is a leading multidisciplinary railway infrastructure contractor on heavy and light rail networks.

Our ability to continuingly deliver projects, from smaller contracts through to our involvement in nationally significant major schemes, has helped our clients bring communities together and provide better services for passengers.

VolkerRail comprises two businesses - Major Projects, which is an expert in collaborative working, leading on large, multidisciplinary joint venture and alliance projects, and Specialist Businesses, made up of expert divisions in signalling, track, power, electrification, and piling, and has an in-house plant division and bespoke design teams. These work independently, as subcontractors to the rail sector, or collectively as a Tier One contractor for larger frameworks.

The East West Rail Alliance is a “pure” alliance consisting of three Non-Owner Participants (NOPs); VolkerRail, Atkins Global, Laing O’Rourke and the Owner Participant (OP), Network Rail.

East West Rail (EWR) phase 2 is a £1 billion programme and one of the most prestigious projects in the UK Infrastructure pipeline. It will provide a strategic route linking key centres of economic activity between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Bedford.

We have a great opportunity for a Project Executive Assistant on a 4 month fixed term contract to join the Major Projects business working on the East West Rail (EWR) Alliance project based in the Midlands.

You will be responsible for:

• Act as the Executive Assistant to the Alliance Director and Commercial Director as well as supporting the Alliance Management Team Leads as required i.e. production of board packs, coordination of diaries, administration of cyclic AMT / ALT meeting schedules, organisation of leadership meetings, AMT reservations
• Alliance Line management of office administration / reception staff
• Professional Leadership of Compound located administrative staff
• Expense processing for the Alliance e.g. venue costs, travel etc, including the raising of requisitions.
• Alliance business rhythm management including preparation of meeting agendas, performance of research for meetings, and take formal records of during meetings as directed
• Book business logistics via approved arrangements, e.g. travel arrangements, transportation, and accommodation for AMT, where appropriate
• Communicate with Alliance Leadership Team, coordinate agenda and reporting packs and action tracking to closure
• Liaise with other Alliance teams / staff members on behalf of AMT
• Plan, organise and execute events on or off site, such as Team Brief Plus, Early Talent Networking, Supervisors’ forum
• Lead on the production of internal communications channels on behalf of the AMT, e.g. Alliance Update, Project Focus, etc
• Act as local PoC for external / stakeholder communications activity monitoring the stakeholder communications database and engaging AMT, NOP and OP deployed stakeholder comms leads as required
• Act as administrative support to Alliance PoC for LA highways road space permit bookings
• Manage and co-ordinate collaborative working events and training modules acting as SPoC for any consultant or NOP / OP activity associated with
• Provide administrative support to NOP & OP HR Partners on Alliance HR matters.
• Logistical support with arrangements for community support activities e.g. educational visits, volunteering events and local area forums
• Flexibly work within the team to help achieve overall project objectives

About you

• 5 GCSE Grade C or above in English and Maths
• Proven experience in a similar role
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Logistical planning / organisational skills
• Proactive and take the initiative
• Strong knowledge of standard software packages and the ability to learn Alliance-specific software if required
• Discretion and trustworthiness: you will often be party of confidential information
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Output driven
• Tact and diplomacy
• Full UK Driving Licence

If your past experience doesn’t match perfectly with every requirement of the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for us.

Why work with us?

VolkerRail is under the umbrella of VolkerWessels UK which is a multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water, and environmental infrastructure.

By utilising the specialist skills of each business unit within VolkerWessels UK, VolkerRail are able to ensure our staff provide unrivalled resources and expertise to our clients.

We offer competitive rewards and benefits, recognising the value we place on our employees.

We offer a range of benefits, including:

• Competitive salary
• Competitive annual leave and an additional day off on your birthday
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Shopping and restaurants vouchers, rewards, and discounts
• Training and development opportunities-comprehensive skills-based training
• Family friendly polices including enhanced maternity benefits
• Employee Assistance programme
• Mental health, physical health, and financial support

Fairness, inclusion and respect

We believe in pushing boundaries in the pursuit of fairness, inclusion and respect. So, our teams can be comfortable that, whatever their background, VolkerWessels UK is a place where they can be themselves and thrive.

If you need support with your application, please contact us at [e-mail]

Additional information

Note for Recruitment Agencies:

Our preference is to hire directly, and we will reach out to our Preferred Supplier List (PSL) agencies if this particular role qualifies for release.

We kindly request that you refrain from sending speculative CVs. In the event of speculative CV submissions, no fees will be applicable, and we kindly ask that all inquiries to be directed to [e-mail]

VolkerWessels UK is committed to maintaining healthy, safe and productive working conditions for its entire staff and therefore a drugs & alcohol screening is mandatory for all.