Senior Executive Assistant to the Bishop of Bath & Wells

Church of England; Bath; Hybrid; GBP 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent religious organization in Bath is seeking a Senior Executive Assistant to support the Bishop of Bath & Wells. This pivotal role involves managing the Bishop's calendar, handling confidential communications, and overseeing budget management. The ideal candidate will demonstrate discretion and agility, managing a support team and ensuring efficient operation of the office. Benefits include competitive salary, flexible working options, and extensive leave provisions.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working arrangements

Access to health cash plan

Participation in family friendly programmes

Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Experience in managing schedules and critical communications.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Experience in managing a support team.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Bishop's calendar and scheduling.
• Prepare reports and manage correspondence.
• Assist with hospitality events as required.

Skills

High-level administrative support

Discretion

Agility

Budget management

Job description

Summary

WE ARE LOOKING TO RECRUIT A SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE BISHOP OF BATH & WELLS

What you\'ll be doing

The Bishop of Bath and Wells is seeking a Senior Executive Assistant to provide high-level administrative support ensuring the Bishop\'s time and properties are managed effectively. The role involves handling confidential information, managing calendars, coordinating meetings and travel, preparing reports, and acting as a liaison between the Bishop and internal / external contacts.

You will also be responsible for budget management and the line management of the Bishop\'s Office support team. You will manage complex schedules, critical communications and stakeholder relationships, enabling the Bishop to focus on his work. This is a pivotal role requiring discretion, agility and the ability to anticipate needs before they arise.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Diary and meeting planning and management
• Manage correspondence including
• Oversight and Support of HR processes
• Office Management
• Finance
• Assist with hospitality events at the Palace, as required, including outside normal office hours. Time off in lieu will be given.

Key role requirements

• 35 hours per week exclusive of an hour unpaid lunch break, to be taken at a time agreed with the Bishop, but some flexibility will be required from time to time.
• Based onsite The Bishop\'s Office, The Bishop\'s Palace, Wells, BA5 2PD.
• Occasional hybrid working to be considered.

About You

The Church of England is for everyone and we want to reflect the diversity of the community the Church serves across the whole country. Therefore, while of course we welcome all applications from interested and suitably experienced people, we would particularly welcome applicants from UK Minoritised Ethnicities (UKME) / Global Majority Heritage (GMH) and other under‑represented groups. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to recruiting disabled people. We offer interviews to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

Please refer to the Job Description for more information about the role and person specification.

The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Friday 8nd January 2026.

Interviews will take place on Friday 16th January 2025 at The Bishop\'s Office, The Bishop\'s Palace, Wells, BA5 2PD.

What we offer

Your Salary

• A salary of £35,934 per annum, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.

Your Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
• We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case‑by‑case scenario and if this fits within the department\'s needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work‑life balance.
• We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
• Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK\'s leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus‑one guest.
• Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.

ABOUT NATIONAL CHURCH INSTITUTIONS

The National Church Institutions comprises a wide variety of teams, professions and functions that support the mission and ministries of the Church of England in its vision to be a church, centred on Jesus Christ, for the whole nation - a church that is simpler, humbler, bolder.

We Include. You Belong.

Our Belonging and Inclusion Strategy aims for everyone in the National Church Institutions (NCIs) to feel that they belong, and are valued for who they are and what they contribute. Together, our people contribute in different ways towards our common purpose, whichever NCI they work in and whatever their background.

Living out our values in all that we do, we :

• Strive for Excellence
• Show Compassion
• Respect others
• Collaborate
• Act with Integrity

Please note: You must have the right to work in the UK to be considered for the role.