Executive Assistant

Overview

We are looking for an experienced Executive Assistant to join our CEO Office team. This is an excellent opportunity to join a team of Executive Assistants supporting our corporate management team including our Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive & Corporate Directors.

About us

The CEO Office supports the varied work of this diverse authority and plays a vital role in helping the Council to achieve its strategic objectives through the provision of support to the Corporate Management Team (CMT). The team supports effective corporate decision-making processes as well as ensuring visibility and strategic oversight of activity across the organisation.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

About the role

Our experienced Executive Assistants work as part of a team to provide high quality, proactive and flexible executive support to the Corporate Management team helping them to perform their roles. The Executive Assistants work closely with and act on behalf of members of the Corporate Management team or Members providing advice to colleagues and effective communication to internal and external stakeholders. This role is likely to grow and develop over time, making it an excellent opportunity to progress in a local government career.

The key responsibilities are:

• Providing extensive executive support to members of the corporate management team including diary management, management of papers and materials for meetings, and effective forward planning of need.
• Using initiative to filter and attend to day-to-day tasks and decisions on behalf of the Corporate Director or Member(s) escalating issues where required.
• Looking ahead and anticipating the needs of those you are supporting.
• Problem-solving / escalating / developing materials as necessary.
• Working closely with all members of the CEO Office to deliver broader functions of the office and working as a team, providing cover for other EAs and functions within the CEO Office.

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

Fixed

As a ‘fixed’ worker, you’ll spend most of your time in the same location, which will likely be a fixed office or location where your role is performed. Typically, you’ll be based in the same location as the rest of your team, because you provide a particular service from that fixed location or need access to information there.

About you

• The ideal candidate will have relevant experience demonstrating a successful background of recent experience as an Executive Assistant working at a senior level.
• Proven experience of extensive diary management and minute / action recording.
• Excellent IT skills with proven working application of all Microsoft applications.
• Ability to work at a fast pace and react to changing demands on priorities.
• Ability to interact with internal colleagues including senior management and external partners to build effective relationships.
• Ability to be discrete and handle confidential information appropriately and deal with people at all levels confidently, sensitively and diplomatically.
• Ability to research and assemble information and prepare draft briefing papers / correspondence.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills as well as excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to collate and organise data / information efficiently, whilst multitasking across diverse areas of the business.

Other information

This is a full-time permanent post working 37 hours per week and will be part of a rota to provide cover for the CEO office Mon-Fri 8 am to 6pm. Due to the nature of the work, this role is based at our Gateway Offices in Aylesbury and the successful candidate will be required to work in the office 5 days a week.  There is free parking on site, with modern facilities and a café. We are keen to build a strong, coherent, responsive team, enabling a supportive and collaborative culture.

You will be entitled to a range of benefits including a very competitive employer pension contribution, generous annual leave allowance and access to discounts from a range of services and retailers.

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Rachel Bennett, Senior Policy Officer & CEO Office Manager ([email protected] ; 01296 382290).

The advert closing date is: Sunday 1st of December

 

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

 

About the Business Unit

The Deputy Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including a brand new localities model – delivering 16 community boards across the county to make it easy for our residents to engage with us as we work together to plan for the future. Other teams include our Policy and Communications and Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme.  In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/