Personal Assistant to Chief Operating Officer

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 255875**Salary**:

- £27,273**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer- Lead Adviser**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Type of role**:

- Administration / Corporate Support**Working pattern**:

- Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- East Midlands (England), East of England, London (region), North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England, West Midlands (England), Yorkshire and the HumberAbout the job

**Job summary**:

- This is a National Role**Job description**:
**The team**

Do you have a passion for nature and the environment? Do you want to make a real difference and secure significant environmental gains in the present and the future? Do you enjoy working in a team? Can you see yourself advising communities and customers to maximise gains for the Natural Environment?

If this appeals to you, a career at Natural England offers rewarding opportunities to secure environmental improvements and play your part in creating a better future for people and nature.

The priority work Natural England is delivering includes:

- Establishing a Nature Recovery Network to help wildlife thrive
- Monitoring environmental changes to identify and help reduce the effects of climate change
- Working with farmers and landowners to develop greener food production methods
- Advising on plans for new developments to maximise gains for nature
- Providing ways for people to better connect with nature, including green social prescribing

We are the Government’s advisor for the natural environment, playing a vital role in delivering the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, an ambitious vision which brings new opportunities to protect and enhance and to achieve real outcomes for the environment.

**Job description**

We are looking for a confident and efficient Personal Assistant to provide a first-class service to Natural England’s Chief Operating Officer, working with their senior adviser and helping them to operate effectively to deliver organisational objectives and targets that contribute to Natural England’s vision, mission and goals.

The Personal Assistant will need to build and sustain effective relationships with a range of internal and external customers. You will act as the main contact for customers so will need to be proactive and confident at making decisions. You will be key in helping to manage Natural England’s reputation.

You need to be a team player with the ability to quickly develop good rapport with other Personal Assistants who support senior staff and people across the business. You will need to make a positive impact and be highly recognised for your leadership, skills, knowledge and expertise in this role.

This role is incredibly varied, challenging and exciting - offering a fascinating insight into this area of the organisation.

You will work directly with the Chief Operating Officer of Natural England and work closely with Chief of Staff, Principal and Senior Advisers and the Team Leader within the Private Office. You will also build strong networks with other teams.

You will need to embrace Office 0365 to enable smarter ways of working.

**Key Areas of work and Role Contribution**
- Develop an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the Chief Operating Officer’s key objectives, business priorities and direct reports along with Natural England’s governance structures and processes in order to provide advice and guidance to others.
- Proactive management of the Chief Operating Officer’s busy mailbox; prioritising, filtering and responding to requests on their behalf.
- Diary management and arranging meetings, 121’s or telecalls with internal and external customers with a high regard for excellent service.
- Arrange and book travel and hotel accommodation, desks, meeting rooms and conference facilities while demonstrating compliance with ‘Travel, Accommodation and Related Expenses Policy’ and ensuring ‘Health, Safety and Wellbeing’ practices are followed.
- Deal with any issues in the day-to-day role, exercising professional judgement in making recommendations or decisions and escalating issues accordingly.
- Build and sustain effective relationships with a range of internal and external customers based on understanding customers’ needs and priorities, providing advice and guidance and efficient delivery of service in order to make a positive impact to achieve the best outcomes.
- Actively contribute to continuous improvement of processes, systems and standards in order to develop new ways of working or suitable solutions that will have a positive impact on work delivery.
- Experienced Personal Assistants will be expected to mentor other newly appointed Personal Assistants, as part of your own and their development.

**Competencies**

Competence 1

Professional competency

Technical Skills and