Senior Personal Assistant

Adults and Communities Directorate

Leicester - office based

Full-time

We are recruiting a highly organised, discreet and experienced Senior Personal Assistant to provide confidential executive support to the Director of Adults and Communities, while leading and developing the Directorate’s secretariat service.

This is a high-profile role working at the heart of the Directorate, supporting senior leaders, elected members and key partners, and ensuring smooth, effective governance and decision-making.

The Role

You will provide a comprehensive PA and secretariat service to the Director of Adults and Communities and other members of the Departmental Management Team (DMT) as required. Alongside this, you will lead a team of staff delivering professional administrative and governance support across the Directorate.

The role requires excellent organisational skills, sound judgement, and the confidence to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, senior environment.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, manage and develop the Directorate’s secretariat team
• Allocate and coordinate workloads, ensuring effective systems and full service coverage
• Manage performance, absence, training and staff development
• Identify service improvements and monitor team outputs against priorities

Executive PA & Secretariat Support

• Provide high-level, confidential PA support to the Director of Adults and Communities
• Manage complex diaries, meetings, travel and accommodation
• Support senior meetings, project boards and conferences
• Draft agendas, correspondence, briefings and presentations
• Undertake research and fact-finding to support senior decision-making
• Act as a key point of contact for senior stakeholders, partners and elected members
• Oversee complaints and correspondence handled on behalf of the Director
• Maintain statutory registers and approval logs in line with corporate requirements

Governance & Decision-Making Support

• Coordinate and quality-assure reports to Cabinet, Scrutiny and Departmental Management Team
• Manage Departmental Management Team meetings, including agendas, papers and minutes
• Maintain forward plans and ensure senior leaders are informed of key deadlines
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance standards and reporting formats

Information Management & Security

• Ensure accurate, secure and confidential information management practices
• Maintain compliance with information security and data protection requirements

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has substantial experience providing PA or secretariat support at senior leadership or director level
• Has proven experience of line management and team leadership
• Is highly organised, resilient and able to manage sensitive information with discretion
• Communicates confidently with senior officers, members and external stakeholders
• Is proactive, adaptable and able to work on their own initiative
• Is confident using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint (or equivalent systems)

Additional Information

• Occasional evening or out-of-hours working may be required
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is essential.