Exec. Secretary/P.A

Executive Assistant / Assistant Private Secretary

12-week contract Full-time Hybrid

Brook Street is recruiting on behalf of a public sector client for an Executive Assistant / Assistant Private Secretary

This is a critical role at the heart of senior leadership, enabling effective governance, strategic decision-making and external engagement. While the role is advertised as EA/PA, we are also open to candidates who can operate more in an Assistant Private Secretary capacity, with a strategic or policy-focused mindset.

Contract & Working Arrangements

• Contract length: 12 weeks
• Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week (9-5, with flexibility on both sides where needed)
• Location: Hybrid - largely remote, with flexibility to travel to Swindon and/or London if required

The Role

The Assistant Private Secretary plays a vital role in ensuring the Executive Chair's business is managed seamlessly, allowing them to focus on strategic priorities and external representation.

Working closely with Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, and the Private Secretary to the AHRC COO, the postholder will provide high-quality executive support across the Executive Chair's Directors Group, driving consistency, best practice, and effective engagement across AHRC.

Key Responsibilities

• Inbox triage and management
• Managing complex diaries and travel arrangements
• Commissioning and contributing to briefings on strategic and sensitive issues
• Attending meetings, taking accurate minutes, and producing clear written records
• Disseminating actions and following up with relevant teams
• Proactively identifying issues and escalating appropriately to the Private Secretary
• Supporting the Executive Chair at meetings, including welcoming visitors and guests where required
• Representing the Executive Chair with discretion, professionalism and sound judgement

Person Specification

Application Criteria

• A forward thinker, able to drive the agenda and respond to shifting priorities
• Highly organised, methodical and proactive, with proven planning skills
• Strong problem-solving ability, using initiative and creative thinking
• Flexible and adaptable to change
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy
• An understanding of AHRC and UKRI (or the ability to quickly develop this) to see the bigger picture and understand wider implications

Interview Criteria

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders
• Sophisticated verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Able to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information clearly to different audiences
• Strong multi-tasking and prioritisation skills, delivering at pace and to deadlines
• Demonstrable emotional intelligence and comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty
• High levels of tact, diplomacy, integrity, resilience, patience and discretion
• Confident handling challenging or sensitive situations

Brook Street is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all candidates who are veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel, and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy.

As a Disability Confident Leader, and holder of the Gold Award status from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, Brook Street, as a supplier to the Public Sector Resourcing Framework (PSR), will offer you a guaranteed interview with a PSR Sourcer.

Should you identify as a candidate with a disability and/or as a veteran or spouse/partner of military personnel and meet all the essential criteria for the role, we encourage you to reach out to us via the Brook Street website. Here you will find a link to register your interest and state the role that you are interested in. We are committed to engaging with you.

In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses/partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, Brook Street will interview the best candidates from within that group.