Devon County Council is seeking a skilled and proactive Executive Personal Assistant to provide support our Director of Legal and Democratic services.
This role will help to ensure the efficient operation of the Directorate by managing day-to-day activities, organising functions, and supporting portfolio holders. The successful candidate will be part of a team of Executive Personal Assistants, providing cover to other Directors as needed.
This is the role
The Executive Personal Assistant will manage the Director of Legal and Democratic Services' schedules, handling incoming emails by prioritising and responding as necessary.
The role includes organising senior leadership meetings, forward planning, and report preparation. The Executive Personal Assistant will attend confidential tactical leadership meetings, accurately recording decisions and actions, and ensuring follow-up. Advanced communication skills are essential, as is the ability to proactively address unforeseen tasks and issues, taking ownership and resolving them promptly.
The post holder will provide guidance to staff across DCC and its partners to ensure the delivery of actions that progress the Directorate's priorities. They will develop and maintain relationships with peers and counterparts across the County, prepare the Lead Member and Director for meetings with relevant briefings and presentations, and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues and teams across the Devon system.
In supporting the relevant Cabinet Member, the Executive Personal Assistant will ensure the Cabinet Member receives clear and concise written material, support them with regular communications to fellow Members, and prepare and support them in meetings with local MPs. The Assistant will act as a key link between the Cabinet Member and DCC staff.
As the first point of contact for all incoming communication for the Director, the Executive Personal Assistant will coordinate regular and ad hoc communications on behalf of the Cabinet Member and Director. They will build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, government departments, agencies, and external organisations such as DfE, Ofsted, Police, Health, and CQC.
The role also involves supporting the evaluation of research and best practices relevant to the Directorate, contributing to the documentation and communication of the Directorate's vision, strategies, and plans. The Executive Personal Assistant will identify potential risks to the Directorate's business continuity, coordinate regular updates of team and service level business continuity plans, and play a role in incident management, response, and recovery.
This is Devon County Council
Devon County Council is a large and diverse organisation responsible for a wide range of services, including education, social care, highways, libraries, waste management, public health, and economic development. We collaborate with our partners and communities to make Devon a great place to live, work, and visit. We are ambitious for Devon and our people, with a clear vision and strategic plan to guide our actions and decisions.
Our goal is to create a prosperous, resilient, and healthy county where people can fulfil their potential and enjoy a high quality of life. We are committed to tackling challenges such as climate change, population growth, increased demand on services, and digital transformation. We are proud of our achievements and learn from our mistakes, always looking for ways to improve and develop ourselves and our services.
About you
The ideal candidate will have supervisory experience and be skilled in minute and notetaking, handling confidential information, and event organisation. They will be ICT literate, able to travel, work to deadlines, and have excellent attention to detail. The ability to prioritise, use initiative, work effectively both independently and as part of a team, and develop creative solutions quickly in response to need is essential. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to develop and maintain effective relationships, and confidence and fluency in English are also required. Personal qualities such as being articulate, assertive, organised, calm, and committed to equality are important. The candidate should have intelligent diary and inbox management skills, the ability to oversee incoming issues, and advanced Microsoft Office skills. A good standard of general education, including GCSE (or equivalent) in Maths and English, is required.
Desirable attributes include multi-agency experience, political awareness, experience in event organisation, and A level English.
What we can offer you
We appreciate the adaptability and provide options for remote work, yet we also recognise the significant benefits of maintaining a solid in-office presence, therefore we ask for office attendance at least 3 days per week. Physical presence fosters superior collaboration, relationship development, and a community feel and is a requirement for this role. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of our staff, and we have a range of initiatives and schemes to help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. If you are passionate about public service and want to make a difference in Devon, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Sally Burt for an informal discussion about this role
Internal Applicants, please note: If you are an existing DCC employee, please use your iTrent Employee Self Service (ESS) details to log in and apply.
Please click Apply Now to see the Job Description.
1. DCC embraces the positive benefits of a diverse workforce and is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive and safe. We welcome applications from people who share our commitment to stop discrimination, challenge inequality and promote diversity across Devon. More information can be found on our.
2. - The Council offers flexible working arrangements in terms of when and where people work hybrid working, part-time, condensed hours etc.
3. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
4. This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
5. Personal data we collect from you will be processed in accordance with the .
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