The Environment Agency are fully committed to having an inclusive workforce to reflect the communities we serve. We don’t just talk about diversity; we seek it, embrace it and live it, for the benefit of our staff, our communities and our environment. As part of your comprehensive induction, you will be provided with all the equipment required for your role.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly organised Executive Assistant to join the team of the Executive Director of Operations and help manage their daily business and administration.

Working with initiative and a high degree of independence, as part of the Executive Director's Office (EDO), you will aid the Executive Director to lead the work that Operations does with Environment Agency colleagues, Defra, Government, and partners to create better places for people and wildlife.

Working closely with others in the EDO, the wider Leadership Team’s executive offices, colleagues from across the organisation, and external partners, you will:

• Manage the Executive Director’s busy diary and mailbox to triage and distribute accordingly
• Co-ordinate the Executive Director’s travel, annual leave, expenses
• Manage the shared inbox and be the initial contact for the Office with the ability to action, commission requests or assign them independently to others
• Handle and oversee all line manager and administrative tasks of the wider leadership team (expenses, leave, other approvals, etc.)
• Work closely with the team to update the Executive Director on their day-to-day activities and priorities
• Provide support with leadership meetings and note taking/minuting.

You will have the opportunity to join the Executive Director in some internal and external engagement opportunities and to pursue your own personal development goals within the wide-ranging work of the team.

This is a fast-paced office, and priorities can change quickly to appropriately address incidents, media attention and political steer. You’ll need to be proactive, able to adapt quickly, be willing to pick up the phone to your established networks and have an outcome-based approach.

Previous experience of being an executive assistant is essential (or demonstratable, similar transferable skills).

 Desirable skills include:
• Excellent customer service and communication skills (written and verbal), with the ability to adapt to different audiences.
• The ability to identify and solve problems, knowing when to draw in support, use initiative or work independently.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills whilst working at pace.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with internal and external customers.
• Team player, delivering quality results alone and with others.
• Experience working with high level and sensitive information.
• Resilience, determination and ability to respond to changing situations.

We welcome flexible working patterns for all our vacancies. We value diversity and actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

The successful applicant can be based at any location, and we support hybrid working. Ideally, we would like the candidate to be able to come to 2 Marsham Street in London every now and then to meet and work with the team, but this is not essential. We also currently have small hubs in the East Midlands and Bristol areas. If you are based in the London office, you will be eligible for London weighting.

Interviews will be held around the middle of May.

Please contact [email protected] if you would like to discuss this role further.