Personal Assistant to Service Director

About this role

How you'll make a difference As a Personal Assistant (PA), you will provide high-quality administrative and organisational support to the HR and Finance Service Directors, helping to ensure the efficient delivery of responsibilities across the respective service areas. You will be line managed by the HR Service Director, who will provide oversight and direction, while also working closely with other PAs within the department, who will offer additional support and guidance. What you will be doing It will be your responsibility to manage diaries, schedule appointments, arrange meetings and take accurate notes, alongside providing project specific support. Using your knowledge and experience of senior management requirements, you will proactively manage schedules, resolve challenges, and ensure that both you and the Service Directors meet key deadlines. You will arrange and attend meetings to take notes, record actions and ensure appropriate follow up is carried out. You will ensure that the Service Directors are fully prepared for meetings, by providing all relevant documentation in advance. Due to the nature of the role, you will deal with a range of sensitive and confidential issues with discretion and professionalism. Where necessary, you will provide cover for other PA colleagues in the department. What we need from you It is essential you have relevant experience in organisation and administration across a range of different disciplines and have experience of supporting a senior manager. We require you to be flexible and resilient with strong attention to detail. You must have excellent organisational skills and the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and consistently meet tight deadlines. You must have strong verbal and written communication skills and be able to collate and communicate information effectively. You will have excellent IT skills and knowledge of their practical application, including Microsoft Office. Experience of using SharePoint, Dynamics and Co-Pilot to enhance the way yourself and those you support work is desirable. Although not essential, you may have experience of working in Local Government. What you need to know Your salary will be pro-rated to hours worked. Our preferred working pattern is a minimum of 4 days a week, either Monday to Thursday or Monday to Friday. This role is hybrid, with a mixture of working at our offices in Yate and working from home. The Service Directors you will support work full time, Monday to Friday, typically from Yate. All applications will be initially reviewed and if you are shortlisted, you will be invited to complete a short psychometric assessment. The assessment will need to be completed before you attend your interview. In person interviews will be held on 24 June 2026. How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities. We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities. We know our team work best when they have balance in their lives, and we offer genuine flexibility to help them achieve that work/life balance. We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps make the greatest long-term difference in work. Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of. We're working with the most vulnerable in our community to help them achieve what they want in life. We're investing in our schools to ensure every child and young person in South Gloucestershire achieves their full potential. We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference. We’re making a difference, be part of it! To view the full job description, please click this link: PA to Service Director Finance and HR - Job Description

Entry-level administrative work performed within clearly defined processes and under supervision. The focus is on building professional communication, foundational digital skills, accuracy, and confidentiality discipline. A good fit for those starting their administrative career.