Job Description

What we do matters


We're a team that delivers


The role


Person specification


Working pattern and hours


Contract type


Expected start date


Benefits


Things to know


How to apply


Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles

What we do matters

Wilton Park is dedicated to solving the most complex global challenges. A home of strategic thought, respectful dialogue, and discreet diplomacy, it is the place people go when they need answers to difficult questions. It is where people turn when they need a space to resolve differences. It is a belief that dialogue and expertise can make the world a better place. Partners work with and return to Wilton Park because of its unique ability to generate new ideas, help them find practical solutions, and support them in building networks of influence.


Wilton Park brings together government, business, civil society, and the expert community in a secure environment where they can challenge, understand, and learn from each other. For government, Wilton Park helps to inject external thinking, build networks, promote agreement, and harness expertise that improves policy and provides strategic foresight. For businesses, it provides unique insights, a platform to engage with policy discussions and the opportunity to understand governments and make themselves better understood. For civil society groups, Wilton Park supports their representation and coordination so that they can maximize their impacts.


As an Executive Agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Wilton Park is proud to support UK foreign policy development. It directly supports UK diplomatic objectives and plays a vital role in strengthening cooperation, dialogue, and multilateralism.

The role

The Conference Assistant provides conference assistance in the lead up to and during the event, and audio-visual support in the conference room to all clients, bringing together the various elements to deliver top class live events for our participants, speakers and partners.


The Conference Assistant role enables you to work across teams, providing an important service in the delivery of Wilton Parks programme of events.

Key responsibilities

The specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Event Setup & Operations:

Lead the setup, servicing, and breakdown of conference rooms, meeting rooms, and event spaces, ensuring furniture, refreshments, equipment, and materials are correctly arranged and restored afterward

Audio-Visual & Technical Support:

Deliver, operate, and troubleshoot all AV systems, including presentations, event control systems, and video conferencing (both virtual and in-person), ensuring smooth performance and client satisfaction.

Client Support:

Provide advice, support, and assistance to internal and external clients, liaising with remote offices for video calls and event coordination.

Logistics & Materials:

Handle the delivery and setup of event materials (eg, flip charts, notice boards) and prepare event stationery, including name plates and badges.

Equipment Maintenance:

Responsible for all AV and non-AV equipment (including heating and lighting), report faults, and ensure neat, organized storage and stock monitoring.

Team Collaboration & Administration:

Work closely with the Event Services & Operational Departments, attend event-related meetings, assist with administrative tasks, and ensure Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are current and shared with the team.

For full details of this role, please refer to the job description at the bottom of the page.

Person specification

Essential skills

Strong audio-visual (AV) skills Ability to remain calm and confident under pressure and troubleshoot as the need arises Planning, organizational, and time management abilities with a positive, proactive approach Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across departments with a customer-focused attitude Capability to move and handle equipment when needed Customer service experience

Desirable skills

Good understanding of health and safety requirements Familiarity with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems for administrative support Good understanding of Microsoft Office 365 or willingness to learn and attend training
Confident, professional communication and delivery of responsibilities

Behaviours

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours. We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


Seeing the big picture Communicating and influencing Managing a quality service

Working pattern and hours

The vacancy is full time working for 37 hours (net) per week, working flexibly Monday to Friday between the hours of 0800-2000, to suit business needs. This includes an unpaid lunch break of one hour per day.

Contract type

1 year fixed term contract

Expected start date

October 2025 subject to relevant clearances.

Benefits

Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension Company social events Free car parking at Wiston House, the home of Wilton Park 25 days annual leave rising to a maximum of 30 days leave after 5 years of service. You will also receive public and privilege holidays per year EV charging points at Wiston House A range of benefits for financial support, discounts and rewards and employee assistance programme

Things to know

Location

Wilton Park is based in Wiston House, a 16th-century Grade 1 listed house in the heart of the South Downs. This is where the majority of our events are held, and will be your official place of work. Wiston House is not accessible via public transport, and is approximately 20 minutes by taxi from the nearest railway station (Shoreham-by-Sea).

Selection process details

A panel will conduct an initial sift of applications and will score applicants against the behaviours and first three essential skills listed on the job description (see document at the bottom of the advert). Interviews and additional assessment activities will be assessed against the behaviours and skills outlined in the job descriptions. Applications must be factually accurate and should be your own work. If there is any evidence of plagiarism, including presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own, your application will be withdrawn.


Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (SC). See our vetting charter.


In addition to nationality requirements outlined below, to pass security clearance you are required to have a UK footprint of 2 in the last 5 years (including as a Crown Servant overseas). This is a mandatory requirement of National Security Vetting (NSV).

Eligibility

You will be eligible for appointment only if:

You are a British citizen; or You have been resident in the UK for at least two of the previous ten years, at least one year of which must have been a consecutive twelve-month period, unless you have served overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of Her Majestys Government, or have lived overseas as a result of your parents or partners Government employment. Also, to enable the appropriate security checks to be carried out, you must have lived for at least three consecutive years in one country.

You should be aware that a lack of sufficient background information may prevent you from being granted security clearance.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

How to apply

Please complete the online application process using the Apply for this job link at the top of the page. As part of this process, you will be asked for:


An anonymised CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements A 1000 word Personal Statement explaining your suitability for the role and how you meet each of the criteria listed under the Essential skills section of the Person specification. PLEASE NOTE, ONLY THE FIRST 1000 WORDS WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN ASSESSING YOUR APPLICATION. A 250 word statement for each Behaviour (as listed under the Person specification above), explaining how you meet the required criteria as outlined in the Success Profiles framework. PLEASE NOTE, ONLY THE FIRST 250 WORDS WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN ASSESSING YOUR APPLICATION.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Email: recruitment@wiltonpark.org.uk

Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles

Wilton Parks recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact csc.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from Wilton Park, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners at info@csc.gov.uk


Conference Assistant job description