Job Description

Location

: Manchester - Hybrid

Salary

: starting salary 25,000

Job Purpose

The Home Office is committed to keeping citizens safe and the country secure. From reducing crime and protecting borders to supporting the most vulnerable, our work is among the most challenging and rewarding in government. Within this mission, our Commercial Directorate manages approximately 3bn in third-party spend and supports significant grant awards, making it one of the most dynamic procurement environments in the UK public sector.

We are seeking a proactive and highly organised Executive Assistant to support our Senior Civil Servants (SCS), Chief of Staff, and Business Manager. This role is pivotal in enabling leadership to focus on strategic priorities by managing day-to-day logistics, communications, and coordination. You'll join a multidisciplinary team at a transformative moment for the Commercial function, contributing to service improvement and operational excellence.

The role includes participation in a comprehensive 4-week training program as part of the job responsibilities. This structured training is designed to build the essential skills and knowledge required to perform effectively, covering executive support best practices, internal systems, communication protocols, and strategic coordination techniques.

Key Responsibilities

Administrative & Diary Support

Manage complex calendars for up to 8 SCS1s, including forward planning and weekly check-ins Book travel, accommodation, and desk space; maintain leave trackers and rota schedules Prepare, format, and review reports, presentations, and correspondence Process expenses and maintain digital records

Communication & Stakeholder Management

Act as first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including senior government officials Manage inboxes and allocate tasks using category tools and assignment plans Draft and manage correspondence with professionalism and discretion Support ESLT booking requests and provide cover for Higher Executive Assistant when needed

Information & Project Coordination

Maintain and update SharePoint links, org charts, access permissions, and expenses trackers Coordinate executive-level meetings and organisation-wide events Prepare agendas, distribute materials, take minutes, and follow up on action items Support cross-organisational initiatives and small project delivery

Governance & Secretariat Duties

Provide secretariat support for governance boards and CAB Chair rota Manage delegation letters and ensure timely updates Attend in-person meetings to assist with logistics and IT setup

Essential Skills & Experience

Excellent organisational and time management skills Strong written and verbal communication Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines Experience handling sensitive information Comfortable working with senior stakeholders

Desirable Attributes

Knowledge of government or public sector operations Familiarity with digital collaboration tools (e.g., MS Teams, OneDrive) Experience supporting governance or board-level meetings Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Benefits

Generous annual leave (25-30 days + bank holidays) Flexible working options Learning and development opportunities Employee assistance programme
Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 25,000.00-27,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person