Executive Assistant (temporary), Full Time, 37 hours per week across 5 days

Job Purpose:

To provide a high level of confidential administrative and planning support directly to the Leader of the department through planning and organising the work and ensuring alignment of this work, coordinating diaries and working closely with the Leader to ensure he is updated and his time managed appropriately.

To prioritise the workload using judgement and initiative keeping the Leader informed where appropriate of any decisions made or actions taken in their absence.

The postholder is expected to recognise the high-profile nature of the work and to ensure that all work emanating from these sources is of the highest standard. This includes having a good awareness of local government challenges and the main issues facing the organisation and recognising the need to be aware of any particularly sensitive issues and bringing these to the attention of the leader of the team.

Duties:

Provide effective, proactive, reactive and comprehensive Executive Business Support to the Leader of the team, including daily Management and co-ordination of activities, appointments and meetings, responding to daily changes in priorities, and political sensitivities.
To be responsible for managing all casework on behalf of the Leader of the team including liaison with all internal and external stakeholders.
Organising meetings and quality assuring documents required for meetings, maintaining a "forward planning" system to progress reports, papers, correspondence and enquiries together with monitoring and chasing actions.
To be responsible for the planning, organising and facilitation of a number of events, conferences and away days as required.
To be the contact, on behalf of Leader for all internal and external enquiries. Exercising excellent judgement and political awareness in the role as gate keeper to Leader. Working collaboratively with Corporate Leadership Team and Cabinet Members, ensuring the highest standards of performance and reporting
Take ownership of all issues that come into the Leader and lead on the preparation of appropriate responses.
Co-ordinate all meetings, forward plans, and associated paperwork for meetings. Book and service meetings, dispatching papers; minute taking, recording of decisions and following up actions.
To deal sensitively and confidentially with complaints from a wide variety of people across and outside the Borough and make appropriate arrangements for these to be resolved, this includes the logging and processing of enquiries for Members, MPs and the public for the attention of the Leader and within appropriate policy timelines.
Relationship management between Leader, ensuring all matters are aligned to the corporate plan objectives and timeline and the implementation of new initiatives as directed by the Chief Executive.
Be responsible for the production of reports, documents and other relevant business cases as required.
Successful candidates will have excellent IT skills, good organisation skills, ability to work in a sometimes fast paced & pressurised environment and good customer service skills.

For more information, please apply directly or contact Jess at AJ Chambers.

Executive Assistant - Basildon