PA to Foundation Strategic Leadership Team
Contract Term: Maternity Cover - Duration to be confirmed
Salary: NJC Pay scale 8-16 (
Actual: £24,692.71 - £28,093.21) £26,824.00 - £30,518.00
FTEContract: Term-time only plus 3 weeks, 37 hours a week with occasional flexibility required to support events or urgent tasks,
Monday to Thursday: 08:00 – 16:15 with an unpaid rest break of 30 minutes,
Friday: 08:30 – 14:30 with no break
Responsible to: Head of School, Foundation Strategic Leadership Team
The Personal Assistant (PA) will provide high-level administrative and organisational support, enabling the Foundation Strategic Leadership Team to operate efficiently and effectively. The PA will act as a trusted partner, managing schedules, communications, project coordination and key administrative processes, while ensuring confidentiality, discretion and professionalism in all tasks.
The role requires a high level of versatility, adaptability and initiative, with the ability to respond positively and effectively to shifting priorities and the operational needs of a busy Foundation. The postholder will be expected to work flexibly across departments and Foundation sites, building strong working relationships and supporting a wide range of activities as required.
Duties and Responsibilities:Administrative Support - Manage complex calendars for the Foundation Strategic Leadership Team, including scheduling meetings, appointments and travel arrangements.
- Prepare and distribute agendas, meeting materials and minutes for internal and external meetings.
- Monitor and prioritise emails and correspondence, ensuring prompt responses or delegation to appropriate team members.
- Ensure the Foundation Strategic Leadership Team has access to key information and documents in a timely manner
Project Coordination - Support the Foundation Strategic Leadership Team in managing key projects by tracking progress, deadlines and deliverables
- Work across departments to support Foundation-wide priorities, ensuring tasks are followed through and key actions are completed.
Communications, Design and Digital Support - Use digital tools confidently to support the creation of professional materials, documents and presentations.
- Ensure all materials produced are professional, accurate and aligned with the Foundation’s branding and values
Event Management - Support the planning, coordination and delivery of Foundation events, including governance meetings, conferences, strategy days, staff training days and other internal or external events.
Relationship Management - Act as the first point of contact for the Foundation Strategic Leadership Team, managing communications including emails and calls, and responding on their behalf where appropriate.
- Build positive and professional relationships with staff across the Foundation, visitors, parents/carers and external stakeholders
Operational Support - Proactively identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and implement solutions.
- Provide flexible operational support where required to ensure the smooth and effective running of the Foundation.
About You:We are seeking someone who:
- Has experience as a Personal Assistant or Executive Assistant preferably supporting multiple senior leaders or executive
- Has experience of managing diaries, preparing meeting papers, taking minutes and following up actions
- Possesses outstanding organisational and time-management skills.
- Is confident using Microsoft Office, SharePoint and digital collaboration tools.
- Has experience creating professional and engaging documents and presentations using tools such as Canva.
- Can manage competing priorities whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
- Demonstrates initiative, adaptability and a positive, solutions-focused approach.
- Maintains complete confidentiality and professionalism at all times.
Application information Visits to the William Henry Smith Foundation are highly recommended prior to making an application. For further information on this post or to arrange a visit, please contact the HR Department on HR@whsfoundation.org.uk or 01484 710 123, option 4
All our roles are by application via SAM Recruit - we do not accepts CVs
When completing your application form, you must refer carefully to the Job Description and Person Specification. Please ensure that you fully complete all sections of the application form including salary and reasons for leaving employment and clearly demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, we would encourage you to submit your application as early as possible
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended 2013)Posts which involve substantial access to children are exempt from provisions contained within this Act under which the job applicants are entitled to withhold information about any previous criminal background which is either unspent or would otherwise be considered ‘spent’ under the terms of the Act. However, changes to the legislation in 2013 mean that spent convictions may be protected and do not have to be disclosed to prospective employers. Employers cannot take protected offences into account when making employment decisions. If the job for which you have applied involves substantial access to children and you have been shortlisted for the post, you will be provided with a form on which you will be asked to disclose any relevant previous criminal background. We will provide more information on protected offences at that stage. If you are the successful applicant you will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service disclosure & we will also check the DBS barred list (children). Failure to complete this form will result in your application not proceeding any further. The possession of a criminal record will not automatically debar you from consideration for the post for which you have applied. Any information given will be treated as confidential and will only be used in relation to the post for which you have applied.