About the Department
The Department for Education (DfE) supports around 8,000 staff and works with 18 arm‑length bodies to administer funding, deliver services and provide regulation and advice across the education sector. The Commercial Directorate manages the Department’s annual expenditure of approximately £23.5bn, partnering with external suppliers and grant recipients across the private, public and voluntary & charitable sectors.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Director and/or Deputy Directors within the Commercial Directorate.
* Act as an important interface with internal and external colleagues at all levels, ensuring a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
* Actively manage the Director/Deputy Directors’ inbox, diary and communications, prioritising meetings and engagements in line with strategic objectives.
* Coordinate returns, set agendas, produce meeting minutes and take ownership of tasks on behalf of the Director/Deputy Directors, ensuring timely delivery to a high standard.
* Arrange hotel and travel bookings in accordance with process and handle visitor management.
* Support wider Directorate activities and carry out general administrative duties for other commercial operations teams as required.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
* Previous experience managing complex diaries and email accounts for senior managers.
* Excellent time‑management skills with the ability to prioritise and meet demanding deadlines.
* Proactive, forward‑looking approach to identifying information required by the Director/Deputy Directors in advance.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills, including drafting correspondence, minutes and meeting notes.
* Good interpersonal and collaborative skills, fostering productive relationships with a broad range of internal and external contacts.
* Discretion and respect for confidentiality when dealing with sensitive issues.
* Experience of working flexibly within a team, supporting other PA colleagues.
* Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Desirable Skills
* Experience within the Civil Service or a large government department.
* Knowledge of commercial procurement and contract management.
* Ability to handle a heavy workflow and demonstrate resilience under pressure.
Recruitment Process
Applicants will be asked to submit a CV detailing previous roles and responsibilities, and a statement of suitability (maximum 750 words) demonstrating how they meet the essential criteria. Successful candidates at the sift stage will be invited to a virtual interview on Microsoft Teams, where behaviour‑based questions will be explored.
Equal Opportunities Statement
The DfE is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all nationalities, including UK nationals, nationals of the Republic of Ireland, Commonwealth countries, EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and eligible families under the EU Settlement Scheme. The Civil Service embraces diversity and is committed to upholding the Civil Service Code of conduct.
Benefits
Salary commences at £31,479 with a £9,119 contribution towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Employees receive 25 days leave, with a day added each year up to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service, alongside Bank and Public holidays, King's Birthday privilege, and additional optional benefits such as flexible working arrangements.
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