Description
We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.
This role has a starting salary of £36,873 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.
We are excited to be recruiting a Senior Personal Assistant to join the Place Support Service at Surrey County Council. The role is based at our office in Merrow, Guildford with flexibility for remote working but occasional travel to other offices in Surrey is expected.
Our Offer to You
1. 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (prorated for part time staff)
2. Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
3. A generous local government salary related pension
4. Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
5. Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
6. An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
7. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
8. Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
9. A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.
About the Role
This is a pivotal role providing high-level administrative and leadership support to our Directorate Leadership Team (DLT). You'll be at the heart of a fast-paced environment, supporting the teams who shape the way the council deliver services across Surrey.
Key responsibilities:
10. Managing complex electronic diaries using Outlook, managing and supporting meetings and events for senior leaders
11. Screening communications and handling queries with professionalism and discretion
12. Leading a small team of Personal Assistants, including regular individual one-to-ones to support performance and wellbeing alongside day-to-day support
13. Collaborating with the Directorate Support Lead to ensure consistency and quality of service across the team to support the wider Place priorities
14. Deputising for the Directorate Support Lead when required
15. Supporting wider team functions such as minute-taking, project tracking, and stakeholder engagement.
The Place Directorate is a newly redesigned service which is responsible for shaping the future of Surrey – from sustainable transport to climate change, and from infrastructure to customer-focused services. You'll be part of a supportive and collaborative service area that values innovation, flexibility, and continuous improvement and part of a team who are passionate about providing a first-class support service to our directorate leadership team.
Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with
16. Experience in a similar high-level support role, including diary and inbox management
17. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work autonomously
18. A confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills and a proactive approach to problem-solving
19. Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain confidentiality.
To apply, we request that you submit a CV, and you will be asked the following 3 questions:
20. Describe your experience in a high-level support role. Please include examples of how you've managed complex diaries and inboxes and supported senior stakeholders.
21. Describe a time when you led a team of PAs or administrative staff. What strategies did you use to ensure high performance and collaboration?
22. Tell us about a situation where a member of your team faced a challenge. How did you support them, and what was the outcome?
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our to get an insight into working at Surrey.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 04/11/2025 with interviews planned for w/c 10/11/2025.
We look forward to receiving your application,