Be the strategic force behind senior leadership at Devon County Council
Introduction
Are you a proactive, highly organised professional who thrives in fast-paced, high-impact environments? Step into a pivotal role where your expertise will help shape the future of public services across Devon.
Join Devon County Council as an Executive Personal Assistant and play a key role in supporting the Director of People & Culture and the Director of Transformation & Business Services. This dynamic and influential role places you at the centre of strategic decision-making and operational delivery across the organisation.
Your expertise and proactive support will help drive key priorities across:
1. HR
2. County-wide transformation programmes
3. Estate management
4. Senior Officer recruitment across all directorates
5. Committee report coordination and statutory deadline management
This high-profile position demands exceptional communication, discretion, and strategic thinking. As part of a team of Executive PAs, you’ll manage complex diaries and inboxes, coordinate high-level meetings, and act as a key liaison between senior leaders, Cabinet Members, and external partners. You’ll be trusted to handle sensitive information, contribute to strategic planning, and support emergency response and business continuity efforts.
This is more than a traditional PA role, it’s your opportunity to be at the heart of change and service delivery across Devon.
What You'll Bring:
To thrive in this role, you’ll bring:
6. Willingness and ability to work from County Hall in Exeter five days a week, in line with the Directors’ working patterns and on-site responsibilities
7. Experience working with senior leadership or elected members
8. Ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive information
9. Proven experience in executive support, minute-taking, and event coordination
10. Advanced ICT skills and confidence in managing competing priorities
11. Excellent written and verbal communication
12. A calm, assertive, and highly organised approach
13. Ability to work independently and collaboratively with senior stakeholders
Key Responsibilities
Diary & Inbox Management
14. Provide effective and intelligent diary and inbox management for the Directors and their Leadership Team
Meeting Support
15. Manage senior leadership meetings, including forward planning and report preparation
16. Attend confidential meetings and produce accurate records of discussions, decisions, and actions
17. Prepare briefings and presentations for meetings
Stakeholder Engagement
18. Represent the views of senior leadership with advanced communication skills
19. Support Cabinet Members with written materials and communications
20. Act as a key link between Cabinet Members and DCC staff
21. Coordinate communications and maintain stakeholder relationships
Strategic & Operational Support
22. Resolve unforeseen tasks and issues proactively
23. Manage the Director’s personal office and outer office area
24. Share guidance to staff and partners to progress directorate priorities
25. Support strategic planning and evaluation of best practices
26. Contribute to business continuity planning and incident response
Why Work for Devon County Council
We’re committed to creating a workplace where you can thrive, grow, and make a real impact. Here’s what we offer:
27. Competitive pay rates
28. Flexible working hours
29. Excellent health & wellbeing culture
30. Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme
31. Access to the Vivup employee benefits platform (includes lifestyle savings, home and electronic items, electric vehicle leasing, and more)
32. Cycle to Work Scheme
33. Ongoing internal learning, development, and training opportunities
34. 26 days of annual leave per year (increasing with length of service) plus Bank Holidays
35. Employee Assistance Programme
Join Us
Ready to make a real difference? Apply today and help shape the future of Devon.