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.
This is an 18-month secondment opportunity or fixed-term contract. Please discuss with your current Line Manager before submitting your application.
We are excited to be hiring three new Senior Personal Assistants to join our Leadership Office Team, supporting members of the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) based at Woodhatch Place in Reigate. This role is open to hybrid working and as a team we split our time between collaborating with colleagues in the office and working from home.
Our Offer to You
1. 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
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 Roles
These roles sit within our Leadership Office team, which exists to enable and support the leadership of Surrey County Council, both the Corporate Leadership Team and Cabinet, in driving the organisation forward. The team underpins their work and contributes to SCC's overarching mission to ensure that 'no one is left behind'.
It's an exciting and pivotal time to be supporting CLT and Cabinet. As part of the Leadership Office, our team has worked hard to build a strong internal reputation and to professionalise the processes and procedures that enable us to support Surrey County Council's senior leaders effectively.
We operate as a central hub of knowledge within the organisation, providing diligent, trustworthy support to CLT and Cabinet Members. Our work is driven by a strong commitment to excellence, a collaborative spirit, and a focus on delivering high-quality outputs.
We pride ourselves on offering outstanding customer service, not only to those we directly support, but also to the wider teams and partners we work alongside. The team is always looking for ways to improve how we deliver our roles, ensuring we continue to evolve and add value in everything we do.
Key responsibilities as a Senior Personal Assistant include:
10. Diary and scheduling support, acting as gatekeeper for multiple requests and demands for time
11. Inbox management
12. Providing comprehensive administrative support to members of the Corporate Leadership Team
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to broaden their experience at Surrey County Council and deepen their understanding of how the organisation operates at a strategic level.
Your Application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with :
13. Demonstrable ability to manage a senior officer's diary and inbox effectively. You'll need to be adept at navigating competing demands and finding effective solutions
14. Ability to operate in a political and senior management environment; working with senior stakeholders in a diligent, trustworthy way, and with a commitment to delivering high quality outputs
15. Proven relationship building ability and confidence to manage the interface between members and officers
16. Experience working in a highly complex and challenging environment and comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously
17. Strong problem-solving skills and a creative approach
18. Resilience and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions:
19. Please tell us about a time you had to manage multiple competing priorities for a senior stakeholder. How did you approach scheduling and communication, and what was the outcome?
20. Please describe a situation where you had to build and maintain effective working relationships across different teams or levels of seniority. What strategies did you use to ensure trust and collaboration?
21. Please give an example of when you identified a way to improve a process or service in your role. What was the issue, what did you do, and what impact did it have?
22. Working in a fast-paced environment can be challenging. Can you share an example of how you've remained calm and effective under pressure? What helped you stay focused and deliver high-quality work?
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & 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 16/10/2025 with interviews to follow.
We look forward to receiving your application,