Executive Assistant

We’re looking for an exceptional Executive Assistant to help us make a difference to our planet.

As our Executive Assistant, the job may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in the office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and the location advertised will be your contractual place of work.

Our opportunity is full time, 37 hours per week, but we would also consider applicants wishing to work a minimum of 30 hours per week and we will also try our best to consider those intending to work a job share.  Our people are at the heart of what we do and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

World changing work

From science to technology, from meteorology to management, and from planning to communication, our expertise helps us stand out as the authority on weather accuracy and climate prediction. We help individuals, industries and government to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive. This is the Met Office. This is who we are.

• We’re a force for good - focusing on our environmental and social impact
• We’re experts by nature - always learning and developing to do things better
• We live and breathe it - putting our purpose at the heart of decision-making
• We’re better together - understanding partnerships and inclusivity make us greater
• We keep evolving - pushing boundaries to make tomorrow better for our customers

Your world of expertise

The overall requirement of the post is to provide administrative support to Met Office Executive Directors. Much of the work will be required to meet tight deadlines; it will involve careful planning, managing competing priorities and require utmost discretion.

You will liaise with colleagues of all levels, both internally and externally, including key customers, stakeholders and our Owner to support the Executive. The EAs of the Executive work as a team, providing support and cover for each other as necessary.

Your key duties

• Developing and managing relationships with Directors to understand their motivations, needs and priorities.
• Managing the Directors’ diaries to ensure that their time is focused and prioritised.
• Liaising with others to ensure the Directors have the appropriate briefing and documentation for meetings, visits, and events.
• Organising and co-ordinating travel and accommodation, ensuring it adheres to relevant policies.
• Handling communication and correspondence on behalf of your Director when appropriate.
• Managing the flow of emails in a Director’s inbox to ensure they can focus on the highest priorities.
• Undertaking specific individual tasks and projects for your Director.
• Providing support to other members of the Executive when their EAs are absent or have a high workload.
• First point of contact for some key customers and stakeholders, both internal and external.

Why join us

Our work is life-changing, often life-saving and always life-enhancing. The Met Office is Great Place to Work UK certified. We are also featured on their ‘Best Workplaces in Tech’ 2023 and 2024 lists, as well as their ’54 Best Workplaces for Women’ 2023 list.

As our Executive Assistant, your total reward package will be up to £38,280 annually, which includes:

• £26,954 base pay
• An outstanding Civil Service pension, with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave starting at 27.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) rising to 32.5 days (plus Bank Holidays) after 5 years and option to buy or sell up to 5 days per year of annual leave

Essential Criteria, skills and experience:

1. Demonstrable experience managing a busy diary, working with senior executives and stakeholders, to prioritise competing demands and optimise use of time (Expert by nature).
2. Proven ability to collaborate with colleagues to collate documentation, papers, and briefings, ensuring the Executive are fully prepared for meetings and engagements (Better together).
3. Strong ability to organise effective and efficient UK and international business travel (Force for good).
4. Demonstrable experience of organising high-level meetings to ensure they happen in a successful and effective way (We live and breathe it).
5. Proven ability to work well independently and as part of a team to ensure continuity of cover for all Executive Directors (Better together).
6. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, especially Outlook, Word and SharePoint.

How to apply

If you share our values, we’d love to hear from you! Click apply to begin your application. Please complete your career history and provide evidence against each of the essential criteria in the supporting statement questionnaire. We recommend candidates use the CARL method (Context, Action, Result and Learning) for presenting evidence of experience and skills.

Closing date 15/12/2024 at 23:59 with first stage interviews commencing from 06/01/2025. You will hear from us once the closing date has passed.

How we can help

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact us at careers@metoffice.gov.uk.

If you’re considering applying and need support to do so, please get in touch. You can request adjustments either within your application or by contacting us. Should you be offered an interview, please be aware there may be a selection exercise which could include a presentation, written test or a scenario-based activity. You can select in your application to be considered under the Disability Confident Scheme. To be invited to interview/assessment under this scheme, your application must meet the essential criteria for the role.

We understand that great minds don’t always think alike and as an equal opportunities employer we welcome applications from those with all protected characteristics. We recruit on merit, fairness, and open competition in line with the Civil Service Code.

We can only accept applications from those eligible to live and work in the UK - please refer to GOV.UK for information. We require Security clearance, for which you need to have resided in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years to be eligible. You will need to achieve full security clearance within your first 6 months with us.