About the job

Job summary

Ofgem works on behalf of energy consumers to ensure that every household and business in the UK can rely on a safe, affordable, and environmentally sustainable energy supply. We are playing a vital part in accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a carbon neutral energy system – a goal that everyone wants to achieve. Whatever your role, you’ll be playing your part in creating new energy solutions that are great for customers, and great for the environment.

Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and helps ensure we can best represent the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome – as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.

Job description

This is an exciting time to join Ofgem as a Personal Assistant (PA) and be a key member of a busy and collaborative EA/PA cohort. This role puts you at the heart of the organisation providing a full range of secretarial and administrative support to 2/3 Deputy Directors within the portfolio assigned. The successful candidate will work closely with other Executive Assistants (EAs) and PAs across their directorate and have exposure to a wide variety of projects and people and will have plenty of opportunity to learn, grow and make the role your own.

The role offers lots of autonomy, so we are looking for someone who is proactive and confident enough to challenge the status quo and change the way we do things.  At the same time, you will be part of a collaborative and experienced team who are ready to support and train you.

You are likely to work at a senior level as a Personal Assistant or Team Administrator. Highly organised and able to work in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities. Good interpersonal and networking skills are essential, and you will be ready to cooperate closely with others.  A high level of proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) is essential.

Ofgem relies on having a workforce that reflects the society we serve, so we welcome candidates from all backgrounds, and especially those from underrepresented groups. While this is a full-time role, flexible working patterns and job shares are welcome.  We will also support you with excellent training and development opportunities and provide a competitive benefits package.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities:

• Proactive management of Deputy Directors’ diaries, effectively dealing with diary clashes and leading/attending diary meetings to understand the priorities.
• Work collaboratively with teams across the directorate to provide a wide range of logistical and administrative support.
• Work collaboratively with other PAs across the directorate, providing cover for the directorate’s PAs and EA where required.

Key Outputs and Deliverables:

• Manage the diaries of the Deputy Directors, ensuring their time is well spent and managed efficiently, and undertake general administrative duties as required.
• Exercise judgment and flexibility in managing potential conflicting diary issues in a tactful and sensitive manner, having due regard for business priorities.
• Ensure the Deputy Directors receive relevant papers and briefings in a timely manner, so they are fully prepared for meetings and events.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues in the directorate and across the wider organisation, to ensure a high level of service to the Deputy Directors.
• Work as an effective and approachable team member, contributing to team meetings within the team, covering for other PAs/EA within the directorate as requested.
• Any other tasks commensurate with the role.

In the event of receiving a large number of applications an initial sift may take place on just the identified lead criteria indicated below.

Essential Criteria

• Planning, organising, and prioritising where priorities are constantly changing [LEAD].
• Good interpersonal and networking skills with the ability to communicate with staff and industry contacts at all levels [LEAD].
• Experience of providing administrative support in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive and able to work with minimum supervision.
• Demonstratable ability to work as part of a team.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £24,623, OFGEM contributes £6,648 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.