Cabinet Support Officer

We are excited to be hiring a new Cabinet Support Officer/PA to join our fantastic Leadership Office team. The team are based at Woodhatch Place in Reigate, however we operate a policy of hybrid working, which means you will have the option to spend part of your week working from home whilst ensuring a regular presence is maintained in the office.

Rewards and benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the team

The Leadership Office is part of our Resources Directorate and is at the heart of the County Council. It is a hub of knowledge, supporting the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) and Cabinet Members to achieve their objectives in a diligent, trustworthy way, with an exemplary work ethic and commitment to delivering a high-quality service.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, proactive and highly motivated individual with senior executive Personal Assistant experience to join the Leadership Office, supporting several elected county councillors who are part of the Cabinet.

You will use your excellent relationship management skills to arrange meetings between Cabinet Members and Council officers working around multiple busy calendars. As part of this, you will be relied upon to liaise and work with officers and councillors at all levels across the organisation to source reports, briefings and answers to questions for Cabinet Members in advance of board/Council meetings ensuring that Cabinet members are able to make informed decisions in a timely fashion.

You will also log and acknowledge correspondence from residents and from MPs and councillors on behalf of residents, track responses from the Customer Services team, drafting these for approval by the Cabinet Member and forwarding to the resident, MP or councillor in a timely manner. You may also be required to collate and circulate meeting papers and take notes.

In all that you do, you will exemplify our values, be politically sensitive and be able to act as a calm, reassuring and effective point of contact.

Shortlisting criteria

To excel in this role you will need strong inter-personal skills, demonstrable experience of complex diary and inbox management and be able to meet tight deadlines in a busy working environment.

To be shortlisted for interview for this position, please ensure that your CV and personal statement evidence:

• Experience of high-level complex (multiple) diary and inbox management, as well as wider administration
• Experience working within a fast-paced working environment and managing competing priorities
• Good knowledge of IT systems, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams
• Excellent written communication and strong interpersonal skills
• Experience of managing correspondence and ensuring clear and accurate responses are provided
• Ability to work to tight deadlines

Contact us

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 15th May 2024 with interviews planned for either 24th or 25th May 2024.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Our values

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our?values.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook also attached provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.