Business Support Partner

Location: Cheadle, United Kingdom

Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems. Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space.

Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

The Business Support Partners (BSP) will provide highly proactive business support and are able to continually demonstrate effective partnering with members of the Leadership Team first line and peers across Thales UK. You will need extensive knowledge of the organisation or can demonstrate an ability to grasp the business values and behaviours quickly. Networking with key personnel (internal and external) and understanding their Director’s and organisation’s aims and objectives. The BSPs will be expected to work autonomously or as part of a team, making sound calculated decisions on behalf of their Directors. In addition to business acumen, it is expected BSPs act with discretion and confidentiality at all times.

Key tasks and responsibilities

• The BSP will act as their Director’s first point of contact with internal and external stakeholders.
• Full autonomy of the Director’s diary to maximise the time focusing on the business priorities and to eliminate waste.
• Co-ordination of the organisation and preparation of meetings across multiple time zones, ensuring all materials are provided.
• In some cases taking ownership of the meeting; producing agendas, reports, attending and participating in meetings and taking minutes or actions.
• Managing complex travel itineraries and visas where necessary, ensuring that best route and value is obtained and monitoring budgets where required.
• Ensuring that all documentation and the relevant security processes are completed prior to travel.
• High level email management for self and Director.
• Influence, negotiate and manage conflicting demands in every aspect of the role.
• Examples of Business support required across functions and programmes.
• Marketing and events – organise, support and co-ordinate all aspects of internal and external events.
• Proficient in use of GCRM events management system for customer attendees.
• Communications – writing and proof-reading communications on behalf of the Director, co-ordinating site communications plans and work closely with internal and external communications managers.
• Create and publish documents on the intranet, such as organisation charts.
• Supporting UK Lead and site initiatives – E.g. Deputy Travel Manager role, actively participating at Thales UK meetings and report updates and usage directly to Operations Director.
• Managing two-way communication with the Business Support Team and wider Community, to ensure that travel processes, procedures and costs are delivered successfully.
• Undertake and/or lead ad hoc projects as directed by the BSM or Leadership team.
• Provide research where required, compiling reports, data and presentations to summarise findings.
• Be competent in undertaking ad hoc requisitions and other system procedures identified, including digital collaboration tools.
• Create, manage and champion policies and processes eg Smart Working.
• An ambassador for change, able to educate stakeholders as necessary.
• Provide cover for other Business Support Partners during absence.
• Any other ad hoc tasks as directed by stakeholders and the BSM.

Skills and experience

• Demonstrates high level of business awareness, excellent communication skills (verbal and written) and ability to interact effectively, courteously and professionally both within internal and external customer communities.
• Able to prioritise workload and complete work within agreed timescales to outstanding quality requiring minimal rework.
• Must be able to work independently as the Director will often be out of the office.
• Self-motivated and enthusiastic.
• A strong personality and credibility to act on behalf of the Directors / managers authority as required.
• Have outstanding organisation skills.
• Ability to meet stretch deadlines and demands of the team.
• To be proactive in finding solutions to problems.
• Ability to ‘think on feet’ and make last minute decisions working within pressurised situations.
• People management and leadership skills.
• Ability to build relationships within the Business Support Community and actively promotes the value and positive perception of the team.
• Able to deal with people at all levels of the organisation but predominantly experience in dealing with senior business leaders and Directors.
• Experience in virtual and digital technology.
• Handles confidential and sensitive information in a discreet and controlled manner.
• Advanced skills in MS office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, Visio & PowerPoint).
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Effective personal organisation and an ability to remain composed and focused under pressure.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience as a PA to a Director or equivalent in a busy business environment.
• Knowledge and experience of supporting other business functions and understanding of how they integrate with each other.

What We Can Offer

We’re committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so you’ll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.

Flexibility

Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance.

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.

Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process.

Great journeys start here, apply now!