Business Administration – Personal Support in Reading

If you’d like to be considered for this opportunity we encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment as if applications are high the role will close before the closing date given.

Location: RG7 4PR, located between Reading and Basingstoke, with free onsite parking.

Package: £27,870 - £40,000 per annum (depending on your suitability, qualifications, and level of experience).

Working pattern: The role is full-time on a 9-day fortnight. The core working hours for this role are between 8:15 and 16:00. Please note that core hours indicate the period during which employees are required to be on site, and do not reflect the total daily hours worked. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will spend the majority of their time working on site at one of AWE sites in South-East England.

Clearance Level: You will need to obtain and maintain DV security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 10 years in order to apply for DV clearance.

Let us introduce the role. AWE is currently recruiting for an experienced Personal Assistant (PA). You will provide a highly trusted, proactive, and professional level of PA support to senior leaders at AWE, enabling them to operate effectively within a complex, fast‑paced and highly regulated environment. This role requires someone who can work autonomously, exercise sound judgement, and anticipate requirements - ensuring senior leaders are consistently well‑prepared, properly briefed and supported to deliver against their mission objectives.

The role blends exceptional professional expertise with proactive, anticipatory support, acting as an extension of the leader’s office to enable confident decision‑making and delivery at pace through autonomous, judgement‑led support.

Responsibilities include complex diary and inbox management, prioritisation, delegation, issue resolution, and de‑confliction on behalf of senior leaders, often with minimal instruction. This position requires an experienced, high‑performing personal assistant with credibility and confidence, able to manage competing priorities, handle sensitive information with discretion, and build strong relationships across senior internal and external stakeholders.

Who are we looking for? We do need you to have the following:

• Recent experience (within the last three years) delivering high‑quality personal or executive assistant support in an office‑based environment, demonstrating accountability and reliability.
• Strong digital capability, including advanced Microsoft Office skills and confident use of AI‑enabled tools to simplify tasks, improve productivity and support effective ways of working.
• Excellent organisational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, exercise judgement and deliver at pace with high attention to detail.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships and work confidently with stakeholders at all organisational levels, demonstrating professionalism, discretion, and respect.
• A strong awareness of confidentiality, compliance, and risk, operating safely and securely when handling sensitive information.

Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people do not always ‘tick every box.’ That is why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, as well as your experience. Even if you do not meet every point below, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we would love to receive your application.

Whilst not to be considered a tick list, strong candidates are likely to demonstrate experience in several of the following areas:

• High‑level customer and senior stakeholder engagement skills, building trusted relationships with professionalism and discretion.
• Excellent organisational capability, able to prioritise competing demands, maintain accuracy and deliver reliably at pace.
• Strong ability to problem solve, use initiative and exercise sound judgement when working autonomously on complex or ambiguous issues.
• Confidence operating in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment, maintaining composure, resilience, and focus.
• Strong digital capability, using Microsoft Office and AI‑enabled tools to simplify ways of working and improve effectiveness.

You will need to have the ability to work calmly and constructively in a priority changing environment and be able to manage your own workload. You will also have initiative, enthusiasm, a flexible approach, and ability to work to tight deadlines.

Some reasons we think you’ll love it here:

• 9-day working fortnight – meaning you get every other Friday off work, in addition to 270 hours of annual leave.
• Market leading contributory pension scheme (we will pay between 9% and 13% of your pensionable pay depending on your contributions).
• Family friendly policies: Maternity Leave - 39 Weeks Full Pay and Paternity Leave - 4 Weeks Full Pay.
• Opportunities for Professional Career Development including funding for annual membership of a relevant professional body.
• Employee Assistance Programme and Occupational Health Services.
• Life Assurance (4 x annual salary).
• Discounts – access to savings on a wide range of everyday spending.
• Special Leave Policy including paid time off for volunteering, public service (including reserve forces) and caring.

The 'Working at AWE' page on our website is where you can find full details in the 'AWE Benefits Guide'.

Important things you need to know: We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process. Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Next steps: Everyone who works at AWE brings unique skills and perspectives to the table. We recognise that great people don’t always ‘tick every box’. That’s why we focus on your potential, your fit with our values, your transferable skills as well as your experience. Even if you don’t meet every point above, but you feel that this role and AWE are a great fit for you, please go ahead and apply, we’d love to receive your application.

Important things you need to know: We encourage you to apply promptly to avoid disappointment if applications are high and the role therefore closes. You will need to obtain and maintain the necessary security clearance for the role. This will be funded by AWE. The nature of our work does mean you need to be a British Citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years in order to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.

We want you to feel comfortable and able to shine during our recruitment process. Please let us know on your application form if you need any adjustments/accommodations during the process. Our interviews typically take place over Teams and for most roles are a 1 stage process.

Our ambition is to create workplaces where we recognise and celebrate differences, encourage diverse contributions and our employees feel able to be themselves at work. We strive to create a genuine culture of openness and inclusion and encourage diverse applicants. Any inclusion information you provide will be stored in accordance with GDPR and kept separate from your application form and CV, and the information will not be shared with anyone involved in interviewing or making hiring decisions.

Please note that you must be a British Citizen to apply for a role with us.