Personal Assistant – Cross Arts & Cinema (Arts & Participation) in London

The Barbican is a multidisciplinary international arts centre in the City of London. Across its theatres, concert halls, cinemas, galleries, business venues, public and community spaces, the Barbican showcases the most exciting artists and performers from around the world, pushing traditional artistic boundaries and helping us understand our lives in new and unexpected ways. Each year, the Centre presents hundreds of different performances, events and exhibitions that entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in.

Firmly rooted in its neighbourhood, the Barbican collaborates on projects with local communities, and supports young people and emerging talent to develop their artistic practice and access jobs in the creative industry. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Barbican’s Arts & Participation department as a Personal Assistant supporting both the Head of Cross Arts and Head of Cinema. Sitting at the heart of a dynamic and interdisciplinary team, you will play a key role in enabling the smooth running of two senior leaders’ offices while contributing to the delivery of a diverse, ambitious arts programme spanning music, theatre, dance, visual arts and film.

You will provide proactive, high-level administrative and organisational support, managing complex diaries, coordinating meetings and events, ensuring effective communication across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, overseeing travel arrangements, financial administration and maintaining key systems that underpin departmental activity. Collaborating closely with colleagues across the Barbican, you’ll help ensure efficient operations while supporting a culture of creativity, inclusivity and innovation. This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly organised and motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about contributing to world-class arts and cultural experiences.

• Provide high-level PA support to the Head of Cross Arts and Head of Cinema, including complex diary and inbox management
• Coordinate meetings and events, preparing agendas, papers, presentations and taking accurate minutes
• Manage travel, logistics and expenses, ensuring compliance with organisational policies
• Support financial administration including purchase orders, budget tracking and reconciliations
• Maintain effective office systems, databases and communications to ensure smooth departmental operations

• Proven experience in a PA or senior administrative role, managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional organisational skills with strong attention to detail and ability to meet tight deadlines
• Confident communicator with excellent written skills and ability to liaise with senior stakeholders
• Proactive, solutions‑focused and able to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team
• Interest in arts, culture or creative sectors is highly desirable

• Barbican Membership
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• 24 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service
• Access to Barbican Centre discounts including offers at the Barbican Shop and hospitality outlets
• City Corporation staff benefits and discounts throughout the City of London, including at Tower Bridge, Guildhall Art Gallery and others
• Reciprocal entry to a number of galleries and museums across London
• Employee volunteering scheme (up to 2 days per year)
• A vibrant, creative, inclusive workplace at one of the world’s leading arts centres

The City of London Corporation wants to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the work that we do. The City of London Corporation is currently undergoing a programme to ensure that our pay and reward practices are competitive and equitable across the whole organisation – and is committed to regularly benchmarking and reviewing pay against external sectors.

As part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of staff within the Barbican we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from groups that are currently underrepresented, including people from the Global Majority and D/deaf and disabled people. We want to better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We are members of the Disability Confident Scheme and guarantee to interview all disabled candidates who would like to be considered under this scheme and who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. Please contact us if you require reasonable adjustments as part of the application process.

Global Majority is a collective term that refers to people who are Black, Asian, Brown, dual‑heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as 'ethnic minorities'.