Housing, Environment & Healthy Communities Assistant in Gateshead

Fixed Term Maternity Cover Vacancy – Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities Group. The post holder will provide support and assist Directors and Senior Officers across the Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities group. The role will involve coordinating partnership and governance meetings, attending in a support capacity to accurately take and record minutes, managing diaries, responding to enquiries and handling invoices. The post holder will also provide assistance to programmes and projects, taking notes and action points, carrying out actions and contributing to key project documents.

Key Responsibilities

• Diary management to support the senior leadership team
• Effectively respond to enquiries, including telephone, postal, emails in central inboxes and enquiries via social media channels
• Handle invoices, raise orders and update relevant systems and spreadsheets
• Coordinate partnership and governance meetings: preparing agendas, reports and associated papers; making room bookings, arranging equipment or facilities; arranging and setting up virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams; attending meetings and taking minutes
• Provide assistance to internal and external programmes and projects (e.g. Housing Improvement Programme): arranging project meetings and workshops; taking notes and recording action points; carrying out actions from meetings; conducting relevant research; supporting project administration and contributing to project plans and core documents
• Assist senior officers in meeting corporate and governance responsibilities: FOI requests, SARs; risk management, assurance, performance monitoring, complaints handling, audit processes, health and safety; government and grant‑related returns; undertake any other responsibilities appropriate to the grade of the post

Qualifications and Experience

• Using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel) and internet‑based search engines
• A minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4 including Maths and English (or relevant equivalent experience)
• Level 2 Business Administration Principles Certificate (or equivalent) or relevant demonstrable experience
• Experience of providing administrative support
• Experience of effectively responding to enquiries from customers or other services
• Experience of organising and servicing meetings, including preparing papers and taking minutes
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Experience of handling sensitive or confidential information appropriately
• Experience of developing templates or spreadsheets to gather and present information
• Ability to input, retrieve and collate information from systems
• Ability to work independently and use own initiative
• Empathetic, demonstrating understanding and sensitivity towards others
• Strong problem‑solving ability
• Ability to remain calm under pressure

Benefits

• Competitive salary that reflects your skills and experience
• Outstanding pension scheme
• Generous annual leave: 28 days, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council); option to buy up to 10 extra days
• Flexible working hours: up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs)
• Learning and development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing support, including discounted gym memberships and mental health resources
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric and hybrid car scheme via salary sacrifice
• Exclusive discounts and salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more

Commitment to Equality and Diversity

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.