Band 4 Assistant Private Secretary to the CE/CNI or DCNI in Cheltenham

The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) is the United Kingdom’s independent statutory regulator for nuclear safety, civil nuclear security, safeguards, and conventional health and safety on licensed sites. Working in a fast-paced high-profile environment you will be responsible for providing highly effective executive level support to the CE/CNI and DCNI.

You will support the coordination of executive activity across the Private Office, including diaries, senior meetings, briefings, correspondence, governance processes and follow-up actions. Working to the Chief of Staff and with Governance and Private Office colleagues, you will bring together information and activity from across the organisation, maintain oversight of key issues and commitments, and support effective engagement with Board members, senior leaders, government departments and external stakeholders on behalf of the CE/CNI or DCNI.

Principle Responsibilities

• Operate at the centre of the Private Office, providing strategic coordination, high-level judgement and trusted support to the CE/CNI or DCNI.
• Manage competing priorities, shaping the flow of business into the Private Office and ensuring that corporate priorities, risks and sensitive matters are progressed effectively across the organisation.
• Ensure CE/CNI and DCNI time, focus and engagement are aligned to organisational priorities, emerging risks, external commitments and key decision points.
• Manage the flow of business into and out of the Private Office, applying judgement to prioritise matters, commission follow-up activity, identify interdependencies and ensure timely handling of sensitive or high-profile issues.
• Commission high-quality briefings, drawing together information from across the organisation to ensure the CE/CNI and DCNI are equipped to lead discussions, take decisions and represent ONR effectively with confidence and authority.
• Produce high-quality briefing materials, including drafting, editing and coordinating inputs to bring together information from across the organisation into clear and accessible outputs, such as presentations, reports and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate corporate business on behalf of the Private Office across the Executive team, Board interfaces and wider organisation, ensuring alignment, visibility of priorities and effective follow-through on agreed actions and commitments.
• Support the effective operation of governance arrangements by ensuring that meetings, papers, decisions and actions are managed to a high standard and contribute to robust corporate oversight and accountability.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with senior leaders, Board members and key internal and external stakeholders, acting as a credible point of contact and facilitating constructive engagement on behalf of the CE/CNI or DCNI.
• Build and nurture strong, trusted relationships with the ONR Chair’s Executive Assistant, the PAs of other ONR Directors, and external private offices/PAs to key stakeholders, as well as wider networks as necessary.
• Anticipate issues, monitor corporate pressures and identify where intervention, escalation or reprioritisation is required, helping to maintain oversight of a complex and fast-moving agenda working closely with the Chief of Staff.
• Handle highly confidential, politically sensitive and commercially significant information with discretion, sound judgement and a clear understanding of the broader organisational context.
• Drive continuous improvement in the operation of the Private Office, identifying opportunities to strengthen processes, improve resilience and enhance the overall effectiveness of executive support and coordination.

Line Management Responsibilities

None currently; however, at this level there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.

Location / Travel

This post may be undertaken from a base at any one of ONR’s office locations (Bootle, Cheltenham, or London). ONR operates hybrid working (working in the office and/or at home) as part of our flexible working policy. There is an expectation that everyone will spend time in the office on a regular basis, recognising that some work is better done face to face. Managers will work with their teams on what works best to meet individual, team, business and organisational needs to enable collaboration, as well as balancing personal choice and wellbeing.

Security Clearance

SC is required for this role.

Person Specification Inclusion

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We will consider reasonable adjustments to ensure the recruitment process is inclusive and barrier-free. If you require reasonable adjustments as part of your application, please contact ONR HR as soon as possible, preferably before the vacancy closes, by emailing ONR.Human-Resources@onr.gov.uk or Jessica.Normile-Curran@onr.gov.uk to discuss further. We will also offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the guaranteed interview scheme. We recognise we have a role to play in helping those leaving the Armed Forces and have a Veterans guaranteed interview scheme. We offer an interview to Veterans who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the scheme.

Skills / Job Related Expertise

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable experience of working at senior leader or Board level, with the confidence and judgement to engage effectively with internal leaders and external stakeholders.
• Substantial experience in a senior administrative or Executive Assistant role within a complex and high-profile organisation, ideally within the public sector, regulatory environment or similarly demanding setting.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities and deliver to tight deadlines in a fast-paced executive office environment.
• Ability to manage complex executive diaries, coordinate senior meetings, prepare agendas and papers, and produce formal minutes and action logs.
• Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build credibility and maintain effective working relationships at senior levels.
• Excellent organisational skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to manage time and priorities effectively, remaining calm and professional under pressure.
• Proven ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgement, handle sensitive information with discretion and integrity and take initiative to resolve issues and improve processes.
• Ability to plan and organise work to a high standard, anticipate requirements and maintain progress across multiple strands of activity.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in a politically or operationally sensitive environment.

Qualifications

Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and experience gained in a relevant specialist or executive support environment.

For Further Information

For more information about this vacancy please contact Ines Osborne: Ines.Osborne@onr.gov.uk