Personal Assistant in Cambridge

We are looking for an exceptional Personal Assistant to join our team and become an indispensable partner to our senior leadership. This is a varied, fast-paced role at the heart of our organisation — one where no two days are the same and where your ability to anticipate, adapt and deliver will genuinely make a difference.

What You’ll Be Doing

• As a PA to our Director(s), you’ll be the trusted right hand who keeps everything running smoothly. From managing complex diaries and high-volume inboxes to preparing board papers, coordinating international travel and representing the Director in their absence — you’ll handle it all with professionalism, discretion and calm.
• You’ll work closely with our other PAs and the wider leadership team, forming part of a collaborative, high-performing support function that takes real pride in the quality of its work.
• At the RSC we embrace flexibility and offer hybrid working, which means our teams come together when they need to collaborate. Although this role is contractually based at our Cambridge office, you will be able to work from home within the UK, with the expectation that you will attend the office when required.
• You will enable the leadership team to work effectively by providing high level, proactive and confidential support to members of the Leadership Team, ensuring they are able to work effectively and focus on strategic and organisational priorities.
• You will be a trusted partner who anticipates needs, removes obstacles, and facilitates smooth communication across directorates and with senior stakeholders.
• The PA works closely with managers, directors and other PAs to deliver a seamless, professional support function across the organisation.
• Flexibility is key, as the role may support multiple members of the Leadership Team simultaneously with differing styles and priorities.
• Critically, you’ll use sound judgement to assess incoming matters, decide when to act independently and when to elevate, and ensure the Director’s time is always focused where it matters most.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience supporting senior leaders (director level or above) with the judgement, discretion and tact required to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining high attention to detail.
• Ability to work proactively, anticipate needs, solve problems and make independent decisions where appropriate.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare key documents, reports and presentations.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusted relationships across the organisation and externally, including Trustees and other senior stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively, support colleagues and contribute to a positive, inclusive working environment.
• Diplomacy, negotiation skills and the ability to influence effectively at all levels.
• Proficiency in hybrid working technologies and the ability to learn and adapt to new systems quickly.
• Confident using organisational systems for finance, HR, recruitment and data management (e.g Workday).
• Ability to coordinate multiple resources and manage logistics across complex governance and operational events.

Why Join Us?

This is a role with real scope and responsibility. You’ll build a close, trusted relationship with senior leadership, gain exposure to strategic decision-making, and be part of a team that values what great PA support looks like.

If you are interested in this role, please apply before the end of the closing date. When applying, you will need to provide an up-to-date CV and a cover letter (in no more than 500 words) telling us about your relevant knowledge, skills and competencies and why you are applying for this role.

Please note, the closing date is 24:39 on 15/03/2026.

About the RSC

We are a thriving international community of over 60,000 members in 125 countries, an internationally renowned publisher of high quality chemical science knowledge and the professional body for chemists in the UK, with a reputation as an influential champion for the chemical sciences. At the RSC, we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce and welcome applicants from a range of backgrounds to apply. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and ethnic minority candidates.

As a part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we endeavour, where possible, to offer an interview to candidates meeting the essential criteria of the role, who has a substantial physical/mental impairment which impacts their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. We are committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information.

If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team at jobs@rsc.org or on +44 (0) 1223 432229 and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place. If you have any questions, please contact us at jobs@rsc.org.