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- Tasks: Provide high-level PA support to School Directors, manage diaries, and organise meetings.
- Company: Join The University of Sheffield, a diverse and inclusive community.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by supporting key leaders in education and innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in secretarial or PA roles, excellent communication, and IT skills.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for career advancement and personal development.
The predicted salary is between 22600 - 25800 £ per year.
Overview
You will be responsible for providing comprehensive, high-level personal assistant support to the School Directors of Research & Innovation, Education and One University (the School Executive Board). This includes diary management, handling correspondence, committee servicing and making travel arrangements. In addition, you will support the Executive Assistant to the Head of School in the delivery of key School processes.
Main Duties And Responsibilities
- Provide professional and confidential P.A. support to the School Directors of Research & Innovation, Education and One University.
- Effective management of the School Directors diaries, working with a high degree of autonomy to scheduling meetings and appointments and handling incoming meeting requests.
- Sort, distribute and respond (or draft responses) to incoming correspondence for the School Directors in a timely and efficient manner.
- Provide administrative support necessary to administer academic line management/ leadership structures.
- Service School committee meetings and any other meetings as required. Request agenda items, prepare and circulate the agenda and papers, prepare and circulate minutes and provide follow up on actions.
- Assist the organisation of School events involving staff, students and visitors, including annual summer/end of year events and graduation receptions.
- Act as a Recruiter in the School, providing a point of contact for recruitment issues, liaising with departmental staff and Human Resources. Coordinate the progression of recruitment activities through the SuccessFactors system from requisition through to appointment.
- Support the HoS Executive Assistant as required to coordinate and support School processes for HR and Finance related administrative processes (including resources, contract extensions, eligibility to work checks, monitoring of fixed term contract expiry, casual worker registration, etc.).
- Maintain records of documentation relating to staff, including recording of sickness/annual leave.
- Maintain information related to committee members and academic administration responsibilities, including updating relevant School web pages.
- Under the direction of the Executive Assistant to the Head of School, work to introduce new procedures, and review and enhance existing procedures.
- Undertake other activities as required to ensure that all administrative activities within the department are carried out in a timely and efficient manner, providing cover for colleagues in the administrative team.
- Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post.
Person Specification
Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn\\\’t match perfectly with this role\\\’s criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.
Criteria
Essential Or Desirable
- Experience of working in a secretarial/clerical/PA capacity.
- Ability to manage and prioritise (and reprioritise as necessary) your own work, and manage conflicting demands, requests and deadlines.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, report writing skills and ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of internal and external contacts.
- Excellent customer service skills, with experience of responding efficiently and effectively to phone, email and in person enquiries.
- Excellent team working skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with colleagues.
- Excellent IT skills, with strong experience in using Microsoft Office and/or Google drive packages.
- Ability to develop creative approaches to problem solving, with an ability to analyse and solve problems, appreciating longer-term implications.
- Ability to assess and organise resources, plan and progress work activities.
- Ability to work to a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Confident and professional manner, and ability to act with discretion and diplomacy, whilst maintaining confidentiality.
- Ability to use a range of digital tools and experience of working with AI-enabled tools.
- Desirable
Further Information
- Grade Grade 5
- Salary £27,319-£31,236 (with potential to increase to £33,951)
- Work arrangement Full-time
- Duration Open Ended
- Line manager Executive Assistant to the Head of School
- Direct reports n/a
Our Website and Contacts
Our website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/eee
For informal enquiries about this job contact Rebecca Fieldsend, Executive Assistant to the Head of School, via email at r.fieldsend@sheffield.ac.uk
Next steps in the recruitment process
It is anticipated that the selection process will take place on the week commencing 2nd March 2026. This will consist of an interview (traditional question and answer conversation). We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage on the week commencing 23rd February 2026. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact Rebecca Fieldsend (r.fieldsend@sehffield.ac.uk).
Our vision and strategic plan
We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).
What We Offer
- A minimum of 38 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
- Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
- Generous pension scheme.
- A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
- A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women\\u2019s and Parent\\u2019s networks).
- Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
- A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes; Professional Services Shared Skills Framework.
- A range of generous family-friendly policies
- paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
- support for those going through the menopause
- paid time off and support for fertility treatment
- and more
More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).
We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.
We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.
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Personal Assistant to the School Executive Board employer: The University of Sheffield
Contact Detail:
The University of Sheffield Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Personal Assistant to the School Executive Board
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at The University of Sheffield on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info about the role and help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common PA scenarios. Think about how you'd handle diary management or tricky correspondence. We want you to show off your skills and confidence!
✨Tip Number 3
Dress the part! First impressions matter, so make sure you look professional and polished. It shows you’re serious about the role and respect the School Directors.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Personal Assistant to the School Executive Board
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Show Off Your Skills: Don’t hold back on showcasing your skills! Whether it’s diary management or excellent communication, make sure to provide examples of how you've successfully used these skills in past roles.
Be Professional Yet Personable: While we want to see your professional side, don’t forget to let your personality shine through. A friendly tone can make your application stand out and show us you're a great fit for our team culture.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at The University of Sheffield
✨Know Your Role Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Personal Assistant to the School Executive Board. Familiarise yourself with diary management, correspondence handling, and committee servicing. This will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since excellent communication is key for this position, prepare examples that highlight your written and verbal skills. Think of times when you successfully managed correspondence or facilitated meetings. Practising these examples will help you articulate your experience clearly during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Prowess
Be ready to discuss how you manage conflicting demands and prioritise tasks. You might want to share specific strategies or tools you use to stay organised. This will show the interviewers that you can handle the fast-paced environment of supporting multiple School Directors.
✨Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration
This role requires working closely with various stakeholders, so be prepared to talk about your teamwork experiences. Share instances where you collaborated effectively with colleagues or supported events. Highlighting your ability to work well with others will resonate with the interviewers.
