Private Secretary

Hours: Full time or Part time (minimum 0.8 FTE)

Contract Type: Open Ended

This is an exciting opportunity to provide direct support to Professor Christopher Smith in his role as AHRC Executive Chair and International Champion and gain a unique insight into the Arts and Humanities research landscape, working alongside him as he leads AHRC through the next electoral and strategic planning cycle.

As his Private Secretary, you will ensure that the business of AHRC’s Executive Chair is supported effectively for the successful coordination of AHRC’s strategic leadership and decision-making, and effective operational delivery. This is a pivotal role supporting a broad-ranging, dynamic and innovative research council agenda, with leadership across UKRI, including creative industries.

This role will support a team of Executive Assistants and Personal Assistants alongside the Private Secretary to the AHRC COO, providing high quality executive support to all members of the Executive Chair’s Directors Group. They enable engagement across AHRC, support consistency of standards, and embed best practice in executive support.

We have a great all-round package, including 30 days annual leave, flexible working, civil service pension, and access to employee benefits. AHRC has committed to hybrid working: our focus is on what you deliver as opposed to where you deliver it from.

Essential Skills, Qualifications and Experience

Shortlisting Criteria

• A forward thinker, able to drive the agenda and respond to shifting priorities

• Highly-organised, methodical and proactive with the proven ability to plan ahead

• Able to solve problems with initiative, creative thought and interpretation

• Able to work flexibly to adapt to change

• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy

• An understanding of the business of AHRC and UKRI sufficient to be able to see the bigger picture and understand the implications

• Able to lead a small but high-performing team to achieve high quality and timely outcomes through both direct and matrix management

• Able to accompany the Executive Chair on official business visits within the UK and overseas

Interview Criteria

• Able to work independently and collaboratively with multiple stakeholders across teams, councils and communities

• Sophisticated and highly sensitive communication and interpersonal skills (verbal, presentational and written), able to absorb, evaluate and communicate complex information in language appropriate to the audience

• Multi-tasks with precision and prioritises to meet deadlines and deliver at pace

• Demonstrable emotional intelligence and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty

• Operates with a high level of tact, diplomacy, integrity, resilience, patience and discretion

• Deals effectively with challenging situations

• Can achieve outcomes by working across boundaries and structures to support the Executive Chairs priorities and agenda

Desirable

• Understanding of the arts and humanities research sector

• Understanding of working in a public service governance structure

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