Location
City of Westminster

Hours
Full Time - 37 hours per week

Salary
£33,730 per annum

About the Role
The Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) is responsible for the provision of the UK's nuclear deterrent, including submarines and nuclear warheads, while advising on nuclear planning and fostering international cooperation. The DNO comprises a multidisciplinary team of over 700 professionals working alongside the Royal Navy, the Submarine Delivery Agency, and the Atomic Weapons Establishment as part of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE).

We are recruiting Executive Assistants (EAs) to provide direct support to senior civil servants within the DNO. This role is central to a high-profile organisation, supporting leaders responsible for delivering some of Defence's most critical programmes and priorities.

As an Executive Assistant, you will manage diary commitments, coordinate meetings and engagements, handle logistics, and balance competing demands on senior officials' time. The role offers significant exposure to senior decision-making and engagement across Defence, government, and external partners. You will act as a key point of contact for stakeholders, facilitating communication and coordination between offices and organisations.

Private Office roles require a continuous presence to manage business, stakeholder engagement, decision-making processes, and urgent issues as they arise. Due to the operational demands, this role is not compatible with part-time working arrangements. Flexible and condensed working patterns may be considered; however, hybrid working is not suitable due to security constraints.

You will work closely with senior leaders and be part of a supportive DNO Private Office community. The role offers unique opportunities for learning, development, and exposure to a wide range of high-profile Defence Nuclear activities, providing an excellent platform to build skills and expand your professional network.

Due to the sensitive nature of the work, additional security checks will be conducted, and there are travel restrictions to certain countries. Applicants with close connections to specific countries may experience longer processing times or withdrawal of offers. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

Experience
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain attention to detail.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Experience managing busy schedules, exercising sound judgement, and prioritising work to meet deadlines.
- Resilience and adaptability to remain calm under pressure and respond positively to changing priorities.
- Proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues, with confidence to work independently and take ownership.
- Commitment to delivering high-quality service to internal and external stakeholders.
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and responding to emerging requirements at short notice.
- Proficient in Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.

About you
- Ability to work closely with senior leaders while collaborating within a wider team.
- Discretion and professionalism due to access to sensitive information.
- Willingness to undergo Developed Vetting security clearance.
- Adaptable to the demands of a high-profile and fast-moving environment.
- Committed to supporting diversity and inclusion within the workplace.

Qualifications
- Prior experience providing professional Executive Assistant support to Directors, Directors General, or ministers is desirable but not essential.
- No formal qualifications are specified; however, relevant experience and skills are critical.