Personal Assistant to Head of Education & Service Support Assistant, East Sussex County Council

 Job Category Administration

Locations Lewes, East Sussex, (Hybrid)

Working Hours 37

Salary£29,668 to £30,368 per annum

Working Pattern Full Time

Contract Type Permanent Contract

Closing date:  1/11/2026

Are you a highly organised and proactive professional who can provide trusted support in a busy senior leadership environment?

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the Education Division, helping senior leaders to coordinate priorities, communicate effectively and deliver high-quality services for children, young people and schools across East Sussex.

As Personal Assistant to a Head of Education and Service Support Assistant, you will provide efficient, comprehensive and confidential personal assistant and administrative support to the Head of Education, the Senior Leadership Team and the wider SLT Support team. You will manage diaries and meetings, prepare accurate reports, correspondence and presentations, monitor actions and timescales, and respond appropriately to colleagues, elected members, customers and external partners. You will also undertake high-level administrative work, support projects and help the Division manage important information and statutory requests. You will also:

  • Provide trusted PA and administrative support in a complex, fast-moving environment
  • Coordinate meetings, actions, correspondence, data and project activity accurately and on time
  • Build effective working relationships with senior leaders, colleagues, elected members and external partners

The role works as part of the SLT Support team, providing support to the Head of Education and their Senior Leadership Team, and cover across the team where required.

We are looking for candidates who:

  • Have previous secretarial or Personal Assistant experience and strong Microsoft Office skills
  • Communicate confidently and professionally with people at all levels, including those raising concerns or complaints
  • Organise and prioritise a varied workload, meet deadlines and maintain confidentiality
  • Use initiative, sound judgement and political awareness to solve problems and assess priorities
  • Collate and interpret numerical data, produce accurate written work and adapt flexibly to changing demands

You will be proactive, dependable and comfortable working with sensitive information. You will bring excellent attention to detail, a collaborative approach and the ability to remain organised when priorities change.

The role works as part of the SLT Support team, providing support to the Head of Education and their Senior Leadership Team, and cover across the team where required.

We are looking for candidates who:

  • Have previous secretarial or Personal Assistant experience and strong Microsoft Office skills
  • Communicate confidently and professionally with people at all levels, including those raising concerns or complaints
  • Organise and prioritise a varied workload, meet deadlines and maintain confidentiality
  • Use initiative, sound judgement and political awareness to solve problems and assess priorities
  • Collate and interpret numerical data, produce accurate written work and adapt flexibly to changing demands

You will be proactive, dependable and comfortable working with sensitive information. You will bring excellent attention to detail, a collaborative approach and the ability to remain organised when priorities change.

Essential education and qualifications

  1. RQF Level 2 in English Language or ability to pass assessment at interview

Essential key skills, abilities, knowledge, experience, values and behaviours

  1. Communication skills with the ability to produce detailed written reports and deal with people at all levels in person, on MS teams or by telephone, including those making complaints.
  2. Demonstrate ability to effectively organise and prioritise personal workloads to ensure deadlines are met.
  3. Secretarial and ICT skills.
  4. Ability to demonstrate political sensitivity and awareness.
  5. Ability to collate and interpret numerical data.
  6. Ability to work as part of a team.
  7. Microsoft Office Suite.
  8. PowerPoint.
  9. Previous secretarial or Personal Assistant support.
  10. Proactive and able to use own initiative in problem solving.
  11. Flexible attitude to work tasks and a changing work environment.

Desirable key skills, abilities, knowledge, experience, values and behaviours

  1. Knowledge of the services provided by the directorate.
  2. Previous secretarial or Personal Assistant support to a senior manager or equivalent.

Experience of working in a large complex organisation

Apply to: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/jobs

For more information about this position, please contact People Matter Working for You team. We will register you as a client, review your CV and provide a career action plan for this and future applications. We can also help you develop and practice interview skills. Our services are free. Please email: moira@people-matter.org.uk or call 07914 425733.

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