International Biodiversity & Climate Executive Assistant

Location

York, North Yorkshire | United Kingdom

Job description

Are you looking for a role that provides personal development and career progression?

Do you have an interest in the environment and want to work in a team that is committed to reversing biodiversity loss?

Are you highly organised and enjoy supporting others to deliver their roles?

Do you want to work as part of a great team in the International Biodiversity and Climate (IBC) Directorate?

If yes then please read on...

IBC is a dynamic and friendly directorate, offering varied and rewarding roles with the opportunity to make a real difference to the long-term future of our planet. We are focussed on driving a shift to a nature-positive world: reversing biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystems, tackling climate change and contributing to global poverty reduction. Examples of work our include: 

• Negotiating, agreeing and delivering effective global frameworks for protecting and promoting nature and biodiversity through the UN system and multilateral environment agreements.  
• Protecting endangered plants and animals from the threats of international trade. 
• Mobilising finance for nature and shifting the international finance system to be nature positive  
• Promoting a move to sustainable supply chains and production to end commodity driven deforestation and reduce the UK’s global environmental footprint.  
• Supporting developing countries to achieve positive impacts on climate, biodiversity, health and poverty through Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds.  

Working in an Executive Assistant role, you will be responsible for providing comprehensive support to one or more Director/s or Deputy Directors and their wider team, making sure their divisions in the IBC Directorate run effectively and efficiently.

In many instances you will be the first point of contact and will need to be confident in engaging with internal and external colleagues to field queries and build relationships. The role calls for a highly organised individual who takes responsibility, works independently, is innovative and offers their own ideas.

This role provides a great opportunity for the post-holder to have visibility of the breadth of work that the Directorate delivers and develop an understanding of the work in this team and across Defra. You will be able to develop a good overview of Defra Group priorities, the wider drivers for change, and opportunities for improvements. There is the possibility of studying for an apprenticeship as part of this role with time allocated for attendance at college.

Some of the activities that this role will be delivering include: 

• Organisational support and ensuring the smooth running of the Director/Deputy Director’s day to day business and engagement across the Division
• Managing all meetings and diary requests for the Director/Deputy Director/s and any associated meetings they are chairing/organising  
• Continuous monitoring of the Director/Deputy Director’s inbox with prioritisation of incoming emails, flagging urgent matters at the earliest and appropriate moment, and responding accurately within deadlines. 
• Working with Director/Deputy Directors to ensure they are adequately prepared for meetings (e.g. preparing briefing packs) 
• Providing expert insights to the Director/Deputy Director’s preferences in terms of time and workload management, working with multiple contacts to ensure that expectations are met. 
• Logistics support including booking meeting rooms, travel and accommodation for Director/Deputy Director and wider team as appropriate. 
• Proactively working with colleagues internally and across Government on delivering other tasks, actions and commissions, ensuring successful and timely delivery as requested. 
• Working effectively as a member of the wider Executive Officers Team supporting colleagues through sharing of experience best practice and providing cover when required. 

This is not an exhaustive list but gives a good feel for the role. You may be asked to work flexibly and deliver work outside of the above job description to support the Director/Deputy Director as well as the wider team.  There is an opportunity for the successful post holders to shape their role and to contribute to team and directorate level initiatives. In this role you will be an important member of the wider team who will both support you and rely on you as a valuable colleague. Further you will be expected to promote civil service values and will be encouraged to take part in directorate and department-wide initiatives.

Your personal qualities are extremely important to us: this is a varied role, and we don’t expect you to be an expert on everything at the outset. You will be able to develop a good overview of Defra Group priorities, the wider drivers for change, and opportunities for improvements. 

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with a disability, people with gender diverse identities and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 

Job tags

Salary

£27.47k - £32.07k per annum