About the job

Summary

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The UK Space Agency aims to inspire and lead the UK in space, to benefit our planet and its people. We provide technical advice on government’s space strategy and guide the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision. We design and deliver programmes that implement government strategy, including as a sponsor of national capabilities and an early-stage investor in space research and development.

More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency.

The UK Space Agency is an Executive Agency of BEIS and plays an important role in delivering the Department’s mission. To discover more, please watch this film:

Job description

The purpose of these positions is to provide effective support to the Directors in discharging their leadership and management responsibilities, helping ensure that the Agency meets its overall objectives. In addition to supporting their principal the role holder will also be expected to provide support to other directors to cover absence.

This includes the day-to-day running of the office, administration duties including travel booking and management, in-box triage and responding to correspondence as well as diary management.

The role holder will largely work autonomously with guidance from their Line manager, Executive Assistant (EA) to CEO or Executive Assistant (EA) to DCEO as well as working directly to their principal. The role holder will be required to ensure that policies and procedures are complied with, for example in the booking and management of travel.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for all travel plans, such as booking travel and accommodation, for both their principal and, on occasion, those travelling with them.

• Dealing with invitations and requests for meetings, prioritising on behalf of their principal in order to manage their time efficiently.

• Identifying and arranging meetings both at UKSA premises and outside, including booking meeting rooms and sourcing suitable meeting venues outside the office where required.

• Providing logistical information and advice on accommodation and best travel options for delegates to meetings, both nationally and internationally.

• Responsibility for effectively completing any other duties for a successful meeting or event such as bookings/catering orders/arranging for equipment such as projectors and teleconference facilities.

• In-box triage, directing emails to Directors/ others as appropriate and flagging urgent emails in absence of HEO.

• Ensuring that meeting reminders, agenda and other necessary administration for effective meetings are undertaken efficiently and effectively.

• Responsibility for maintaining effective agency records and filing systems as appropriate.

• Diary management, including weekly meetings with their principal to ensure they are well prepared for upcoming commitments.

• Miscellaneous tasks such as refunds/expenses/post.

Due to the scope and nature of the role the postholder will be expected to work largely autonomously, managing their own time to ensure that objectives and targets are met.

Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications:

Essential:

- Excellent communication skills.

Desirable:

- Previous PA experience.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together