Executive Assistant and Diary Manager to the Ombudsman 

Job summary

Please note, we reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Closing date: 23 April 2026

Interview dates: 05 and 06 May 2026

Make a difference, join our team.

At the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), we make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government departments and the NHS in England. We are an independent service and do this without taking sides. Our work helps people understand where public services have fallen short, and we use the insight from our casework to support and drive meaningful improvements across public services and complaint handling.

With offices in both London and Manchester, we employ over 600 passionate, committed people. Our culture is open, friendly and supportive. We listen, we learn, and we treat everyone with dignity and respect. Inclusion and wellbeing are at the heart of how we work, and we strive to create a workplace where every colleague feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

Job description

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to join PHSO’s Private Office as an Executive Assistant and Diary Manager to the Ombudsman, based in London.

You will sit at the heart of the organisation, working closely with the Ombudsman and Private Office team. This is a high‑profile role with real visibility, exposure to senior leaders, and insight into how PHSO operates at the top. The work is fast‑paced, varied and often time‑critical, with priorities changing at short notice.

You’ll provide trusted, day‑to‑day support to the Ombudsman and, on occasion, the CEO. You will anticipate needs, manage a complex, ever-changing diary, and help senior leaders operate effectively across a wide range of internal and external activity. You’ll also work with colleagues across the organisation to support the senior leadership team.

This role offers breadth, challenge and stretch. You’ll gain valuable experience, build strong relationships, and see the impact of your work every day.

Due to the nature of the role and the close working relationship with the Ombudsman, you should expect to spend more time in the office than the minimum requirement of 40%, as well as undertake occasional evening or weekend work to support collaboration and business needs. An allowance of £4,200 per annum will be paid to the postholder to recognise these additional requirements.

Person specification

he successful applicant will have/ the role is sifted against these measures:

• proven experience in managing complex diaries and providing administrative support to senior leaders, ideally in similar environment.

• proven experience working in high‑pressure environments, managing competing priorities and responding calmly and effectively to urgent and changing demands.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact Rachel Cue, Assistant Private Secretary to Chief Executive Officer, Rachel.Cue@ombudsman.org.uk

We recognise the value of lived experience. If you have experience of complaining about any public body, we strongly encourage you to apply.

We know the value of having diverse, representative teams across our organisation. Which is why we particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented within the team. These include people who are:

• Asian, Black, Mixed Ethnicity or another ethnic background

• disabled

• LGBTQ.

• proven experience in building and maintaining relationships with stakeholders particularly at a senior level.

• proven experience in working in a highly visible role supporting senior staff directly, demonstrating professionalism, discretion and resilience.

Benefits

Benefits:

• Civil Service Pension scheme

• 32.5 days annual leave

• hybrid working

• flexible working

• access to a free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 advice and support from professionals and counsellors

• comprehensive learning and development programme

• employee discount scheme across hundreds of retailers

• bicycle loan scheme

• season ticket loan

• gym membership subsidy

• paid for professional memberships

• eye test reimbursement.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Inclusion & Wellbeing

Equality, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing are vital to the way we work and our culture. We want our colleagues feel included, valued, and supported at work. It is essential that we are representative and accessible for the people who work here and those who use our service.

Actions we take to embed this include:

• an anonymised shortlisting process to make sure it is fair and unbiased

• monitoring the demographic trends in our workforce and making measured, sustained efforts to improve our diversity at all levels

• providing wellbeing support and opportunities for personal and professional development for all colleagues

• creating spaces for connection and engagement through our employee network groups and social clubs

• part of the disability confident scheme

• providing reasonable adjustments

• engaging in regular inclusion learning to enhance the cultural competency of our organisation.

If you want to join a dedicated team that makes a real difference and helps raise standards in public services, then is the opportunity for you.

Interviews will be held onsite at our London office on 5th and 6th May.

Please do not use AI as this may result in in your application being rejected.

Please note that we don’t offer feedback at application stage.

PLEASE NOTE: We can only consider applications from candidates who have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to offer sponsorship as we do not have a licence.

We do not accept CV’s. To apply for the role, please complete the application form by clicking on the ‘apply online’ button.

No agencies. Applications from individuals only.

Important notice: fraudulent job postings

We have been made aware that some websites are falsely advertising job vacancies for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). We only advertise job vacancies through these official channels:

- our website

- LinkedIn

- Civil Service Jobs

- GOV.uk

- Indeed

- Ombudsman association Do not share personal details with any other websites claiming to represent PHSO. Contact our recruitment team to report any concerns at recruitment@ombudsman.org.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Rachel Cue, Assistant Private Secretary to Chief Executive Officer
• Email : Rachel.Cue@ombudsman.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ombudsman.org.uk

Attachments

How to apply Opens in new window (pdf, 149kB)Executive Assistant and Diary Manager to the Ombudsman Role profile Opens in new window (pdf, 232kB)