Executive Assistant to The Director of UK NACE

FCDO Services

Milton Keynes MK19 7BH, UK

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 4 weeks

Administration

Full time

£31,948 per year

Job summary

Executive Assistant to our Director, UK NACE
FCDO Services
£31,898 plus £1,750 location allowance and excellent benefits
Permanent contract
Based at Hanslope Park, Milton Keynes with flexible working or the opportunity of hybrid working depending on business need.
Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

Beyond our worldwide work in construction, logistics, and more, we're also home to the UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping (UK NACE). Working at the cutting edge of technology, the teams at UK NACE guard against technical espionage, provide policy advice to the government, investigate threats, and more– all to protect our nation's secrets. Now, you’ve got the opportunity to join them.

Job description

Keeping the nation’s secrets, secret.

Working on one-of-a-kind projects.

Vital to national security.

It all matters.

Work on a wide range of exciting projects

When you join us you’ll be ready for change, and possess the calm flexibility to reprioritise and rearrange at any time. Considering the vast range of vital operations and services we’re involved in worldwide, supporting an FCDO Services Director is always a role which is continually changing and requires priority management. Naturally, that makes the role challenging, but if you’re ready to use your exceptional organisational skills to support a wide range of exciting projects , and have the drive to stay on your toes, it’s hugely rewarding.

Communicate clearly with customers at the very highest levels

As the Executive Assistant to our Director of UK NACE, you’ll be a direct point of contact for everyone from the most senior colleagues to external stakeholders across government. With that in mind, we’ll expect you to be a born communicator, being clear, accurate and persuasive in everything you do. You’ll also collaborate superbly with colleagues and customers, be able to absorb complex data and confidential conversations, and create accurate briefings, minutes and reports to support the effectiveness of the organisation. Your input into projects will help the team meet key milestones. And your brilliant Microsoft Office skills and experience of electronic diary management will mean you’ll hit the ground running in this highly visible, fast-paced role.

Provide team support and find the support to take your career higher

You’ll be there to provide invaluable support and help us keep everything running smoothly. And we’ll be there to support you too in progressing your career and realising your ambitions. You’ll also enjoy great benefits, including flexible working, an on-site nursery, a Civil Service pension, and more. And finally, most importantly, there’s that sense of purpose you’ll feel every day – because you’ll be using your skills to support a business that helps protect people, information and assets across the globe. In short, it’s your job, bigger.

Every colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting on our website: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about us and what a career with FCDO Services can offer you, please visit: fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Link to apply is - https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?jcode=1976283

Closing date for applications is: 03/03/2026

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Person specification

• Strong communication skills – written and verbal with experience of minute taking, and the ability to proofread, summarise and communicate complex information.

• Highly organised, with ability to stay calm under pressure and work to deadlines without direct supervision.

• Good judgement, tact and diplomatic skills – ability to deliver difficult messages and maintain the confidence of colleagues at all levels, handling sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.

• Understanding of and ability to provide high levels of customer service to internal and external stakeholders

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Behaviours

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

Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

Strong communication skills – written and verbal with experience of minute taking, and the ability to proofread, summarise and communicate complex information.
Highly organised, with ability to stay calm under pressure and work to deadlines without direct supervision.
Good judgement, tact and diplomatic skills – ability to deliver difficult messages and maintain the confidence of colleagues at all levels, handling sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
Understanding of and ability to provide high levels of customer service to internal and external stakeholders
Proficiency with Microsoft Office

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,898, FCDO Services contributes £9,240 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement, and provide answers to some job specific/technical skills.

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment they will provide an insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include:

no personal identifying details
career history with key responsibilities
achievements
qualifications

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role.

Candidates will only be sifted on answers provided to the technical/ job specific questions which are outlined in the application form.

Those that are successful will be invited to a MS Teams or Face to face interview.

At the interview you will be asked a blend of questions on technical/job specific skills and behaviours.

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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

Salary range

£31,948 per year