Personal Assistant (PA)

Job summary

Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. Our primary responsibility is to protect energy consumers, especially the most vulnerable, while at the same time working with government, industry and consumer groups to deliver a clean, more affordable and secure net-zero energy system at the lowest cost to consumers, and drive economic growth.

We are now looking for a Personal Assistant (PA) to join our busy and collaborative EA/PA cohort, providing high quality secretarial and administrative support to up to three Deputy Directors within your assigned portfolio. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the organisation, supporting senior leaders and helping teams deliver work that directly benefits households, businesses and the environment.‑quality secretarial and administrative support to up to three Deputy Directors within your assigned portfolio. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the organisation, supporting senior leaders and helping teams deliver work that directly benefits households, businesses and the environment.

As a PA at Ofgem, you’ll manage complex and fast‑moving diaries, balancing competing priorities and helping Deputy Directors make best use of their time. You’ll coordinate logistics, prepare papers and briefings, and act as a trusted point of contact, ensuring smooth communication and seamless organisation across the directorate.

You’ll work closely with other PAs and Executive Assistants, providing cross-cover and sharing best practice to support a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. You’ll also engage with colleagues across the organisation, from policy teams to senior stakeholders, to enable efficient delivery of directorate activities.‑cover and sharing best practice to support a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. You’ll also engage with colleagues across the organisation, from policy teams to senior stakeholders, to enable efficient delivery of directorate activities.

This role offers autonomy, variety and the chance to develop your skills within a friendly and supportive team. We’re looking for someone who is highly organised, adaptable and confident in managing changing priorities. Strong communication skills, excellent judgement and a proactive approach are essential, along with proficiency in MS Office.

Job description

The Personal Assistant (PA) will provide the full range of secretarial and administrative support up to 3 Deputy Directors within the portfolio assigned, as well as providing admin support to Team Managers where capacity allows. The post-holder will also work closely with other Executive Assistants (EAs) and PAs across their directorate and the organisation, and will be a key member of a busy and collaborative EA/PA cohort.

Key Responsibilities:

• Proactive management of Deputy Directors’ diaries, effectively dealing with diary clashes and leading/attending diary meetings to understand the priorities.
• Work collaboratively with teams across the directorate to provide a wide range of logistical and administrative support.
• Work collaboratively with other PAs across the directorate, providing cover for the directorate’s PAs and EA where required.
• Contribute actively to the wider team consistently looking to secure best practice in the service provided.

Key Outputs and Deliverables

• Manage the diaries of up to 3 Deputy Directors, ensuring their time is well spent and managed efficiently, and undertake general administrative duties as required.
• Ability to work in an agile, flexible manner and be excellent at making autonomous decision when prioritising work or duties and balancing the needs of the business.
• Exercise judgment and flexibility in managing potential conflicting diary issues in a tactful and sensitive manner, having due regard for business priorities.
• Ensure the Deputy Directors receive relevant papers and briefings in a timely manner, so they are fully prepared for meetings and events.
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with colleagues in the directorate and across the wider organisation, to ensure a high level of service to the Deputy Directors.
• Work as an effective and approachable team member, contributing to team meetings within the team, covering for other PAs/EA within the directorate as requested.
• Any other tasks commensurate with the role.

Key Stakeholder Relationships

Internal

• Ofgem staff, including at senior levels
• Stakeholder management and business planning colleagues
• Other EAs, PAs, and Administrators

External

• Other government departments
• Industry, Consumer and environmental organisations and Suppliers

Person specification

Role Criteria:

Please ensure you demonstrate clearly within your personal statement, how you meet each of the criteria below (not more than 1250 words).

In the event of receiving a large number of applications, an initial sift may take place on just the lead criteria indicated below.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of providing administrative support in a fast-paced environment. Planning, organising, and prioritising where priorities are constantly changing (Lead Criteria).
• Experience of effectively balancing a wide range of needs of several senior colleagues.
• Good interpersonal and networking skills with the ability to communicate with staff and industry contacts at all levels.
• Proactive and able to work with minimum supervision.
• Demonstrable ability to work as part of a team.
• Highly Proficient with the MS Office suite (ideally including OneNote).

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,854, OFGEM contributes £7,489 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

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, Ability and Experience.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be directed to a Civil Service test – guidance for this can be found here Civil Service online tests - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Upon passing the test, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential criteria and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Ofgem takes any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Please refer to Civil Service candidate advice on the acceptable use of artificial intelligence within the recruitment and selection process - Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [ https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (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.

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

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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Lisa Buchanan
• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

Attachments

Personal Assistant role profile Opens in new window (pdf, 111kB)Personal Assistant_Candidate Pack 44276 Opens in new window (pdf, 628kB)Terms & Conditions April 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 323kB)