Leadership Assistant - Coroner's Office

Fixed Term, 3 months

Full Time, 37 hours per week

Up to £25,714 per annum

Location: Chelmsford*

Closing Date: 25th February 2021

*This position will initially, in line with current government guidance be based from home, with an expectation of being home based for the foreseeable future, however if / when government guidelines change the role may then revert to being office based, with Chelmsford as the expected daily location. There will also be occasions when the postholder will be required to attend SEAX House / County Hall for essential business.

Job Purpose

We are currently seeking a leadership assistant to provide professional secretarial support to the HM Senior Coroner and Court Administrative support for Inquests held at the Essex Coroners Court.

You will provide a flexible and agile service to senior leaders, enabling them to achieve strategic goals, providing efficient administration services including effective diary and inbox management as agreed, preparation of correspondence, coordinating diaries, making appointments and supporting key meetings.

You will provide a Court Administrative support role, including operating court recording equipment, maintaining press lists and dealing with requests relating to Inquests from third parties.

This role requires excellent organisational skills and the ability to build strong working relationships with stakeholders at senior level, including leadership teams. You should have experience of working within a business support environment and delivering a complete range of administrative tasks, including meeting support, diary management and tracking progress against agreed actions.

Role responsibilities

• To provide proactive, efficient and effective secretarial and administrative support to HM Senior Coroner (Essex Coroners Service), taking the initiative and acting on their behalf by resolving issues, making formal appointments and ensuring co-ordination of diary movements.
• To proactively identify as early as possible where potential unmovable clashes will occur and pre-empt - where a substitute is appropriate - who is likely to attend and take the necessary action.
• To provide Court Administrative support including preparing the court room, operating transcript recording equipment, maintaining web-based Press Lists and a calendar of inquest dates, and responding to requests relating to Inquests from third parties, including related billing and fees.
• To prepare documentation relating to Treasure Inquests and process requests relating to genealogy.
• To organize meetings, prepare and distribute agendas and supporting papers
• To work flexibly and provide cross service cover when fluctuating workloads or staff absences require this.
• To operate sound forward planning and office systems to ensure that arrangements are made, materials prepared, and papers collated for meetings, seminars and conferences.
• To priorities effectively to cope with changing priorities that occur regularly.
• To provide high-quality word-processing service and to organize and quality check own work.
• To assist in the preparation and organizing of events, activities and key meetings, liaising with external organizations and partners as appropriate.
• Dealing with ad hoc / one off financial claims or expenses.
• Undertake such other duties as may reasonably be required of you commensurate with your grade and as required to support the business, including maintaining business continuity and during civil emergencies.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Educated to A level standard or equivalent by experience
• NVQ Level 3 in administrative or demonstrably equivalent experience
• Advance knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and Power Point with excellent word processing skills
• Considerable experience of providing support to senior leadership figures
• Proven experience of dealing with material of a highly confidential and sensitive nature
• Experiencing of operating at a high level of concentration over a range of activities with conflicting deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to use discretion and influence outcome
• Evidence of continuing professional development and good knowledge in relevant professional area.

Apply and next steps

Please apply via the Working for Essex website, ensuring you provide an up to date CV and supporting statement when prompted.
Interviews are expected to be held on a virtual / video call basis.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.