PA to BRC Directors & Senior Manager

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for a detailed job description for the role.

Main duties of the job

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a highly organised, proactive and confident Personal Assistant to support the BRC Directors and Senior Manager.

This is a pivotal role at the heart of a dynamic, fast paced research environment, providing high level administrative and organisational support to senior leaders who are shaping the future of healthcare research.

This is a 12 month fixed term position as you will be covering maternity leave.

The NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is a nationally funded partnership between University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Southampton, focused on delivering world leading research to improve patient outcomes.

This role would suit someone who enjoys variety, thrives on responsibility, and takes pride in enabling senior teams to operate effectively. You will be trusted to manage complex diaries, coordinate high profile meetings, and act as a key point of contact across NHS and University stakeholders.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Job Description & Responsibilities

Responsibilities

As a Personal Assistant to the BRC Directors and Senior Manager, you will play a central role in supporting the effective leadership and day to day running of the BRC. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing a comprehensive, high quality personal assistant service to the BRC Directors and Senior Manager, ensuring they are fully supported in delivering strategic and operational priorities
• Proactively managing complex diaries, appointments and competing priorities, using judgement and discretion to ensure effective use of senior leaders’ time
• Organising, coordinating and servicing a range of meetings, including senior leadership, governance and external stakeholder meetings
• Preparing agendas, collating papers, taking accurate minutes, and following up actions to support effective decision making
• Acting as a first point of contact for the BRC, liaising professionally with internal and external stakeholders across the NHS, University and wider research community
• Supporting the smooth running of the BRC through effective organisation, forward planning and problem solving

This is a varied and trusted role requiring professionalism, attention to detail and the confidence to work closely with senior leaders.

What Experience/skills Are Needed

• Experience working as a Personal Assistant, in business administration, or a relevant graduate role, or demonstrable transferable skills gained through study, placements or internships
• Experience of working in a busy, fast paced environment, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with excellent attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, using initiative and judgement, while also contributing effectively as part of a team
• Confident communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise professionally with a range of stakeholders, including senior staff
• Good IT skills, with experience using Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word and Excel
• A proactive, solution focused approach, with a willingness to learn and develop

For more information about the BRC, please visit:

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Good standard of secondary education with English skills demonstrable to GCSE pass level or equivalent standard
• NVQ level 4 in business admin or equivalent level of experience gained in a busy PA/business support role
• Experience working as a Personal Assistant or in business administration

Desirable criteria

• Experience within an Acute Trust or other healthcare sector
• Previous experience of working in an extremely busy environment
• Budget holding experience

Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together