Personal Assistant (PA)

On behalf of Network Rail, we are looking for a Personal Assistant for a 4 month (potential extension) contract based at Waterloo Station 3 days a week onsite

Network Rail is at the heart of revitalising Britain’s railway. From Crossrail – Europe’s largest civil engineering project – to investment in world-class stations and major programmes of electrification, we are involved in some of the most ambitious and diverse ventures that this country has ever seen. We at Network Rail are dedicated to becoming one of Britain's best employers and believe this starts with placing the candidate at the heart of everything we do!

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Personal Assistant (PA) to provide comprehensive support to the GBR Programme Director and wider Programme Team. This is a fast-paced and varied role that requires excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the Director's office, providing proactive administrative support, coordinating meetings and events, managing travel arrangements, and supporting financial and procurement processes.

As a Personal Assistant your main responsibilities will be:

- Manage the Programme Director's diary, calendar, and inbox, ensuring priorities and commitments are effectively coordinated.
- Organise domestic and international travel arrangements for the Director and Programme Team.
- Coordinate meetings, events, functions, conferences, and site visits, including room bookings, logistics, travel arrangements, and preparation of materials.
- Prepare agendas, papers, and supporting documentation for executive meetings.
- Attend to follow-up actions arising from meetings and ensure actions are tracked and completed.
- Maintain accurate and efficient filing and record-management systems, particularly for recurring and standing meetings.
- Support financial and procurement activities, including raising purchase orders and processing invoices.
- Provide general administrative and operational support to the Programme Director and wider team as required.
- Build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ensure a professional, responsive, and confidential service is maintained at all times.

Essential:

- Previous experience working as a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant, or in a similar senior support role.
- Experience supporting senior leaders and managing complex diaries and schedules.
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience arranging travel, meetings, events, and conferences.
- Ability to prepare meeting papers, agendas, and minutes/action logs.
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Experience using Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive stakeholder relationships

Desirable:

- Experience supporting senior leaders within a large, complex organisation.
- Knowledge of financial and procurement processes.
- Experience raising purchase orders and processing invoices through finance systems.
- Experience working within programme, project, or transformation environments.
- Familiarity with document management and records management processes.
- Experience coordinating executive-level meetings and governance activities.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Please note that Network Rail has a maximum 90-minute commute policy for all staff to the specified location for this role.

Network Rail is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. They welcome applications from everyone.

Disability Confident

As a Disability Confident employer, Network Rail encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates . Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

Armed Forces Covenant

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, Network Rail welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".