Personal Assistant (x5) – Ministry of Defence
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is recruiting 5 Personal Assistants to provide administrative and secretarial support to senior leaders within the Defence Housing Service (DHS).
The roles involve managing complex diaries and inboxes, coordinating meetings and priorities, arranging travel, maintaining records and providing professional support to senior leaders.
The Defence Housing Service is being developed as part of a major transformation of Armed Forces housing, with a focus on improving homes, communities and services for Service personnel and their families.
Key Details
- Employer: Ministry of Defence
- Job title: Personal Assistant
- Vacancies: 5
- Reference: 482787
- Salary: £27,866 per year
- Job grade: Administrative Officer
- Contract: Permanent
- Location: Lichfield, WS14 9PY
- Working pattern: Full-time, flexible working and job share
- Hours: 37 hours per week
- Business area: MOD – National Armaments Directorate – Infrastructure – Defence Housing
- Closing date: 16 October 2026 at 11:55 pm
About the Role
The successful candidates will provide high-quality administrative and secretarial support to senior leaders across the organisation.
Responsibilities will include:
- Managing busy and complex inboxes and prioritising correspondence.
- Managing diaries and coordinating appointments.
- Organising virtual and face-to-face meetings.
- Building effective relationships with colleagues, senior leaders and stakeholders.
- Maintaining records and registers, including gifts and hospitality declarations.
- Tracking actions, commitments and deadlines.
- Acting as a first point of contact for enquiries.
- Arranging travel and accommodation, including rail, flights, car hire and hotels.
- Providing secretariat support for meetings and events.
- Maintaining electronic filing and record-management systems.
- Providing cover for colleagues when required.
Working Arrangements
The position is advertised as full-time, 37 hours per week, with job share arrangements also available for suitable candidates.
Regular attendance at the Lichfield site will be required, expected to be approximately 60% of the working week. Initially, candidates may be required to attend more frequently while becoming familiar with the site, team and role.
Occasional travel to other Defence Housing Service sites may also be required.
Requirements
Applicants should demonstrate:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience building and maintaining effective working relationships.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Outlook.
- Experience managing complex diaries and meeting arrangements.
- The ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Experience coordinating meetings, events or activities and maintaining accurate records.
Civil Service Behaviours
The selection process will assess:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Salary and Benefits
The salary is £27,866 per year, with the Ministry of Defence contributing approximately £8,072 towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.
Benefits include:
- 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years.
- 8 bank holidays.
- An additional day off to honour the Sovereign’s birthday.
- Flexible and hybrid working where possible.
- Employer pension contribution of around 28.97%.
- Enhanced parental leave schemes.
- Recognition awards.
- Specialist training and funded professional qualifications.
- Career progression support.
- Access to a range of discounts.
Application and Selection Process
Applications will be assessed through the Civil Service Success Profiles process.
At the sift stage, applicants will need to provide:
- A CV in the Job History section demonstrating how they meet the essential criteria.
- A personal statement of no more than 500 words, providing specific examples of how they meet the two most critical criteria.
At interview, candidates will be assessed against the four listed behaviours.
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Applicants should ensure that all examples and statements are truthful and based on their own experience. The advert states that inappropriate use of AI-generated material or plagiarism may result in an application being withdrawn.
Security and Eligibility
Successful applicants will need to complete the required security checks, including a Security Check (SC) level requirement, as well as relevant personnel security checks.
The vacancy is broadly open to eligible UK nationals, Irish nationals, qualifying Commonwealth nationals and certain EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and other groups who meet the Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements.
Visa sponsorship: The advert does not state that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is available. Applicants requiring sponsorship should confirm their eligibility directly with the Ministry of Defence before applying.
Closing Date
16 October 2026 at 11:55 pm
How to Apply
Applications are made through the official Civil Service Jobs vacancy.
Reference number: 482787
Source: Civil Service Jobs / Ministry of Defence