Details
1115264
De Montfort University (Leicester)
30/08/2026
Other - See Job
see advert
Business Dress
Pay
£18.45
£2.88
Description
Role
To provide high-level executive and strategic support to the Vice-Chancellor (VC) and the Head of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office (HVCO), ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office (VCO).
The postholder will be responsible for managing the day-to-day business processes and administrative systems established by the HVCO - ensuring they are followed, evaluated, and refined as needed to support the university's strategic goals. The role requires proactive management of the VC’s diary, correspondence, and engagements to maximise their time and ensure they are always well-informed, fully briefed, and have sufficient time to act on matters requiring their input.
The postholder will be a key point of coordination and communication across the university and with external stakeholders. They must ensure timely, courteous, and professional interactions, reinforce the authority and position of the VCO, and uphold the highest standards of discretion and diplomacy. They must also be able to adapt to the rapid pace of change within a consistently evolving environment.
Occasional out-of-hours work may be required, by prior agreement, in line with the needs of the VC.
The working hours would be as follows:
Monday: 08:45 - 17:00
Tuesday: 08:45 - 17:15
Wednesday: 08:45 - 17:15
Thursday: 08:45 - 17:15
Friday: 08:45 - 17:00
Start Date; 30/08/2026
Current end date: 25/12/2026
Interview date: TBC
Duties and responsibilities
Working independently and with direction from the HVCO where appropriate, the postholder will:
1. Support strategic delivery
Develop a strong understanding of DMU’s strategic priorities, and assist the VC and HVCO in achieving them through effective planning, execution, and follow-up.
2. Operational leadership of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Oversee and continuously improve operational processes within the VCO. Align all workflows with digital best practice and ensure the office runs efficiently, responsively, and professionally.
3. Time and task management
Manage the VC’s diary and correspondence to ensure business is handled promptly, with adequate preparation time, and that no documents or decisions reach the VC at short notice unless absolutely unavoidable.
4. Proactive information culture
Embed working practices that ensure the VC is always proactively informed, fully prepared, and has the appropriate context and materials to support timely decision-making and reduce last-minute requests or follow-ups.
5. Uphold the authority and position of the VCO
Ensure that communications and requests from the VCO are understood by DMU staff to carry the full weight of the VC’s office i.e. that requests and deadlines must be respected and met.
6. Foster professional communication
Oversee correspondence with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring all interactions are courteous, timely, and uphold the university’s professional standards.
7. Support governance and executive operations
Provide logistical and administrative support for key committees, including the University Leadership Board. Manage agendas, papers, records, and minutes as required.
8. Regulatory submissions
Coordinate and manage the timely submission of regulatory documents, as directed by senior officers and following approval by the Vice Chancellor.
9. Coordinate VC engagements
Arrange complex travel, meetings, and events for the VC. Manage VIP visits, external engagements, and formal occasions, ensuring all logistics and protocols are in place.
10. Manage documentation and briefings
Prepare and quality-assure briefings, reports, presentations, and correspondence. Ensure the VC is fully prepared for all meetings and engagements.
11. Stakeholder engagement
Represent the VCO in interactions with senior staff and external stakeholders, often handling sensitive and confidential matters with tact and diplomacy.
12. Track actions and risks
Maintain an up-to-date risk register and action log as core operational tools of the VCO.
13. Support strategic initiatives
Assist the HVCO in delivering the VC’s engagement and international strategies, helping to ensure the diary reflects institutional priorities.
Skills and experience
Essential Criteria:
- Significant experience of providing Personal Assistant support at executive level
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Experience of complex diary management in an environment of rapid change
- Proven ability to manage conflicting demands whilst maintaining deadlines and professionalism
- Ability to collate and summarise information, providing succinct and accurate briefings, to a wide range of senior stakeholders, recommending appropriate solutions as required
- Ability to assess situations, using initiative and judgement to identify appropriate solutions
- Formal committee servicing experience
- Ability to correspond and communicate at a high level, demonstrating excellent levels of accuracy, comprehension and attention to detail
- Reliable and self-motivated, able to work under limited supervision
- Confident IT user including Microsoft Office packages
- Ability and willingness to adopt a flexible approach to work in order to provide support across a broad range of responsibilities and, when required, work outside of normal working hours
- Political awareness and diplomacy and the ability to deal with issues sensitively and within the confines of confidentiality
- Ability to provide a service to a diverse range of people to promote good relations and equality
- Practical knowledge of UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and a deep appreciation for the need to maintain confidentiality
- Significant experience of arranging complex travel itineraries including national and international travel as required
Location
De Montfort University
Additional information
This role is not suitable to current DMU students. The advert will close once we have received sufficient applications.
Unitemps is acting as an Employment Business, supplying temporary workers, in relation to this vacancy.
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