Executive Assistant

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our work touches people's everyday lives, from the food we eat and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. We are looking for Executive Assistants to support senior leaders in Defra's Environment Group. You will work directly with Deputy Directors, helping them focus on the priorities, stay organised and deliver high-impact work on some of the UK's most pressing environmental challenges and be part of a wider Business Support team. Environment Group is a large and diverse part of Defra, with over 1,400 staff working across a wide range of policy and delivery areas. We lead work to protect and restore nature, improve air and water quality, tackle climate change and support sustainable economic growth. You'll be joining a collaborative and inclusive environment, working with colleagues across government and with external partners including businesses, Non-Government Organisations and local communities. This is a varied and rewarding role at the heart of decision-making, where you'll play a key role in supporting senior leaders and ensuring the smooth running of day-to-day directorate business. As an Executive Assistant, you will manage competing priorities, coordinate activity and act as a key point of contact across the Directorate. This role offers excellent exposure to senior leaders and a unique insight into how environmental policy and programmes are delivered across government. We are looking for individuals who are highly organised, take ownership of their work, and use initiative to identify opportunities and improve ways of working. You will be an important member of the wider team, supporting colleagues and contributing to a positive, collaborative working environment. You'll also be encouraged to take part in directorate and department-wide initiatives and uphold Civil Service values. All of our teams work flexibly, and the successful candidates will need to adapt to changing priorities, including working across different teams or directorates as business needs require. Whilst vacancies may exist across all Defra hub locations (Bristol, London, Newcastle & York), appointments will be made in merit order. Successful candidates will then be allocated to a location based on business need and operational demand. Defra is committed to your learning and development, and successful candidates may have the opportunity to undertake a recognised Executive Assistant or Business Administration apprenticeship programme alongside their role, subject to eligibility requirements. Candidate Drop-In Session - Microsoft Teams We are holding drop-in sessions to give you the opportunity to speak to colleagues from Environment Group, to find out more about our work and the recruitment process. Please note that if you join a session using your personal Microsoft Teams account, your name and email address may be visible to other attendees. To maintain privacy, we recommend signing out of your account and joining the session as a guest. Please use the link next to the date you're attending:

• Wednesday 2 September 2026: 12.30 -1:15pm Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/387244433443174?p=XuF6VoJS2otTzp18Z0
• Thursday 3 September 2026: 6.30 - 7.15pm Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/323?p=IAMdwTLIsG9s6WGhti
Key responsibilities
• Manage busy and complex diaries, ensuring time is prioritised effectively
• Oversee inboxes, triaging and responding to correspondence on behalf of senior leaders
• Act as a key point of contact, confidently handling and directing queries
• Commission briefings and ensure Deputy Directors are fully prepared for meetings
• Coordinate meetings, agendas, papers and follow-up actions
• Track commissions and deadlines to support delivery across the team
• Arrange travel, logistics, and support events such as away days
• Build strong relationships across teams and provide flexible support where needed
This is not an exhaustive list but gives a strong indication of the role. There will be opportunities for successful candidates to work with directorate colleagues to shape their role and contribute to team and directorate-level initiatives.