Advice assistant jobs in belfast

We are looking for an Executive Assistant to work within the Northern Ireland Directorate, Business Support Team. Your primary role will be to provide excellent administrative support to the Northern Ireland Director and to provide a business support service to the Northern Ireland Funding team and wider Directorate.

As part of the small Business Support Team, you will provide a flexible and responsive executive support service to the Northern Ireland Director that will include daily diary management.

Day to day responsibilities:

• You will have exceptional organisational and diary management skills. You will be able to deal with ad hoc requests in a timely manner ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.
• You will provide a range of business and administrative support as required by the wider Funding team in relation to the delivery of our programmes that will require excellent IT skills and proficiency.
• You will have excellent communication skills both written and verbal and have the ability to take minutes in a clear and concise manner.
• You will be required to support with venue sourcing, travel and accommodation arrangements, event logistics including catering and hospitality, and ensure we achieve the best environment for effective and efficient meetings.
• You will display a customer centric approach in your handling of internal and external queries and be ready to take the initiative and problem solve, with a calm and professional approach and attention to detail.
• You’ll be flexible in how you work, proactively engaging with and developing effective and collaborative working relationships at all levels across teams and wider organisation.
• You will maintain a high level of quality communication keeping both internal and external stakeholders adequately informed and updated, whilst recognising the need for discretion and confidentiality.
• Your experience will show you are able to quickly familiarise yourself with a complex environment and are able to hit the ground running.

Fundamentally, you will have a passion for making a difference and playing your part in making the Fund a great place to work.

Interview Dates: Tuesday 29 July and Wednesday 30 July 2025

Location: This is a permanent, hybrid role, contracted to the Northern Ireland office in Belfast. You will be expected to be in the office for one to two days a week, as well as attending key meetings in person.

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential Criteria 

• Experience of working as an executive assistant to senior positions, with good knowledge of key administrative processes
• Good understanding of excellent customer service and relationship management skills
• Ability to capture information in a clear and concise manner
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Ability to analyse complex documentation
• Experience of working collaboratively, and an understanding of the skills required to work productively within a team
• Excellent IT skills and proficiency in Microsoft 365
• Flexibility to understand and implement change and continuous improvement

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

About Chapter One

Chapter One is a dynamic, growing charity with a vision of a world in which all children have the literacy skills needed to thrive. Our mission is to close the reading gap by providing children with one-to-one support at the time they need it most. 

Our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme currently supports around 3,000 children a year. It pairs disadvantaged, struggling five to eight-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 140 local and national businesses. The volunteer ask is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability. 

For more information about our programmes please visit our website. Please also take some time to visit our social media channels and watch our videos.
 

About the Role

The Human Resources (HR) & Administrative Assistant will provide support to the CEO, Line Managers and the wider team with a range of HR related and administrative tasks. They will work remotely and will need to have access to a reliable internet connection. They will report to the CEO.

This role is ideal for someone who wishes to pursue a career in HR, and Chapter One is willing to support the postholder to gain external qualifications. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and the post-holder must be permanently based in the UK at the time of applying and for the duration of their employment. 

All Chapter One employees are required to attend quarterly in-person staff meetings held in various locations across the UK (all expenses covered); participation is mandatory.

Main duties will include:

HR Administration and Data Management

• Maintain accurate and up to date HR records on Chapter One systems

• Be the in-house expert on Breathe, Chapter One’s HR system

• Lead on data entry and HR system (Breathe HR) management, including generating relevant reports to support staff management and key decision making

• Monitor and track training and DBS records ensuring timely renewals in line with Chapter One’s policies

• Assist with documenting and maintaining HR process and workflows

• Ensure employee documents are stored correctly and confidentially

Organisational Policies and HR Procedures

• Working with the CEO and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to create, update and disseminate relevant Charity policies and/or updates to the staff handbook

• Prepare standard HR letters and documents (contracts, change letters)

• Lead on the liaison with and promotion of the organisations Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured EAP)

• Create process guides for staff in collaboration with Line Managers and the CEO

• Act as a first point of support for HR-related queries from managers, escalating to the CEO when needed

• Liaise with Chapter One’s external HR advice provider when additional expertise is required

• Proactively identify opportunities to streamline and improve HR administrative processes and procedures

Recruitment, Onboarding and Offboarding

• Support managers through the entirety of the recruitment process for staff and trustees - including, but not limited to, advertising vacancies, organising applications, arranging interviews, monitoring interview tasks, coordinating assessments, collecting candidate documents, requesting references

• Managing the onboarding process for all new staff, including, but not limited to, holding HR induction meetings, coordinating new starter paperwork, setting probation review dates and training

• Work with Line Managers to organise induction plans, schedule introductory meetings, and ensure new starters are fully supported during their initial weeks

• Coordinate the offboarding process for departing staff, including exit interviews, return of equipment, and removal from systems

General HR Support

• Organise and schedule staff meetings and organisation-wide training sessions

• Coordinate wellbeing and employee engagement activities, including, but not limited to annual surveys, staff away days, seasonal events

• Plan and coordinate in-person meeting logistics, including venue booking, accommodation, equipment and refreshments, ensuring all arrangements are inclusive and appropriately tailored to staff needs

• Work with the SLT to be a champion of Chapter One’s values, and a custodian of its supportive work culture

• Communicate instructions and other messages to Line Managers and staff clearly and promptly on behalf of the CEO 

• Support with preparation for audits or compliance checks e.g. Right to Work, DBS

• Provide HR support to staff working groups e.g. Wellbeing or Learning and Development

• Attend external HR webinars (eg with DOHR or Breathe) and disseminate information to the CEO & Line Managers as required

• Stay informed of relevant employment law updates, notifying the CEO of possible changes needed to policies or procedures

• Support general organisational administration as needed, such as scheduling key meetings, maintaining registers or documentation, or assisting with regulatory filings

• Assist the CEO & Line Managers with additional HR and administrative/organisational tasks, assigned at the discretion of the CEO

We are looking for applicants with the following essential qualities:

• Educated to A-level standard or equivalent

• A genuine interest in Chapter One, with a passion for the work we do

• Experience in a similar HR role 

• Proficient in use of Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets and Google Workspace

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with colleagues at all levels

• Thoughtful, compassionate and inclusive approach to interpersonal relationships

• Self-motivated and proactive, with a problem-solving mindset

• Goal-oriented team-player who also thrives working independently

• Meticulous eye for detail, who takes pride in holding themself to the highest standards in all aspects of their work

• Professional, discreet and able to handle confidential information

• Working knowledge of HR functions

The best applicants will also have the following desirable qualities:

• Experience of working in the charity/non-profit sector

• A desire to develop a career in HR

• A qualification in HR, e.g. CIPD Level 3, or working towards one

Interview Dates:

1st round interviews - Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd July
2nd round interviews - Monday 28th July

Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from individuals who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. 

Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All postholders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request

Core working week is Monday to Friday 8.00am – 4.00pm, 37.5 hours per week, excluding Bank Holidays with requirement to work sometimes outside of core hours and at weekends, nights and bank holidays • Provide core maintenance service for the Association, including planned projects, reactive maintenance, cyclical and preventative repairs, administration and any ad-hoc tasks as arising • Responsible for the health & safety of any task being carried out and to make sure that the plant, equipment, or machinery is compliant with all legislation • Tasks to cover a wide range of technical and maintenance skills, including painting, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, grounds work and general building work and other work as appropriate, depending upon skills and qualifications required to achieve the task • To provide out of hours support on an on-call rota basis • Maintaining plant, spares and equipment across a range of Association sites. This includes completing monthly stock audits to ensure adequate levels or parts/materials/equipment are maintained and readily available for repairs. Ensure asset lists are updated with live information • Carry out site inspections & audits to ensure Health & Safety/Compliance & quality/standards are met • Carry out internal works to void properties. Inclusive but not limited to painting, minor repairs, plumbing and void safety checks. • To liaise with, staff, and residents as required, to carry out any maintenance tasks ensuring high levels of customer service • To liaise with and ensure performance of external contractors • Carry out allocation & scheduling of work tasks to staff and external contractors. Produce detailed specifications through to quotation. • Review when required - reports, quotations & recommendations from external consultants/contractors, and advise/ liaise with Property Manager on best value • Ensure ways of working, processes, policies and procedures are understood and followed • Review & monitor external reports such as lifts, Legionella, Asbestos and plant room inspections and liaise with Property manager on recommendations and appropriate actions • To provide cover and advice for Facilities Assistants/maintenance staff when and if required • On a rota basis you may be required to be the Property contact for a given period as agreed by line manager • Any administration duties as required by your Line Manager • Any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager. General There may be occasions when the post holder may be required to work at any other of the YMCA TG sites/offices in line with service needs. • The post holder must at all times carry out his/her responsibilities with due regard to YMCA TG policies and procedures in particular Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Safeguarding and Data protection Act. • All staff have a responsibility to participate in the YMCA TG Individual Performance Review Scheme and to contribute to their own development, and the development of any staff they appraise or are responsible for. • The above Job Description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the service.

Salary: £36,910 - £44,160 per annum, dependent on experience, plus excellent benefits package

Hours: 35 per week

Contract: Permanent

Based: Home based with some travel to services required (estimated to be 1-2 days per month)

Ref: 1566

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity, working in the areas of substance use, domestic abuse, criminal justice, housing and young people. We deliver world-class services that rebuild lives. We’ve been making a difference since 1969 by combining our expertise with new, innovative approaches, and putting people at the heart of everything we do.

The Bid Writer will work in our Business Development Team, planning, developing and writing high quality bid submissions that convey the organisation’s mission, values and expertise to commissioners and funders.

You will be responsible for coordinating strong tender submissions, resulting in successful outcomes. You will help ensure Cranstoun retains all existing contracts and wins new business, in line with the organisation’s strategic plans and targets for growth.

Within this role, you will work collaboratively with a variety of internal stakeholders, using exceptional writing and interpersonal skills to capture and convey Cranstoun’s approach to delivering services across a variety of areas.

We are seeking a confident self-starter, with demonstrable experience of high quality writing and clear evidence of successful outcomes in a business development context (70% success rate). The successful candidate will welcome the opportunity to tackle challenges and adopt a solutions-focused approach.

Above all, you’ll be interested in becoming part of a diverse, energetic team, committed to delivering innovative, person-centred services that make a tangible difference to people’s lives.

This post is subject to a Standard DBS Disclosure.

To download an application pack, please visit the website via the apply button.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept CVs.

Closing date: Sunday 3 August 2025.

Anticipated first interview date: w/c 11 August 2025.

Anticipated second interview date: w/c 18 August 2025.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Registered Charity No. 1061582.