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The Bishop of Sheffield is seeking to appoint a new Senior Personal Assistant. This is a high-profile and pivotal appointment, providing an exciting opportunity to work closely with the Bishop at the heart of the Diocese of Sheffield. We are looking for a dynamic, highly organised and proactive individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can manage competing priorities and work confidently with initiative and discretion. The role is predominantly office-based, with flexibility to work remotely at times, and is based in a friendly and busy office in a pleasant and beautiful environment. It requires someone who can work effectively and independently while being a collaborative and valued member of the wider Bishop's team.
This is a significant and high-profile appointment, and we are looking for someone who will become a trusted member of a dedicated team based at Bishopscroft. The role is exceptionally varied, busy and demanding and immensely rewarding, providing support across every aspect of the Bishop's ministry - from diocesan leadership and parish life to national Church responsibilities, civic engagements and his work in the House of Lords.
The successful candidate will be someone who thrives in a high-volume, fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly. You will be highly organised, able to exercise sound judgement and manage complex competing priorities with good humour and grace. You will need to be an excellent communicator, comfortable dealing with people from all walks of life, and able to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.
Although much of the role is practical and administrative, its purpose is much broader. By ensuring that the Bishop's office runs smoothly and efficiently, you will play an important part in supporting his ministry and the mission of the Diocese of Sheffield to flourish and grow.
Whether you are already familiar with the life of the Church of England or are bringing valuable experience from another sector, if you believe your skills and experience match what we are looking for, we would be delighted to hear from you. A sympathy for the Christian Faith is essential.
1. PROVIDING EFFICIENT PA SUPPORT TO THE BISHOP OF SHEFFIELD
* Advanced planning and management of the Bishop's diary
* Organising all appointments and providing practical briefings about the arrangements made for all visits and meetings
* Preparing the Bishop's papers for all meetings and maintaining an efficient system for tracking papers
* Planning and organising the Bishop's travel arrangements in the UK and abroad
* Dealing promptly with all incoming correspondence and drafting replies
* Receiving and dealing with all emails in the PA's inbox and that of the Bishop
* Opening and allocating incoming post and dealing with letters where appropriate
* Handling a wide range of telephone enquiries with confidence, diplomacy, and tact - answering questions directly or passing them on to the Bishop or Chaplain or other appropriate source of information
2. GENERAL OVERSIGHT AND RUNNING OF THE BISHOP'S OFFICE
* Welcoming all visitors and arranging catering as necessary
* Ensuring that the office is kept tidy and all necessary equipment is purchased and maintained
* Daily filing and overseeing the management of all paper and computerised filing systems
* Organising the archiving of papers as appropriate
* Ensuring that the office database is kept up to date
* To be present at some meetings and at the Bishop's direction to take notes
* Delegation of work to the Administrative Assistant
3. FINANCE
* Managing a budget in excess of £100K and dealing with all day to day financial matters including the bishop's expenses
* Managing the day to day running of all bank accounts held by the bishop in his corporate capacity
* Transferring money, making payments and keeping records as required
* Administering the Bishop's Official Expenses account
* Administering the Bishop's Discretionary account
* Applying for grants from various funds, including the Lady Hastings Charity, by preparing applications, organising and recording all monies received and providing reports to the charities on how the monies was used
* With the advice of the Bishop and his Senior Staff, allocating holiday grants and making appropriate payments
4. MANAGEMENT OF BISHOPSCROFT
* Payment of all household bills including regular review of utility providers
* Liaison with Church Commissioners' Agent concerning all upkeep and repairs
* Making arrangements for convenient appointments for servicing and any work required
* Organising the purchase and installation of items for the Bishop's House on behalf of Bishoprics
* Liaising with the IT support advisors and organising IT provision at the office
* Maintaining the house inventory
5. HOSPITALITY
* Planning and organising catering for a range of social events each year, including the termly civic dinners and evening suppers
* Managing arrangements for the biennial Bishop's Garden Party
* Coordinating a week of Summer Term evening receptions (held in alternate years to the Bishop's Garden Party)
* Venue management and liaison
6. SUPPORTING THE WORK OF THE DIOCESE
* Organising the recruitment process for all senior appointments in the Diocese, including the advertising of posts and the logistics of all meetings and interviews
* Distributing information and organising arrangements for Deanery Days across the Diocese
* Working with the Bishop's Chaplain to agree and confirm dates for confirmations
* Supporting the Bishop's Chaplain with the clergy ministerial development review (MDR) process, including maintaining the database and collating and filing completed reviews on a two-year cycle.
* Supporting the Bishop's Chaplain in managing enquiries and maintaining up-to-date records of those holding the Bishop's Permission to Officiate (PtO).
* Confirming with the appropriate church leader, lay or ordained, the purpose of each parish visit; making all practical arrangements and briefing the Bishop beforehand
7. CIVIC VISITS
* Planning and organising a programme of visits to individuals, institutions, workplaces and events across the region with a focus on extending the reach and mission of the Church
* Responding to all invitations for the Bishop to attend civic events and meetings outside the Church
8. NATIONAL CHURCH
* Collating all papers and making the logistical arrangements for the Bishop's work related to General Synod, the House of Bishops, College of Bishops, the Archbishops' Council and any other national and regional meetings
* Managing the Bishop's Church Commissioner Trustee commitments, including maintaining the diary, preparing meeting papers and ensuring all relevant documentation is available in advance of meetings
* Engagement with the PA network and key members of the NCI staff
9. HOUSE OF LORDS
* Liaising closely with the Bishop's Parliamentary and Policy Researcher on the Bishop's schedule in the House of Lords
* Assisting with papers relating to the Bishop's role in the House of Lords
* Processing the Bishop's monthly HOL expense claim
10. ORGREAVE INQUIRY
* Liaising closely with the Orgreave Inquiry Secretariat to coordinate the Bishop's involvement, including managing meeting requests and maintaining the diary
* Completing the Bishop's monthly fees timesheet and expense proforma
11. LINE MANAGEMENT and Development of the Administrative Assistant
* Carrying out other duties as and when required
Qualifications / Education / Experience
* Educated to degree standard or with relevant secretarial qualifications and equivalent work experience
* Previous PA and administrative experience reporting to a senior manager
* Finance processing and accounts management
* Must be able to handle confidential information
* Experienced in dealing with people at all levels
* Ability to prioritise effectively
Knowledge, Skills, Attributes
* In sympathy with the vision, aims and objectives of the Church of England and the Diocese of Sheffield
* The ability to understand and apply the priorities of the Bishop's ministry when allocating diary appointments
* Well presented work with a meticulous eye for detail
* Ability to show initiative and work with minimal or no supervision
* Excellent communication skills both oral and written, including a competent and friendly telephone manner
* Good interpersonal and diplomatic skills with the ability to deal with people from all walks of life with courtesy and on occasion appropriate firmness
* Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and handle sensitive issues with discretion
* Well organised, methodical and the ability to manage competing priorities
* Ability to work calmly under pressure and meet deadlines
* Ability to work independently and as a member of a team and the wider household
* Competent in the use of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
* Proficient in the use of databases and CRM systems for maintaining accurate records, managing contacts, and producing reports
* Excellent word processing skills from manuscript and audio
* Good literacy and numeracy skills
DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS
* Detailed knowledge of the Church of England, its structures and practices
* Understanding and interest in the Bishop of Sheffield's ministry
The Church of England’s vocation is and always has been to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ afresh in each generation to the people of England.



Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Start your fundraising career with a leading national anti-prejudice charity and help build the relationships that make our work possible.
Gain hands-on experience across trusts, donors, events and fundraising operations while developing valuable skills in a supportive, mission-driven team.
The Anne Frank Trust UK empowers young people to challenge all forms of prejudice through education and dialogue. We are looking for a motivated, organised and enthusiastic Fundraising Assistant to join our Development Team and play a key role in supporting the fundraising activity that enables our work to reach thousands of young people each year.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to take their first step into fundraising or the charity sector. You do not need extensive fundraising experience. We are looking for someone with strong organisational skills, excellent attention to detail and a genuine commitment to our mission. In return, you will receive hands-on training, mentoring from experienced colleagues and opportunities to develop your skills and take on increasing responsibility.
As Fundraising Assistant, you will support all aspects of fundraising and donor engagement. From processing donations and managing supporter records to helping deliver events, steward donors and support trust and foundation fundraising, you will gain broad experience across multiple fundraising disciplines. As your confidence develops, you will have the opportunity to contribute to funding applications and manage smaller grant requests independently.
You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, supporting donor visits, fundraising events and school engagement opportunities, while helping to ensure our supporters receive an outstanding experience at every stage of their journey with the Trust.
We are looking for someone who is curious, proactive and eager to learn. If you enjoy building relationships, are comfortable balancing multiple priorities and want to be part of an organisation committed to equality, diversity and youth empowerment, we would love to hear from you.
This role offers a unique opportunity to develop a strong foundation in fundraising while making a meaningful contribution to an organisation that helps empower young people create across the UK to recognise and challenge all forms of prejudice.
SALARY: £28,860 (Includes London Weighting)
CONTRACT: Permanent
HOURS: Full time (37.5 hours per week)
Usually Mon-Fri 9am to 5.30pm.
4 days out of 5 (Monday to Thursday) in the office in London.
Occasional work required outside usual time for events with Time Off In Lieu provided.
Office Based – with a day to work from home and occasional UK-wide travel and overnight stays.
BENEFITS: The postholder will be entitled to the Trust’s standard benefits, pro-rated where applicable, and subject to scheme rules and eligibility. These include: 28 days’ annual leave plus statutory holidays in England and Wales and any additional discretionary closure days in December; contributory pension (10% total: 5% employee/ 5% employer) with option to increase to 17% (7% employee, 10% employer) post-probation; cycle to work scheme; Employee Assistance Programme
Tasks and Responsibilities
· Maintain and update the fundraising database, ensuring supporter records are accurate, complete and up to date.
· Process donations and prepare acknowledgement letters, emails and receipts in line with donor stewardship standards.
· Manage Gift Aid administration, including data checks, record maintenance and submission processes.
· Provide administrative support to Fundraising Officers, including diary management, meeting scheduling and preparation of briefing materials.
· Support the planning and delivery of fundraising events, donor visits and receptions.
· Coordinate donor and community representative visits to schools in collaboration with the Education Team.
· Assist with the preparation of fundraising reports, presentations and internal documentation.
· Support general department administration to ensure the smooth running of the fundraising function.
· Conduct basic prospect research to identify potential funding opportunities.
· Prepare supporting documents, budgets and attachments for grant applications.
· Maintain accurate records of application deadlines, reporting requirements, funding decisions and income forecasts.
· Assist with drafting sections of funding applications and reports.
· Support the management of smaller grant applications and reports, with the opportunity to lead applications of up to approximately £5,000 as experience develops.
· Monitor grant reporting deadlines and ensure officers are supported to meet all requirements.
· Prepare thank-you letters, impact updates and other donor communications.
· Support the administration and delivery of the organisation’s Patrons Programme.
· Assist with donor stewardship activities and ensure timely follow-up actions are completed.
· Support the tracking and management of donor journeys in collaboration with the Communications team.
· Maintain accurate records of donor interactions and stewardship activity on the fundraising database.
· Help ensure donors receive a positive and consistent experience across all engagement touchpoints.
Person Specification:
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
· An interest in fundraising, philanthropy or the wider charity sector.
· Excellent organisational skills and strong attention to detail.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills.
· Good administrative skills and confidence working with databases, spreadsheets and digital systems.
· Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
· A proactive, reliable and positive approach to work.
· Willingness to learn, accept feedback and develop professionally.
· Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
· An understanding of and interest in fundraising, donor stewardship or supporter engagement.
· Experience using a CRM, fundraising database or supporter management system.
· Experience supporting events or coordinating projects.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
· Excellent organisational skills, to manage a varied workload.
· Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop relationships with relevant stakeholders.
· Ability to use initiative, problem solve and be a team player.
· Strong literacy, numeracy and IT skills.
· Excellent presentation skills.
VALUES AND PERSONAL QUALITIES
· Enthusiasm for Anne Frank, the Trust’s work including our commitment to youth empowerment.
· A deeply held belief in equality and diversity with a willingness to learn.
·A commitment to helping young people recognise and challenge all forms of prejudice.
· Willingness to travel regionally and across the UK and work evenings and weekends when required.
QUALIFICATIONS
· Educated to at least degree level or equivalent, ideally with a relevant professional qualification.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
· Enhanced DBS check on appointment
The application process is submitting your CV and a supporting statement outlining why you want to work for the Anne Frank Trust UK (no more than 1,000 words).
Please upload your CV and Cover Letter via the Charity Job portal.
The closing date is 28th August but we reserve the right to close the posting early if enough suitable candidates are found.
First stage interviews will take place in person in our London office on Monday 14th or Wednesday 16th September with a second stage in person interview to follow.
Learning from Anne Frank and the Holocaust, we empower young people aged 9 to 15 to challenge all forms of prejudice.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
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Provide operational support to our sports clubs that enables them to both fulfil and host British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) fixtures against other universities, including the organisation of transport, facility bookings, registering individuals and teams for competitions, submitting results, and hiring of officials.
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Be the first point of contact for all queries from students and other universities in relation to club administration and fixtures.
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Provide effective training to students on using the BUCS play system and using the system effectively to ensure fixtures and team sheets are accurate.
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Ensure that finance processes followed for all fixture related expenditure. This includes raising PO numbers, processing invoices, making credit card payments, using online payment systems and the ability to keep accurate financial records.
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Be first of point of contact for student queries on reception when required.
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Actively participate in meetings, personal development, and training events where there is a clear link to our strategy, your role or personal development.
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Ensuring that statutory and legal obligations are met.
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Ensure our financial sustainability by adhering to all financial procedures and processes of the Students’ Union.
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Promoting the Students’ Union’s various policies within your work, in particular Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Ethical, and Environmental.
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Contributing to the positive image of the Students’ Union with students, the University and the local community.
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Working across the Union to share skills, improve capability or capacity and in support of service delivery.
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Be flexible in your approach to work, ensuring you can work at any site as required, and unsociable hours as required to enable us to fulfil our mission.
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The job description may be altered at any time in the future in line with the level of the post to meet changing requirements, please be assure that this will only be done in full consultation with the post holder.
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Such other duties and projects as may be reasonably prescribed by the Union, appropriate to the grade and responsibilities of this post.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.


