Administrative Assistant

We're looking for two people to fill part-time Administrative Assistant roles as part of the Cathedral team from early 2024.  The posts offer the opportunity to work across the wide range of the Cathedral's activities and provide a central resource across the team.  

The two posts are:

·        14 hours per week permanent contract

·        21 hours per week temporary contract of one year. 

Job Purpose

·           To work alongside the Office Manager and co-operatively with the other Administrative Assistant, Finance Officers and volunteers to deliver support effectively and seamlessly across all Cathedral teams; and

·           To assist with the planning, coordination and delivery of events and services including those with external contractors and partners.

No day is the same and your work will be varied from reception and general office duties including data input and mailings to specific tasks working with existing staff, including our talented musicians and Ministry Team, and volunteers. You will also work with the new staff funded by the Church Commissioners’ Cathedral Sustainability Fund, in particular, the Events Manager and the Visitor Experience Manager, as we seek to fulfil the plans laid out in our Vision and Strategy to increase our impact as a Cathedral and community hub while improving our financial sustainability through commercial events and fundraising.

The successful candidates will be versatile with a high level of digital skills, an ability to prioritise and the tact and diplomacy to work with a diverse range of people as part of a flexible team in a busy and dynamic environment. 

Person Specification

Essential skills

• Good proven IT (Microsoft 365/Sharepoint) and administrative skills.
• Proven ability to work as part of a diverse and inclusive team and under own initiative.
• Good proven organizational, planning and communication skills.
• Flexible, proactive and adaptable approach to working in a highly complex and busy Cathedral and willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends.
• A flexible attitude and willingness to take on a range of duties including working alone and under pressure.
• Have an open and welcoming attitude to all including volunteers and members of the general public.

Desirable skills

• Experience of working with digital platforms e.g. booking and CRM systems and websites.
• Experience of liturgy and music.
• Events delivery.
• Proofreading.
• PRS and music reporting.
• Accounting practices.
• A keen interest in cathedrals as a place to enrich the lives of people from all backgrounds.
• Empathy with the beliefs and values of the Christian Faith and the aims and objectives of the Church of England.
• Working in an environment where paid and voluntary staff operate side by side.

Personal qualities

• Excellent interpersonal skills, in particular warmth, tact, diplomacy, discretion, and imagination.
• Committed to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding practice.
• Committed to equal opportunities and inclusivity and at ease when working at all levels.
• Highly collaborative.
• Self-motivated.

Benefits of working at Portsmouth Cathedral:

• Generous leave allowance of 27 days (pro rata for part-time posts) plus all public holidays
• Employer pension contributions of 7.5%
• Commitment to professional development and training.  
• Cash health plan

Safeguarding. The Cathedral takes the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults very seriously, and practices Safer Recruitment for all roles (both paid and voluntary), enhanced DBS for specific roles, and face-to-face or online training as required.   

Portsmouth Cathedral is an Equal Opportunities Employer and a member of Inclusive Church.

Closing date for applications: 23.59 Sunday 21 January 2024

Interviews will be held week commencing 29 January 2024