Tax-Efficient Income | Accommodation & Meals Provided | Return Flights | Unique Overseas Experience

Imagine taking your organisational and administrative experience somewhere very different.

As Personal Assistant (PA) to the Commander Ascension Island Base, you will provide day-to-day personal and administrative support to the Base Commander, alongside a wide range of base administration, records management and personnel support duties.

This is a varied and trusted role at the centre of base life, combining PA duties with registry, records and military personnel administration within a unique Defence environment.

What You'll Get

• Tax-efficient income
• Free accommodation and meals
• Return flights to the UK
• 40 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
• Access to gym, sports and swimming facilities
• 5% annual site allowance
• 10% annual tour bonus
• Professional development opportunities
• 24-month fixed-term contract

The Role

You will be the first point of contact for the Commander Ascension Island Base's office, managing the Commander's diary, calls, correspondence and tasking, while maintaining the key registers, files and documents that keep Ascension Island Base running.

You will also act as the Records Management Clerk and provide administrative support, to military personnel serving on or visiting the island.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide PA support to the Base Commander, including answering calls and taking messages, maintaining the Commander's daily calendar, delivering and collecting the Commander's mail and carrying out tasking as instructed.
• Support other members of the Base where possible and applicable 
• Act as a first point of contact for general enquiries on behalf of the Base, passing them to the relevant person for staffing where required.
• Produce the weekly Ascension Island Base (AIB) Personnel Report, and maintain and distribute the AIB Nominal Roll, the Base Organisation Chart and the list of Base Commander's inspections.
• Manage mail distribution and collection from the Post Office and Georgetown Post Office.
• Maintain and distribute key registers and documents.
• Process staff clearance applications for visits to AIB and maintain the Visit Notifications Register and Forecast of Events Tracker
• Process UK and USAF flight bookings for AIB personnel, and maintaining the Flight Registers.
• Act as Personal Assistant Overseas for the British Legion UK, processing Poppy and Wreath orders and arranging the Poppy Appeal on Ascension, this includes sorting and collating monies collected, producing letter for payment recovery
• Secure the PA's office in accordance with security orders whenever it is unmanned, manage the office tea and coffee stock, monthly stipends and cash sheet, and keep the Commander's photo board up to date.
• Handle personal and sensitive information appropriately, maintaining confidentiality and information security.
• Be familiar with your duties under the Major Incident Plan, reporting to your supervisor in person or by telephone before attending the incident room for administrative duties.
• Undertake other reasonable duties as required.

What We Are Looking For

Essential

• GCSE (Grade C or above) or equivalent in English and Maths.
• Previous experience of working in an office environment.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook (including mail merge) and other databases.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to deal confidently with a diverse range of people.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to multi-task, solve problems and meet deadlines.
• Experience of maintaining and improving management systems.
• The ability to work without direct supervision, take responsibility and develop your own skills.
• A polite, tactful and discreet approach, with the ability to deal effectively with sensitive issues.
• An honest, reliable, flexible and self-motivated team player with a positive, ‘can do' attitude and a willingness to support colleagues.
• A driving licence.

Desirable

• An accounting qualification.

The successful candidate will be expected to undertake further training as required. Defence-specific procedures and systems, can be learnt in post.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to use your organisational skills in a varied and trusted role, working at the heart of an important Defence operation in a unique overseas environment.

You will gain broad experience across executive support, records management and personnel administration, together with the opportunity to live and work on Ascension Island.