Office Manager & PA

Location: Stafford
Salary: £31,049 - £33,044 dependent on skills and experience
Hours: 37 hours per week, full year

Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) is one of the very best colleges in the country. In October 2024 we became the first and only further education provider in England to achieve a full set of outstanding grades in consecutive Ofsted Inspections. This includes recognition of our strong contribution towards meeting Local Skills Needs under the latest version of the Education Inspection Framework (EIF).

The inspection report praised all areas of the College’s provision and acknowledged NSCG’s ‘staff are professional, friendly, incredibly supportive and work tirelessly to meet the needs of learners’ ‘teachers improve their practice based upon the support they receive’ and ‘teachers create highly supportive, calm and highly aspirational environments in which learners and apprentices thrive’.‘ In summary, NSCG is a great place to work and study.

To read the full Ofsted report for Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, please visit the Ofsted Government website, select Find an Inspection Report and search for Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group.

The group is currently home to a population of over 6,500 full-time students with around 2000 adult learners and students on higher education programmes. We have over 1,500 apprentices where we work with over 850 individual employers. Our Sixth Form provision has a reputation for high academic achievement and excellence.

At present, we have invested £25 million in a new Technology & Engineering facility at our Stafford site, which opened in September 2023. We are also leading the development of the forthcoming Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology (IoT), a collaborative project also including Keele University and Burton & South Derbyshire College. This includes the further investment of around £20 million in the flagship IoT Hub, also to be based at Stafford.

To be successful in this role, you should possess excellent organisational skills, demonstrate experience in providing high-level, confidential administrative support, and ideally have a background in leading and managing a small team.

We are seeking a confident communicator with excellent interpersonal skills, who can effectively manage conflicting demands and priorities in a fast-paced working environment.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide an essential leadership function which will ensure the faculty operates smoothly, enabling key leaders to be effective in terms of their organisation and time management.
• Responsible for the efficient operation of administrative functions and systems, ensuring an orderly and efficient working office on a daily basis.
• Manage event and meeting arrangements, and delegate tasks appropriately to other members of the team.
• Execute a variety of project management admin and bookkeeping tasks such as raising purchase orders, managing invoices and other financial documents.
• Dealing with incoming telephone calls, enquiries and requests and taking appropriate action.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Has excellent customer service and organisation skills.
• Is able to communicate effectively with colleagues, employers, students, partners and other stakeholders and can act as a credible and enthusiastic advocate for the College externally.
• NVQ 3 in Business Administration or equivalent.
• Has experience and expertise across a range of administration activities including staff management;

Get in touch

If you wish to have an informal discussion prior to your application, please contact Georgina Barnard (Director of Institute of Technology) at [email protected] who will arrange an appointment for you to visit the College and answer any initial questions you may have.

What’s in it for you?

The college offers and excellent benefits package which includes:

• Employer Pension contributions - up to £8,525 (Local Government Pension Scheme).
• 25 Days Annual Leave, rising to 30 following 5 years’ service (PLUS Bank Holidays & Christmas Closure).
• Cycle to Work Scheme (Salary sacrifice).
• Subsidised Gym Membership.
• Health-related benefits including a subsidised Health Scheme.
• Excellent Training and Development Opportunities (supported with a dedicated budget).
• Free Parking
• On site restaurant and FREE early morning tea/coffee and toast.

How to apply

To apply for the role of Office Manager & PA, please click ‘Apply Now’ to complete an online application form. (If you are applying via a jobs board, you will receive an e-mail and link that will take you directly to our application form on the Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group website).

The closing date for completed applications is Sunday 22^nd June 2025.

This college is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All college based positions are subject to enhanced DBS check and are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community.