Personal Assistant

Job Title: Personal Assistant (9 month Fixed Term Contract)  
Reports to: John Moran 
Department: Commercial Affairs 
Location: London 



ABOUT CHANNEL 4

Channel 4 is a publicly owned and commercially funded UK public service broadcaster, with a statutory remit to deliver high-quality, innovative, alternative content that challenges the status quo. Commercial Affairs is responsible for the financial, legal and business aspects of Channel 4’s content supply, and is tasked with negotiating all contractual, financial and other deal terms between Channel 4 and content suppliers.

JOB PURPOSE

Working in partnership with 2 Controllers and 1 HOD, this experienced and highly skilled assistant will provide a strategic approach to leading the Controllers’/HoD’s offices and running the Legal & Business Affairs department, ensuring we can deliver fantastic results as efficiently and effectively as possible. Importantly, this role is the point-of-entry to the 2 Controllers/HOD and the Legal & Business Affairs department, acting as the first contact with external people, and must ensure they have a positive experience of dealing with Channel 4, both in terms of the process and in successful outcomes.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

You’ll be the personal assistant to the Controller of Business Affairs, Controller of Production Finance and Head of Legal & Business Affairs LHQ in Channel 4, so you’ll be someone who will embody what we are all about – doing excellent work, in a creative and inclusive way, allowing us to achieve results, and have fun doing so.

You’ll be thoughtful, well-organised, and used to fast-paced, dynamic environments where priorities are constantly changing, and situations can be challenging.  You’ll provide comprehensive administrative and organisational support, so very high-level planning & prioritisation skills are required.  You’ll often have to just sort things out, so you’ll be someone who loves to take the initiative too.

It is essential that you are comfortable engaging with a wide variety of internal and external people: face-to-face, on the phone and by email, so excellent verbal and written skills are essential.  You must represent C4 in a friendly and professional manner, with politeness and positivity even when faced with difficult situations, with the same dedicated approach whether you are dealing with senior or junior people.  And just as importantly, you must solve their problems and get things done – and really enjoy doing so.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as the orchestrator of the Legal & Business Affairs department
• Be the first point of contact with us for internal and external people, ensuring happy outcomes
• Prioritise the workload and schedule of the Controller of Business Affairs, the Controller of Production Finance and the Head of Legal & Business Affairs LHQ in line with organisational strategic priorities and goals
• Organise inspiring Legal & Business Affairs departmental meetings and social events
• Being connected to the whole Legal & Business Affairs department and the rest of the organisation, assisting with more complex diary management for Senior Legal & Business Affairs Managers
• Draft and disseminate Legal & Business Affairs department-wide communications, with a well-defined tone and style, and organise more advanced Legal & Business Affairs department comms such as videos
• Diary management for Controller of Business Affairs, the Controller of Production Finance and the Head of Legal & Business Affairs LHQ – Day to day organisation and planning several weeks in advance to ensure daily schedules run to time, and pro-actively deal with changes
• Provide assistance to the Controller of Business Affairs and Head of Legal & Business Affairs LHQ with the creation of reports and presentations as required
• Arrange and coordinate internal and external meetings, including scheduling, organising rooms, welcoming guests, printing documents, checking equipment and booking catering (if required)
• Work closely with Executive Assistants & PAs to ensure the smooth running of the department and the company, including helping during times of high workload, and covering for absences
• Arrange travel, accommodation and venue bookings for 2 Controllers/HOD and Senior Legal & Business Affairs Managers
• Submit and track expenses and invoices on the company systems for 2 Controllers/HOD and Senior Legal & Business Affairs Managers
• Keeping contact lists and marketing department details up to date by working with the PAs of each department
• Undertake all other reasonable admin duties as needed

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

• Previous experience in a similarly demanding PA role, working with senior leaders
• A pro-active, well-prepared, flexible multi-tasker, with great time-management – always delivering high quality on time
• Great prioritisation & organisational skills, including the ability to understand the company strategy and convert that into an ability to prioritise workload & requests accordingly
• Excellent verbal & written communication skills, and the ability to apply different styles depending on the need
• A great networker, who understands culture and builds relationships easily, and can maintain excellent, collaborative working relationships even under challenging circumstances and timelines
• Calm, polite, positive and friendly under pressure
• Ability to manage a busy and often changing diary 
• Event planning experience
• Great Microsoft Office skills – Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Word & Excel
• Complete discretion in managing confidential materials and issues
• Experience in TV and/or marketing is not essential, but a passion for TV and the values of C4 is!