Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom
Thales people provide armed forces customers with operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defence mission systems solutions at land, sea, and air. Our platforms extend across the battlespace including Above and Sonar, Electronic Combat, and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
Primary Purpose Of The Role
- Business Support Assistants (BSA) provide proactive business support and are able to continually demonstrate effective partnering with members of the Leadership Team and Business Support Partners, including travel and diary management
- BSAs need knowledge of the organisation or can demonstrate an ability to grasp the business values and behaviours quickly. Networking with key personnel (internal and external) and understand the organisation’s aims and objectives.
- BSAs will be expected to work autonomously or as part of a team, making sound calculated decisions. In addition to business acumen, it is expected BSAs act with discretion and confidentially at all times.
- BSAs will provide and manage organisational support to other functions, programmes and sites.
The successful candidate will need full Security Clearance (SC) -For more information and guidance please visit the UKSV website*
BSAs will support the Business Support Partners (BSPs) as required, deputise in the absence of BSP’s when needed, and support the Business Support Team in general.
- The BSA will act as first point of contact with internal and external stakeholders.
Key Tasks Include:
- Full autonomy of diaries maximising time, resources, and focusing on the business priorities.
- Co-ordination of the organisation and preparation of meetings across multiple time zones, ensuring all materials are provided.
- Support of travel, diaries, and time management, on an individual, and or ad hoc basis.
- Managing complex travel itineraries and visas, ensuring that the best route and value is obtained.
- Ensuring that all documentation and the relevant security processes are completed prior to travel.
- Supporting UWS Events, Away Days, and VIP Visits.
- Provide cover for other Business Support Assistants during absence.
- Influence, negotiate and manage conflicting demands of the role.
- Discretion regarding confidential and sensitive information.
- Maintaining an onsite presence.
- Monitoring, and actioning the shared Business Support Team (BST) Inbox.
- Supporting the BSPs.
- Any other ad hoc tasks as directed by stakeholders and the BSM.
Examples Of Business Support Required Across Functions And Programmes
- Marketing and events – support and co-ordinate aspects of internal and external events.
- Supporting UK Lead and Site Initiatives – E.g. LEAN, 5S, Travel Policy.
- Ensure that travel processes, procedures and costs are delivered successfully.
- Undertake and assist ad hoc projects as directed by the BSPs, Business Support Manager (BSM), or Leadership Team.
- Provide research where required, compiling reports, data and presentations to summarise findings.
- Create, manage and champion policies and processes e.g. Smart Working. An ambassador for change, able to educate stakeholders as necessary.
- General support of UWS Events, Away Days, and VIP Visits.
Skills Required
- Demonstrates business awareness, excellent communication skills (verbal and written) and ability to interact effectively, courteously and professionally both within internal and external customer communities
- People Management Skills
- Advanced skills in MS Office Software (Outlook, Word, Excel, Visio, and Power Point)
- Excellent spoken and written English
- Able to prioritise workload and complete work within agreed timescales to the expected standard
- Must be able to work independently and be self-motivated and enthusiastic
- Have outstanding organisation skills. Ability to meet/stretch deadlines and demands of the team, and to be proactive in finding solutions to problems.
- Ability to ‘think on feet’ and make last minute decisions working within pressurised situations
- Able to deal with people at all levels of the organisation.
- Experience in virtual and digital technology
- Handles confidential and sensitive information in a discrete and controlled manner.
- Effective personal organisation, and an ability to remain composed and focused under pressure
Qualification
Minimum 1 years’ experience as a PA to a senior leader or equivalent experience, in a busy business environment. Knowledge and experience of supporting other business functions and understanding of how they integrate with each other.
Security Clearance
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.
Flexibility
Your health and well-being matters to us and that’s why we offer you the flexibility to do what’s important to you; whether that’s part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
The Work Environment
At Thales, we believe in flexible SMART working and have the expectation this role will be delivered through a combination of remote and office based collaborative working. When working in the office, you will be based at the largest Thales site in the UK, featuring access to a wide variety of resources including manufacturing, environmental and electromagnetic test facilities and specialised laboratories. The modern site includes a subsidised restaurant, a café, break out spaces, bicycle storage facilities and more.
Benefits At Thales
Alongside a competitive base salary, we offer a variable compensation plan bonus and benefits package, which includes:
- Half day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00pm
- Pension Scheme
- 28 days annual leave (Plus Bank Holidays)
- Life Cover
- Progression and Development Opportunities
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app
- Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
Thales is an equal opportunities employer and diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of Thales.
In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Resourcing Ops for mid to senior roles, or the Early Careers Team for graduate and apprentice roles.
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