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Location
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About the job
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Benefits
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Things you need to know
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Apply and further information
City of Westminster, London (region), SW1A 0AA
We are the UK branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (known as CPA UK). We are based in the Houses of Parliament and represent the UK Parliament in the Commonwealth. We bring together parliamentarians to share good practice. We strengthen parliamentary democracy.
Peer to peer learning is central to how CPA UK works. We organise meetings and visits in the UK and overseas. Our aim is for UK and Commonwealth parliamentarians and officials to share knowledge and learn from each other. Our members talk about a huge variety of topics. Our key themes are eliminating violence against women and girls, tackling climate change, trade in the Commonwealth and digital transformation. For further information about CPA UK work please see www.uk-cpa.org
Executive Officer to the Chief Executive & Secretary (CEO) CPA UK
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Coordinate the CEOs diary, programme and travel arrangements working closely with colleagues across all three teams.
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Compile and process CEOs expenses.
British Islands & Mediterranean Region Secretariat
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Assist CEO in their role of Regional Secretary, CPA British Islands & Mediterranean Region (BIMR), including supporting the organisation of the annual BIMR conference in collaboration with the host branch.
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Assist CEO to organise the BIMR AGM including preparation and distribution of the agenda, papers, briefs and minutes in coordination with the host branch.
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Support recruitment, briefing and making logistical arrangements for the CPA UK delegation to the CPA BIMR conference.
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Support meetings and activities relating to BIMRs networks (see below) and strategy implementation.
Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD)
- Proactively support the CPwD Regional Champion to plan and deliver a work plan for the network.
Support Steering Group meetings, including advising the Chair (Regional Champion) and CEO, writing minutes and administering follow up actions.
Support the triennial election of the BIM CPwD Regional Champion.
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Provide administrative and logistical support for any other CPwD activities (such as webinars, briefings and meetings).
- Ensure Westminster involvement and representation in the BIMR CPwD Steering Group by proactive recruitment and information sharing.
Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP)
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Assist Deputy Chief Executive with work relating to CWP, including providing Regional Secretariat support to BIMRs CWP Representative and Steering Committee.
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Support host branches with administration relating to BIMR CWP conferences.
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Support recruitment, briefing and logistical arrangements for the CPA UK delegation.
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Support Steering Committee meetings including writing minutes.
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Support the triennial election of the BIMR CWP Representative.
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Provide administrative and logistical support for any other CWP activities (such as webinars, briefings and meetings).
LGBT+ Network
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Assist colleagues with work relating to the network, including minuting meetings and supporting the delivery of activities.
Commonwealth Parliamentary Conferences
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Support the recruitment, registration and logistical arrangements for the UK delegation. Organise briefing meeting and prepare briefing pack.
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Working with the International Partnerships Team, liaise with FCDO representatives in-country to arrange briefings, supplementary bilateral programme, hospitality and logistical support.
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Support CEO to organise the BIMR meeting at the CPC, recording attendance in coordination with BIMR branch secretaries and collate and distribute branch updates.
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Process delegates expense claims and organise report-back.
Youth Ambassador for CPA UK
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Lead recruitment of youth parliamentarians to represent CPA UK at the annual Commonwealth Youth Parliament. Be responsible for pre-briefing, debriefing, logistical arrangements and liaison with CPA HQ Secretariat. Ongoing liaison with young person, facilitating continued engagement with CPA UK and its programmes.
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Organise and recruit for an annual work experience programme.
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Scope out and initiate other youth engagement opportunities.
Executive Officer to the CPA UK Executive Committee (ExCo) and the Finance, Audit & Remuneration Committee (FAR)
- Organise the ExCo and FAR meetings including scheduling meetings, sending Outlook invitations, preparing and distributing papers and recording attendance.
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Draft and distribute the minutes.
HR Support
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Assist HR Adviser with staff transition (joiners and leavers) including allocation of office equipment, liaison with Parliamentary Digital Service (initiation and closure of Outlook and phone a/cs), administering DSE assessments, and subsequently ordering relevant work aids.
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Assist HR Adviser with administration for recruitment campaigns.
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Work with Deputy Chief Executive to organise CPA UK away days.
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Support HR Adviser on programmes and activities in support of staff mental health and welfare including organising regular cross-team engagement opportunities.
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Be responsible for the L&D calendar in OneNote.
Office and Team Coordination
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Responsible for CPA UK Room bookings and booking porters for before and after events where different furniture set-ups are requested.
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Responsible for office organisation:
Programmes
- Sign up to undertake tasks in support of Westminster-based programmes delivered by CPA UK.
Other ad hoc tasks and activities as required.
We are recruiting an Executive Officer who will play a key role at the heart of the organisation. The successful candidate will show administrative expertise, technical proficiency and strong interpersonal skills to support the executive team. They ensure the effective operation of the Board of Trustees and its sub-committees. They play a wider role managing meetings to deliver CPA UKs regional and international commitments. As a member of the Business Strategy Team which provides core services to the organisation, the EO ensures the smooth running of the office in support of the wider CPA UK team.
Alongside your salary of £31,529, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK contributes £9,133 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .
Generous annual leave, Members of Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%, On site gym (subscription required), On site nursery, Learning and Development opportunities
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Please apply directly via our website - interviews to take place in the w/c 6th July 2026.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .
See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
CPA UK recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service principles of recruiting by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact
[email protected]