Personal Assistant (PA) to the Directors
Executive Assistant
Location:
Derby - Head Office
Contract Type:
Permanent
Salary:
circa £32,000 dependent on experience
Closing Date:
31st July 2026
Reference:
2026-PAD3
We are proud to be One Team at East Midlands Railway (EMR). We are passionate about keeping people safe, delighting our customers, doing the right thing and putting customers at the heart of our sustainable railway for the East Midlands. With over 2,600 employees, our people are the reason we are so successful, and our employees make a crucial contribution to this.
Ten times accredited as a Top Employer and Gold accredited for Inclusive Employers Standards, we value our people and are dedicated to making sure that everybody feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work.
At EMR we want to proactively embrace diversity across our workforce and recognise that we are under-represented in some areas. We’re therefore taking positive steps to promote a positive and inclusive culture and we welcome applications from everyone to help us better represent our communities.
We have an exciting opportunity to join #TeamEMR as a Personal Assistant to Directors.
Based in our head office in Derby, you provide comprehensive Personal Assistance (PA) to the Directors, include diary management, writing and preparing presentations, organising meetings and managing correspondence.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Provide full PA and secretarial support to the HR Director and Customer Experience Director.
Ensure the most productive use of the Directors' time through diary management, travel coordination, and prioritisation of commitments.
Prepare and edit high-quality presentations, reports, and correspondence.
Organise meetings, including scheduling, agenda preparation, minute taking, and follow-up actions.
Act as a key point of contact between Directors and internal/external stakeholders, always maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
Support the planning and delivery of corporate events as required.
Liaise with internal departments and external partners to facilitate seamless communication.
Line manages three Receptionists, overseeing rotas, training, leave cover, and performance.
Provide absence cover for fellow PAs and the Executive Assistant.
About You
We’re looking for a confident and capable individual who brings:
Exceptional organisational skills and a proactive approach, with a strong commitment to delivering work to the highest standard.
A proven track record of thriving in a fast-paced, varied environment, using initiative and sound judgement to manage competing priorities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality correspondence and liaise effectively at all levels.
The ability to build strong working relationships across all levels of the organisation through a professional, friendly, and approachable manner.
Proficiency in key IT packages, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, with the ability to produce polished and professional documentation.
As well as a competitive salary, we’ll also offer you:
32 days annual leave (including bank holidays), rising to 34 days after 2 years of service
Free travel on East Midlands Railway and other train companies operated by Transport UK
75% discount on other national rail train companies, including for partners and dependants
Discounted friends and family tickets on the EMR network
Various personal development and progression opportunities
Excellent pension scheme
This position is based in our Derby Head office, but we've adopted a flexible hybrid working model that creates the opportunity to work in your own way at home but also provides great spaces for in-person collaboration.
We are open minded to applications from people who wish to have flexible working. Many of our staff work flexibly in many ways. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.
If you're successful in this role, you'll be expected to support our frontline colleagues at some points through the year. This might be undertaking safety critical work, for which you'll receive training, but it could just be helping out with customer service when our stations are busy. We're one team, and that means our managers step up to the front line, not just manage from a distance. Supporting frontline colleagues is part of our DNA at EMR.
Ready to take on this exciting opportunity? Submit your online application form and upload your CV. As we operate a blind screening process, please remove all personal information including your name from your CV.
Interviews will be held in Derby week commencing 17th August 2026.
Due to the volume of applications received for this role we may close it before the advertised date.
We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, we promote equal opportunities for all. East Midlands Railway is a non-discriminatory employer committed to the recruitment and promotion of all on the basis of ability and merit irrespective of disability, race, gender, health, social class, sexual preference, marital status, nationality, religion, employment status or age. We’ll treat your application fairly and assess you for the job based on merit and skills.
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We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, we promote equal opportunities for all. East Midlands Railway is a non-discriminatory employer committed to the recruitment and promotion of all on the basis of ability and merit irrespective of disability, race, gender, health, social class, sexual preference, marital status, nationality, religion, employment status or age. We’ll treat your application fairly and assess you for the job based on merit and skills.
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