Deadline for Application: Today
The Role:
Iain Dale is a busy man. He is the publisher of Total Politics magazine, a contributing editor to GQ, managing director of Biteback Publishing, editor of Iain Dale’s Diary and author or editor of more than 20 books. And he needs an Executive Assistant!
This role would be ideal for a recent graduate who is looking to make a career in politics or the media and has great organisational skills. You will serve as Iain’s eyes and ears, arranging meetings, providing Iain with relevant information in a wide range of areas, making travel and accommodation arrangements, acting as a gatekeeper, researching issues ahead of media appearances, drafting articles, ensuring Iain is well briefed ahead of all meetings and, from time to time, mind-reading!
This role will be a position of trust, and the successful candidate would act as Iain’s ambassador in his absence, representing Iain with confidence, courtesy and accuracy.
The Responsibilities:
• Managing Iain’s office, ensuring that he is able to work efficiently and effectively
• Maintaining (although not controlling) Iain’s diary. You will liaise with Iain to ensure that his diary and, more importantly, his time, is well managed
• Arranging meetings and liaising with attendees
• Keeping on top of Iain’s task list, and ensuring that nothing falls behind or is missed. You will be expected to provide reminders to Iain when appropriate
• Managing incoming communication, whether post or telephone, and dealing with all emails redirected to you by Iain
• Dealing with all Iain’s travel and accommodation needs
• Conducting research on topics critical to Iain’s obligations. You will be expected to turn around research quickly and accurately on a wide range of topics
• Writing briefing papers for Iain on an equally wide range of topics
• Briefing Iain on everything from individuals he is about to meet to organisations he is going to visit
• Maintain a thorough understanding of political events, personalities and relationships to ensure you understand the broad context of Iain’s various activities
• Liaise confidently with other senior figures on Iain’s behalf
Skills and Qualifications:
• An undergraduate degree (although that is not a 100% pre-requisite)
• A thorough understanding of the Microsoft Office Suite
• A thorough understanding of the Blogger and Wordpress interfaces
• Fast learner
• Exceptional organisational and managerial skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and phone manner
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Extremely well organised
• Confident and able to accept criticism
• Able to act with discretion when dealing with confidential matters
• Self-motivated and proactive
Character:
You must be exceptionally well presented, with a consistently professional demeanour. You must be assertive, and prepared to stand your ground when appropriate. You will have a strong interest in British politics and excellent knowledge of the subject. And you absolutely must have a good sense of humour and friendly personality.
Apply to Iain Dale directly by emailing your CV, a covering letter and a 250-500 word critique of Iain’s political blog. iain AT iaindale DOT com
Closing Date: 1 September
Salary: To be agreed
NB: This is not a Total Politics job. Salary will be paid by me personally.
42 comments:
Recent graduate?
I'd have thought someone with a little knowledge of the world and workplace. Someone in PR perhaps, eager to get on.
I feel there is a real possibility of Geraldine Dreadful applying.
Will Biteback publish the flunky's memoir, The Devil Wears Marks & Spencer?
based in London or Tunbridge Wells?
I've written a 50,000 word critique of your blog, but sadly I'm taken
Talk about the Damned United
Blimey. What did your last slave die of?
What is an undergraduate degree? An undergraduate is someone who doesn't yet have a degree.
" ... able to accept criticism .... because when the shit hits the fan, as it will with Iain's many blunders, it'll be YOUR fault.
Now if I was only younger by 47 years!
BTW, scandalous misuse of blog. Still, if you've got it, .......
I would like a application for the job.
I can use M$ notepad and wordpad. i read loads of blogs so understand blogger. i can lurn faster than anybody. my teechas all sed i was fast to teech. i am organized and can manage my things ok. i can speak on the phone and will soon lurn myself some interpersons people. i spoke some french once to a school interpersonal visitor from another country. he was from germany. i know every detail of things. i am well confident and am a good critic. i can keep a sekrit and have already said i am confidential. i am self motivator once i get up in the morning. i have eaten proactiv but like butter best.
Right well as you can planely see i have loads of skills and qualitys so you will know i have been responsible so we can take the responsibilities as done.
I have been told i am a bit of a character. i love politics and often yell at question time and newsnight and today on the bbc and eddy mair is turning in to a wonk as well.
i will start on the first of september. where shall i meet you? is my dinner included and is there time for may be sum swift halfs at dinnertime. will i get a blackberry?
Does the applicant need to be a Conservative?
A LibDem friend of my son has a politics degree and worked for our Conservative MP as an intern while an undergraduate
With those demands, I trust the salary will be in six figures.
is "exceptional" the new excellent
Crikey - you need an ambassador!
Perhaps you should choose the person in question by approaching Channel 4 and suggesting a 13 week television competition programme to select the wannabe's.
You should offer unpaid internships like Ed Balls.
Is a 30 year graduate 'recent'? Can the job be carried out virtually? Isn't the Microsoft Office Suite somewhere near Seattle?
I assume I not appropriately qualified.
Iain said: "Iain Dale is a busy man. He is the publisher of Total Politics magazine, a contributing editor to GQ, managing director of Biteback Publishing, editor of Iain Dale’s Diary and author or editor of more than 20 books. And he needs an Executive Assistant!"
It sounds more like you're looking for a goafer by the description...
To give you due credit however Iain, I think it's wonderful you're personally taking charge of getting all the unemployed back into work...
You come across as a Grade A tosser in that ad. Still, think I'll apply just for a giggle...
Ian, the ignoring the tres amusant above, is this a full time position? I suspect I am not the only potential applicant who would benefit form a more detailed outline of the hours involved
Graybo, London.
Henry Wood, the job's yours.
Longrun2, I am an equal opportunities employer. Even to Liberal Democrats...
Alasdair, Indeed it is a full time position, although I'd consider 4 days a week for the right candidate.
Only slaves need apply.
Hey don`t knock slavery it gets things done
...he's 'armless enough (judging by the 'photo)...
A demanding job description - in fact it's much like the EA for my company's CEO. We're a FTSE 100 company. The salary for that position is £62,500. How much are you prepared to pay?
Iain,
Any chance of getting him to reinvigorate the Daily Dozen.
Really useful part of your blog that saves time surfing while also giving your readers the chance to sample quality opinions.
Hamish said "With those demands, I trust the salary will be in six figures."
My, my. Iain will have to do an extra TWO newspaper reviews per year for Sky News to pay this person's salary. Two!
Or have I been misinformed about his fees?
hire me, I DARE you
Should I apply?
I'd be superb at it.
Pete North.
What Errol said, but replace "47" with "20" :)
Iain - nice one for not really bothering about the fact that they've got a degree; good man.
500 word critique of this blog, i'll do it 3 - how's Gio doing?
I would say that the primary skills here are not political. They are organisational. If someone has that part covered, and are bright enough, they will pick up the politics side of things quick enough.
The advert reads a bit like 'I'm superman. I need superwoman'. In reality you are the political skills side of the team, and your assistant needs to be good at organising things around you.
If you want someone who knows as much as you do about politics, and has opinions, I see trouble ahead. As I say, I'd emphasise the organisational and communication skills, which can be adapted to any working environment. It just happens that the business here is politics.
My name is Gordon and I am very interested in applying.
I am looking for new work since May. I know lots of important people and will be able to assist you.
I am good on the phone and only occasionally throw Nokias around when I lose my temper.
My friend Tony knows everybody and he will be able to help me a lot. I've got another friend called Peter who has some interesting connections too.
Let me know if you are interested. I live in Scotland now but my wife Sarah says she will let me come for an interview in London next week because she wants to do some shopping in Oxford Street.
I am good with people and my only weakness is my eyesight. You must guarantee me an interview under the rules I created.
I'm very good with money and I left my last business with a small overdraft of nearly £1 trillion. Which is a lot better than George Osborne could have achieved.
Look forward to meeting you Iain.
Gordon X
How about this candidate?
Discrete 25 year old male, fit and attractive. Clean driving licence. Recent experience at the Foreign Office. Enjoys wrestling and the company of middle aged, bald or balding, Conservative politicians. Willing to share hotel rooms. Excellent references on request.
A "recent graduate"? Isn't this age discrimination?
Sorry, is this some kind of joke given the current William Hague situation? Very, very, farcical timing if not.
I believe Christopher Myers is now available.
There's a bright young fella called Christopher Myers looking for just such a post.
Contactable via www.order-order.com
I'd do it Iain but you couldn't afford me :-)
cheap shot, Hague will be disappointed
How about Christopher Myers. Sounds perfect!!
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