Diary Manager / Executive Assistant

What the department source confirms

This is a permanent, full-time Executive Officer vacancy. The Home Office results page lists London, North East England and North West England, a salary range of £34,415 to £38,991, and a closing date of 3 September 2026.

The title combines diary management with executive assistance. Home Office career material describes Private Office work as supporting senior decision-makers through briefings, meetings, commissions and delivery of priorities. The full advert must tell you which office and responsibilities apply here.

What strong preparation looks like

Treat the diary as a decision system, not a calendar. A useful example will show how you understood the principal’s priorities, distinguished urgency from importance, protected preparation time and negotiated with people whose requests could not all be accepted.

At EO, the panel should be able to see your personal judgement. “I booked meetings” is a task description. “I identified a clash, assessed consequence, proposed options, secured agreement and prevented delay” is evidence.

Evidence to prepare first

Prepare one example involving a fast-moving diary or workload with several senior stakeholders. Be precise about how you triaged requests, what information you gathered and how you communicated a change.

Your second example should show accuracy and discretion. This might involve sensitive correspondence, restricted papers, meeting packs, travel arrangements or a decision log. Explain the safeguards you used rather than simply saying the work was confidential.

A third useful example shows anticipation: spotting a missing briefing, unresolved action, dependency or stakeholder risk early enough to fix it.

Application checks

Confirm whether the application asks for a CV, personal statement, Behaviour examples or a suitability statement. Record the exact word limits and sift priority before drafting. Also check office attendance, travel, security clearance and whether the role requires experience supporting a particular level of leader.

The department page publishes the closing date but not the precise cut-off time. Use the official Civil Service Jobs advert for that time.

Writing and interview approach

Show calm control without sounding passive. Strong executive support combines service with constructive challenge: clarifying the outcome, proposing a workable sequence and keeping the right people informed. Finish each example with the practical consequence—time protected, meeting improved, decision accelerated or error prevented.