PA Director of Professional Standards

Royal College of Psychiatrists

Hours
35 hours per week

About the Organisation

Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) is the professional membership body for psychiatrists and promotes excellent care for people with mental illness. It has 21,000 members and engages with government and the media as the leading voice of UK mental health services. The College is an award-winning, values-based organisation. 

Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional medical body responsible for supporting psychiatrists throughout their careers, setting standards in psychiatry, and promoting mental health in the United Kingdom. The organization is crucial in education, training, research, and policy advocacy related to psychiatry and mental health services. The primary mission of RCPsych is to improve the understanding, prevention, and treatment of mental illnesses and ensure that people with mental health conditions receive high-quality care

About the role

We are looking for an exceptional Personal Assistant to provide high-level support to the Director of Professional Standards within a large, diverse, and fast-paced department at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive, highly organised and dynamic individual who thrives on variety and enjoys working at the centre of a busy professional environment. The successful candidate will be a confident self-starter with excellent customer service and communication skills, able to build strong working relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.

You will manage competing priorities, coordinate complex schedules, and provide seamless administrative support, while helping the department operate efficiently and effectively. You will also play a key role in supporting colleagues across a broad portfolio of professional standards work. This role would suit someone who enjoys being at the heart of a busy team and takes pride in delivering high-quality support in a professional and purpose-driven organisation.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• To deliver discrete projects on behalf of the Director of Professional Standards
• To ensure that all sensitive information discussed with the Director and Heads is treated as confidential and handled with complete discretion.
• Manage the Director’s diary proactively, ensuring effective prioritisation and smooth daily workflow
• Assist with department-wide processes such as inductions, new starters, departmental communications and meetings
• Maintain awareness of the different national contexts across the UK, and support the Director and Heads to ensure communications and workstreams reflect appropriate nuance
• To support the Director and Heads with information gathering and editing processes for reports to key committees such as Council, Trustees and FMC. Ensure the timely submission of all papers to the Governance Office
• Schedule, support and take accurate minutes of the meetings of the Vice Presidents’
• Coordinate cross-departmental initiatives, working groups or task-and-finish groups as required.
• Build strong working relationships with internal teams, including Governance, External Affairs, the CEO’s office, IS, Facilities, and Membership
• To take accurate minutes in various meetings for the Director and Heads, and to turn them around at pace.
• Prepare background information and briefing papers ahead of meetings or external engagements
• To book the Director’s domestic and international travel expeditiously and accurately. When required, ensure that all VISA requirements are met.
• Provide ad hoc support to Professional Standards teams, attending meetings or events when required 

General:

• Undertake any other duties related to the job purpose and which may be necessary in the College’s work.
• To carry out all duties in a safe and proper manner in accordance with the College’s Health and Safety Policy.
• To undertake all duties in line with the College’s values, policies, procedures, and regulations, ensuring that the work undertaken actively promotes equality and diversity.
• To support the College’s sustainability and net zero programme with a focus on adhering to policy and implementing initiatives.
• This job description is not exhaustive and is subject to change in accordance with the business needs of the College.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Essential:

• Experience working as a Personal Assistant and Executive Assistant, and another similar role
• Experience in producing PowerPoint presentations and other visuals
• Ability to work as a member of a flexible team and to use initiative to work alone appropriately
• Experience in minuting meetings, producing agendas, and providing appropriate administrative support
• Ability to take effective and accurate minutes and administer meetings
• Ability to use online calendar tools to set up meetings to a high standard, and at pace
• Ability to use MS Office software to a high standard
• Ability to multitask and prioritise workload
• Ability to deal courteously and efficiently with a wide cross-section of internal and external contacts
• Ability to communicate effectively with the written and spoken word
• Ability to act on own initiative, but to take instruction where appropriate
• Ability to perform basic numerical tasks
• Knowledge of best practices in the PA/EA professional field
• Be available to travel around the UK, with occasional overnight stays, as required 

Desirable:

• Experience in supporting volunteer officer roles in the professional association sector
• Experience of administering Board-level meetings

Compensation & Benefits

• 25 days of annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
• Six college closure days (during May, August and December)
• Generous flexi-time and time off in lieu (TOIL) schemes
• Enhanced maternity leave (eight weeks at full pay, 18 weeks at half pay, 13 weeks lower rate SMP, 13 weeks unpaid leave)
• Enhanced paternity leave (two weeks at full pay, rather than at the statutory level)
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Probationary period 6 months
• Subsidised café at our London Head Office
• Health and well-being package (including up to £160 for complementary therapies)
• Money towards annual eye tests
• 24/7 health and stress-related helplines
• Management support helplines
• Group Income Protection Scheme
• Generous pension and life assurance schemes

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely

How to apply

• Apply to our website
• RCPsych Candidate Information Pack
• If you require assistance or any other reasonable adjustments to complete your application form, please contact [email protected]
• Please note that applications received after this date and time will not be considered.

Interviews

• The interview date is Thursday, 2nd July 2026 (via MS Teams)

Policies

The College is opposed to all forms of prejudice and believes that everyone should be treated fairly, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation (the protected characteristics). We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion for our existing and future members, associates, affiliates, staff, and visitors in all our practices and arrangements. We actively advocate for, and support, equality of access, experience and outcomes for all College staff, all members and for all mental health patients and carers.

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