Tourism continues to be one of Northern Irelands most recognisable good news stories.

Tourism Northern Ireland is responsible for the development of tourism in Northern Ireland, supporting the tourism industry and for marketing the region as a tourist destination.

As a non-departmental public body of the Department for the Economy, the organisation works closely with other tourism bodies to help develop the visitor economy.

In 2023, almost two million overseas visitors chose to visit Northern Ireland, generating £1.2 billion in tourism expenditure.

Around 70,000 people work in the industry, which accounts for nine-per-cent of all jobs in Northern Ireland.

In addition, more than 70% of the jobs are located outside of the Belfast area, playing a critical role in breathing life into cities, towns and villages.

Going forward, the tourism sector is well placed to deliver a more sustainable, more productive, regionally balanced economy which can deliver good jobs.

Tourists increasingly want to engage with real life experiences which give them a sense of the culture and heritage of the places they are visiting, and Northern Ireland has that in abundance.

Across the North, there has been an unprecedented growth in authentic, local tourism experiences which give visitors the opportunity to explore the local way of life and engage with local people.

Tourism NIs consumer brand Embrace a Giant Spirit continues to go from strength to strength, encapsulating the spirit of the people, the warmth of the welcome and the authenticity of the visitor experience.

Tourism NI is also closely involved in the tourism elements of the City and Growth Deal Programmes which will be crucial in helping to secure more spend from international visitors to the island.

Looking ahead, this is a particularly exciting year for tourism in Northern Ireland with the return of The Open to Royal Portrush this summer.

Following The 148th Open in 2019, there has been ongoing investment in Northern Ireland particularly in the accommodation sector with a number of new properties and acquisitions including the recently opened Dunluce Lodge in Portrush.

Northern Ireland has now become an increasingly popular destination for the lucrative golf and luxury segments of the tourism market.

With 2025 now in full swing, there is certainly a lot to look forward to as Northern Ireland continues to showcase its world-class tourism offering.

INTERIM PERSONEL ASSISTANT

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY

An exciting opportunity to work directly with Tourism Northern Irelands (Tourism NIs) leadership. You will need to co-ordinate busy, and at times conflicting demands – often under time pressure.

Working as part of the Executive Support Team, the Personal Assistant will provide full PA support to members of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Board, ensuring a consistent, high-level of service across the organisation. The job holder will also be required to provide secretarial and administrative support to the Chief Executive and Chairman at times and will be involved in the practical arrangements for Board meetings and events.

The job holder will be responsible for handling a wide range of administrative and executive support related tasks, including employee travel arrangements, and must be able to work independently.

The Personal Assistant will interact with internal employees at all levels in the course of their work, remaining flexible, proactive and resourceful with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.

The role provides a broad overview of all areas of Tourism NI and a high profile, involving direct contact with the Minister for the Economy and Permanent Secretarys Office, senior officials across Northern Ireland Government Departments, external stakeholders, local politicians, Councillors, and members of the tourism industry.

Main Duties

The post-holder will be responsible for the following areas of activity:

Executive Support

• Proactively manage the Directors diaries of two Directors to make effective use of their time, ensuring there are no conflicting meetings, events or appointments, and prioritising meetings to allow sufficient time for completion of urgent work.
• Efficiently manage busy diaries and liaise with internal and external stakeholders, as well as co-ordinating steering groups and cross-organisational meetings as advised by the Executive Leadership Team and Executive Support Manager.
• Assist Directors in the management of their workload through monitoring of actions arising from meetings.
• Keep abreast of regular reporting deadlines and provide support to members of the ELT in meeting these, through allocating desk time and following up with internal employees.
• Join divisional meetings to note actions and stay informed of work priorities across the Division.
• Make arrangements for meetings physical/hybrid/virtual, including booking meeting space or setting up MS Teams links, and circulating papers in advance.
• Help to maintain Executive Support Team records in all areas of corporate governance; including gifts and hospitality registers, and records of approvals granted by the Board and Executive Leadership Team.
• Receive, log, and deal with Director correspondence, ensuring it is replied to in a timely manner.
• Work with colleagues in the Business Planning and Improvement Team in ensuring deadlines for Departmental briefings are met by the Executive Leadership Team or time extensions are requested when needed.
• Provide Secretariat support to Sub-Committees of the Board when required.
• Assist in the arrangements for Board meetings / dinners / events, including approaching venues for quotations.

Travel & Expenses

• Make all travel and transport arrangements for Directors which will occasionally involve UK and/or international travel.
• Prepare expenses paperwork for Directors in line with Tourism NI financial policies, procedures, and governance.
• Carry out the Executive Support Teams function in the administration of a travel desk for all Tourism NI employees, including procuring quotes and ensuring travel is booked in accordance with Tourism NI financial policies, procedures, and governance.

Additional Duties

• Provide PA cover to the Chief Executive and other members of the ELT in the absence of Executive Support Team colleagues.
• Maintain, store and dispose of Unit records in accordance with Tourism NI Information Governance Policy including the use of record management systems such as Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
• Contribute to Executive Support Team goals and the unit operating plan.
• Ensure that all activities are conducted in line with Tourism NIs policies, procedures, values, and behaviours.
• Any other relevant duties commensurate with the grade as required by Tourism Northern Ireland.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Option 1

1. Passes in two subjects at Level Three or Equivalent (e.g. A-Level) and passes in English and Mathematics at Level Two or equivalent (e.g. GCSE Grade C) as detailed in the qualification framework (see overleaf).

AND

2. A minimum of 1 years experience providing a high-level of administrative support in a professional environment.

OR

Option 2

1. Passes in English and Mathematics at Level Two or equivalent (e.g. GCSE Grade C) as detailed in the qualification framework (see overleaf).

AND

2. A minimum of 3 years experience providing a high-level of administrative support in a professional environment.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA – Personal Effectiveness

The Job Holder will possess an excellent standard of:

1. Communication skills (oral and written) including managing calls screening, prioritising and responding to enquiries.
2. Organisational skills and the ability to manage changing priorities within tight deadlines while ensuring quality output and delivery of results.
3. Ability to build and maintain strong, positive, co-operative, and professional relationships
4. Ability to successfully engage with stakeholders/customers, both internal and external.
5. Analytical skills including the ability to efficiently gather, analyse, and communicate information and advice to others in a structured and coherent manner.
6. The ability to preserve confidentiality, maintain a professional approach when dealing with sensitive issues or high-profile persons and employ tact, diplomacy, and discretion at all times.
7. IT and Computer Literacy, particularly the Microsoft Office suite.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This is not an exhaustive list of duties and requirements. The nature of the organisation is such that it must respond to the dynamic environment in which it operates and the nature of duties, tasks, knowledge and skills required for this post will evolve and change in time. The Job Holder is expected to adapt to these changes and develop the role as a result.

Applicants may also need to possess a current driving licence and use of a car for business purposes or have access to a form of transport which will permit the applicant to meet the requirements of the post in full.

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Tourism NI is committed to equality and will comply with the Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998) statutory duties which requires designated public authorities to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the nine equality categories and to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief; political opinion; and racial group.

The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) Section 49A requires designated public authorities to have due regard to the need to promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons, and to the need to encourage participation by disabled persons in public life.

FOR FULL APPLICATION PACK PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

COMPLETING APPLICATIONS

Those wishing to apply you should submit a completed application via our website no later than Monday 4th August at 12 noon. Please click apply to be redirected to our website.

CVs will not be accepted as a substitute/supplement to the application form.

Tourism NI is an Equal Opportunities Employer.