Senior PA - Transport & Water

Frontier Economics is an economics consultancy that tackles the big questions facing governments, businesses and society. We help our clients to analyse and understand their markets and to formulate strategies based on sound economics. The methods and models we use are often complex, but our advice is always succinct, clear and honest. 

The company has grown rapidly since it was founded almost 27 years ago and currently has around 500 staff working across nine European offices (Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Dublin, London, Madrid, Paris and Prague). The company is employee-owned and has a strong culture of openness and employee engagement.

Working Arrangements

This is a part-time role, working three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday), as part of a job-share arrangement with an existing Senior Practice PA who is returning from maternity leave.

The other Senior Practice PA will work Friday, Monday and Tuesday, with Tuesday providing a shared working day for handovers, collaboration and continuity of support across the Transport & Water practice.

Both Senior Practice PAs will work closely together to provide a consistent, proactive and high-quality support service to the practice, ensuring effective communication, clear ownership of responsibilities and seamless handovers.

Key Responsibilities 

The following describes the core responsibilities and expectations of the Senior Practice PA within the Transport & Water practice. The role will involve supporting senior stakeholders and contributing to the smooth and effective running of the practice.

Planning and Organisation

• Manage complex diaries and meetings independently, using judgement to balance competing demands and make effective use of senior stakeholders’ time;
• Maintain a forward view of meetings, deadlines and other commitments, anticipating the preparation and follow-up needed;
• Co-ordinate meetings and activities involving multiple stakeholders, including agendas, materials, minutes, actions and follow-up where required;
• Prioritise and manage a varied workload with minimal supervision, adjusting plans when circumstances change and communicating the impact clearly;
• Co-ordinate work with other support colleagues where appropriate, making effective use of available capacity and ensuring clear handovers.
• Work collaboratively with the other Senior Practice PA, maintaining clear communication, effective handovers and shared visibility of priorities to ensure continuity of support across the working week

Impact and Delivery

• Take end-to-end ownership of significant support activities, ensuring work is accurate, timely and followed through to completion;
• Anticipate requirements and resolve operational issues before they affect stakeholders, clients or deadlines, escalating matters that need a management decision;
• Support practice, project and business processes. This includes proposals, events, document preparation, project administration and invoicing;
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and ways of working, and take practical steps to implement agreed improvements;
• Apply an understanding of the supported team’s work and priorities to provide support that is responsive to business needs.

Communication and Partnership Working

• Build trusted working relationships with senior stakeholders, understanding their preferences and communicating confidently on their behalf within agreed boundaries;
• Liaise professionally with clients, external contacts, colleagues and other business teams, adapting communication to the audience and the situation;
• Raise issues constructively, providing relevant information and practical options to help stakeholders make decisions;
• Handle confidential or sensitive matters with discretion and know when to seek advice or escalate;
• Coach and support less experienced colleagues, sharing knowledge and setting a positive example of professional standards.

Development and Engagement

• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the Transport & Water practice, including its key projects, stakeholders and commercial priorities, and use this knowledge to tailor support.
• Seek and act on feedback, continue to develop relevant skills and adapt support as business needs change;
• Share knowledge and contribute to consistent standards and effective collaboration across the EA, PA and Administration Network and BMT.

Essential Requirements

• Experience providing PA, administrative or comparable business support, with the ability to work independently in a busy environment;
• Strong organisational and planning skills, including the ability to anticipate needs and manage competing priorities;
• Sound judgement, attention to detail and the ability to take ownership of work through to completion;
• Clear and confident written and verbal communication, with the ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders and colleagues;
• A proactive, collaborative approach and willingness to support the development of others;
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and the ability to learn and use Frontier’s systems and processes effectively;
• Discretion and professionalism when handling confidential or sensitive information.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Language skills – French, German or Spanish
• Experience supporting senior stakeholders in a professional services or similarly complex environment;
• Experience improving administrative processes or co-ordinating work across a team;

At Frontier, we use AI to help our Business Management Teams work more efficiently and provide high-quality support across the business. You will be expected and supported to use generative AI tools where they can improve processes, communication and the use of information, while applying your own professional judgement and expertise. You will remain responsible for the quality and accuracy of your work, including reviewing AI-generated content carefully and using it as a helpful starting point rather than relying on it without review.

At Frontier Economics, we are entirely employee-owned, meaning every team member has a voice in shaping the company’s future. Our collaborative culture encourages innovation, open dialogue, and shared success. Our stimulating and thought-provoking projects are complemented by a supportive and dynamic work environment, designed to help you thrive and grow. We also offer:

• Hybrid Working: Employees are expected to work in the office at least two days a week, with flexibility for remote work.
• Holiday Entitlement: 28 days of annual leave, plus public holidays, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days of holiday per year.
• Parental Pay: Enhanced pay of 26 weeks full pay for primary carers and 10 weeks full pay for partners.
• Learning & Development: Extensive L&D opportunities, including Career Development Reviews with support from a dedicated Mentor.
• Private Health Insurance: Bupa health insurance with optional family coverage (taxes paid by the employees and add on for partners & children at an additional cost). Additional cover (e.g., optical, dental) can be added at the employee's expense.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Free, confidential support for work-life balance, health, family issues, or job-related challenges, available for you and your immediate family members.
• Income Protection Insurance – All employees are covered by Frontier’s Group Income Protection Scheme for long-term illness or disability.
• Life Insurance – Company-funded Group Life Assurance Scheme, covering all permanent employees from their start date.
• Cross-Office Travel & Secondments – Opportunities for secondments to different offices or practices to expand skills and experience

If you have any questions or would like any additional information please email [email protected].

We are looking forward to receiving your application!

Frontier Economics is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. We are determined that everyone has an equal chance to join us and progress their career with Frontier. We care about creating an inclusive atmosphere and are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all its forms. Read more about our incentives here.