PERSONAL ASSISTANT: ANIMAL HEALTH (ELSENBURG)

This position offers an opportunity to serve as a Personal Assistant within the Animal Health unit of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, based at Elsenburg. The role is central to ensuring the smooth day-to-day functioning of the manager’s office, providing a professional secretarial and administrative backbone to support animal health programmes and related departmental activities. As a Personal Assistant, you would be expected to act as the first point of contact for the manager, handling reception duties, managing correspondence, and ensuring that the office operates efficiently within the broader public service environment.

To be considered for this post, applicants must hold a Grade 12 certificate or equivalent, supplemented by an accredited secretarial diploma and/or an administrative qualification at NQF level 5, or a relevant higher tertiary qualification. In addition, at least three years of practical experience in rendering secretarial or administrative support to management or senior management is required. The department looks for candidates with a sound knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, prescripts and procedures, as well as basic financial administration, record management systems, procurement processes, and the ability to accurately record minutes and decisions at meetings. Advanced proficiency in the MS Office package—Word, Excel and PowerPoint—is essential, along with strong written and verbal communication skills, report writing abilities, planning and organising capabilities, and research and analytical skills.

The core duties of the role are varied and demanding. You will provide a comprehensive secretarial and receptionist support service to the manager, which includes managing incoming and outgoing communications, maintaining filing systems, and ensuring that administrative tasks are completed timeously. You will also render broader administrative support services, assist with the coordination and servicing of meetings, and support the manager with the administration of the budget. This involves monitoring expenditure, handling procurement of goods and services, and ensuring compliance with financial prescripts. A key part of the role is to study relevant Public Service and departmental policies and documents, ensuring that their application is properly understood and implemented within the office.

Shortlisted candidates should be prepared for a rigorous selection process. Interviews will be scheduled by the department, and candidates must submit duly completed and signed vetting and supporting documentation within the specified timeframe before the interview date. Failure to do so, without reasonable justification, may result in disqualification from the process. All shortlisted candidates will also be required to undertake two pre-entry assessments: a practical exercise testing technical and generic suitability for the post, and an integrity assessment relating to ethical conduct. The selection process will be guided by the employment equity targets of the department. By applying, candidates consent to the Western Cape Government contacting previous employers or managers for reference checks, which will include enquiries about disciplinary records and reasons for leaving. This is a structured, OSD-graded post within the public service, offering a stable career path for an organised and detail-oriented administrative professional.