1. NAME: HELEN DODDS
Telephone: 07961 488269
Email: helen0703@fsmail.net
PROFILE
I am a driven and exceptionally talented Senior Professional who has acquired strategic and operational experience, having gained
expertise within PA and Office Management positions. I am an individual who adapts well within new environments, utilising excellent
leadership skills to ensure the achievement of all business objectives, a proactive approach when dealing with stakeholders and their
requirements, capable of managing multiple workloads and complying with agreed deadlines. An individual who has the skills and
techniques that would be an asset to any forward thinking organisation.
.
ACHIEVEMENTS
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• Reduced costs by £15k per annum by undertaking a review of office facilities budgets: IT spend and Estates Management.
• Implemented and set up a CRM database for company client data, reducing storage costs and securing data electronically.
• Created an updated electronic Staff Handbook on company intranet replacing paper copy and ending printer costs.
• Implemented and updated corporate style throughout company.
• Responsible for the research, creation and management of social media webpages to promote company, i.e. Facebook, Twitter.
• Created and implemented a stakeholder survey questionnaire in order to improve the overall service to stakeholders.
KEY SKILLS & EXPERTISE
• Strong communication and interpersonal ability
• Excellent IT Skills, i.e. Word, Excel, Access, Outlook
• Extensive PA Experience
• Conference Booking/Management
• Diary Management
• Organisation of all travel and accommodation
• Minute taking at SMT and Board Level
• Director/ Senior Manager Liaison
• Ability to utilise problem solving techniques to achieve
all business objectives
• Target Driven
• Discreet, Diplomatic and Trustworthy
• Strategic and Operational Skills
• Human Resources Processes and SAGE HR
• Employee Recruitment and Selection
• Excellent Business Support Experience
• Project Management
• Strategic and Operational Skills
• Administration/Facilities Management
• Stakeholder Relationship Building Skills
• Acting with integrity, tact and diplomacy in all
situations
• Experience of people management and leadership
EXPERIENCE
September 2014 – December 2014 PA to the Director of Corporate Services (Temporary position)
St Oswald’s Hospice
Key Duties:
• Provided a full and confidential secretarial service to the Director of Corporate Services including diary management and scheduling
of meetings.
• Organise the diaries to identifying and anticipating priorities, taking the initiative in compiling and prioritising and acting on
behalf of the Director as appropriate.
• Responsible for managing the organisation of regular meetings including departmental team meetings and one to ones as designated
by the Director of Corporate Services, including: room bookings, preparation and circulation of agendas, briefing papers and minutes
or action points.
• Responsible for arranging meetings, co-ordinating papers and agendas highlighting areas for action in preparation for meetings.
Preparing outgoing and internal correspondence, reports and other documentation as required for the Director using word processing,
spreadsheets, etc., as necessary.
• Prepare presentations / packs for presentations as required. Undertake basic research and scoping of venues including costs.

2. • Receive and respond to enquiries from telephone callers, visitors, businesses and colleagues to ensure effective communication
procedures and to develop effective working relationships.
Aug 2012 – Sept 2013 Office Manager
DAWN (Advice) Limited
Key Duties:
• Promoted into the position of Office Manager following SMT restructure in 2012.
• Direct responsibility for ensuring effective control of all administrative processes in the office as well as continued ongoing support to
the CEO and the executive management team.
• Responsible for the budget for general maintenance of office premises; managing excellent supplier relationships, using negotiation
techniques when controlling costs and organising all repairs.
• Created and was responsible for lease and rent review tracker database.
• Successfully implemented and oversaw the health and safety policy and ensured that it was observed.
• Worked closely with the CEO during creation and preparation of tenders and funding applications, ensuring the accurate obtaining
of all required data.
• Responsible for updating company internet webpage and also implementing social media marketing, i.e. Facebook, Twitter.
• Responsible for the booking and management of the annual company conference, including travel and accommodation booking and
also providing background support during the conference.
• Responsible for the administration and support of Board of Trustees.
• Played a pivotal role with regards to human resources processes including recruitment and selection, grievances and disciplinary
procedures.
• Responsible for the management of an admin support team, including induction, training, performance management and appraisals.
• Responsible for stakeholder queries and complaints from establishing the problem and working through to resolution.
• Organise and chair admin team meetings.
Jan 2010 – Aug 2012 PA to the Chief Executive
DAWN (Advice) Limited
Key Duties:
• Provided full proactive PA support to the CEO in all secretarial and administrative processes including coordination of diary/meeting
schedules, email management, handling all correspondence and booking of all travel/hotel arrangements.
• Responsible for implementing an updated corporate style used throughout the organisation.
• Built and developed an internal and external network of contacts on behalf of the CEO and built knowledge of key issues in order to
effectively identify priorities.
• Worked closely with the Board of Trustees. Responsible for scheduling meeting venues.
• Direct communication with the Chair of Trustees regarding agenda content; preparation and collation of documentation and reports
for dissemination to the Trustees prior to meetings. Creating presentations using PowerPoint for meetings. Taking minutes at the
meeting.
• Responsible for reviewing policies and procedures with regards to governance to ensure a complete and robust service to the
Trustees.
• Assisted with HR related tasks including managing HR queries, organising vacancy advertising, scheduling interviews, attending of
interviews.
• Responsible for recording sickness and annual leave using SAGE HR.
• Responsible for the creation and roll out of an Employee Handbook which incorporated updated HR policies and day to day office
procedures.
Nov 2008 – Dec 2009 PA to National Director
NHS Diabetes and Kidney Care
Key Duties:
• A distanced managed role as the National Director was based in Cheltenham.
• Ensured effective diary management and organisation of all national and international travel and accommodation. Including travel
for myself as I attended Senior Executive meetings in London, Cheltenham and Birmingham.
• Managed all additional tasks including completion of all correspondence, minute taking and attending director and senior
management meetings.
• Responsible for the organisation of a Diabetes conference in London; including collation of invitation list, venue sourcing,
conference facilities management, catering, publication of conference details and booking travel and accommodation for
stakeholders.
• Managed all internal and external queries through to resolution, completing extensive liaison with colleagues to escalate issues
when required.
• Built and managed key stakeholder relationships including Department of Health and local health care organisations.

3. • Played a key role in assisting with raising awareness in relation to diabetes and kidney care.
• Successfully created and implemented the staff resource handbook.
• Selected to play the lead role on a number of projects including researching and viewing new offices for the business support team.
• Provided ongoing support to the business support team, analysing administrative processes and implementing improvements
where required.
Temporary Contracts
I left Newcastle College due to redundancy and immediately took on various senior administration temporary contracts with Employment
Agencies while looking for permanent employment.
Jun 2008 – Oct 2008 PA to MD – PDA Search and Selection
Feb 2008 – Jun 2008 PA to Director of Estates – NRG
Dec 2007 – Jan 2008 PA to Director of Research and Development – Recruitment Now
Sep 2007 PA to Managing Director – Solutions Recruitment
Jun 2007 PA to Director – Kelburn Recruitment
May 2007 PA to Company Director – Sara Eke
Mar 2002 – Apr 2007 PA to Vice Principal of Finance
Newcastle College
Key Duties:
• Operated in direct support of the VP in the operation of her duties, I also supported the Director of Estates and the Financial
Controller.
• Full diary management including email and phone call management. Handled all correspondence.
• Coordinated national and international travel and hotels.
• Project managed and maintained Finance intranet page using internal college IT.
• Responsible for the preparation of monthly Finance Board Packs.
• Responsible for the scheduling and management of performance monitoring and budget meetings.
• Responsible for direct line management of Team Secretary.
Sept 1997 – Oct 2001 Executive Secretary
Newcastle Building Society
Key Duties:
• Full secretarial support to the Director of Sales and Marketing.
• Responsible for scheduling meetings and maintaining diary and in-house email management.
• Responsible for the organisation of annual general meeting.
Mar 1994 – Apr 1997 Secretary to Finance Director – English Partnerships
EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications:
O-Levels including English and Mathematics
RSA Typing Stage 1, 2 and 3
Accountancy
Word Processing
Audio Typing
Professional Training:
Switchboard Training – BT (One Day Course)
Emergency First Aid at Work (Two Day Course)
The PA Role within a Marketing Department (One Day Course)
Various one day staff training courses within Newcastle College

4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Professional Memberships: Association of Personal Assistants
Interests: Flower arranging, going to the theatre, walking and socialising with family and friends
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST