1. CURRICULUM VITAE
ISABELLE BIRCH
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Educated to degree level, I am an effective communicator with people at all levels, both with
internal and external stakeholders. My work ethic is one of integrity, respect, responsibility,
discipline, and quality. I am able to work both as part of a team, as well as being a self-starter.
As a professional, I am flexible, proactive, trustworthy, calm under pressure and loyal. I strive
to demonstrate a positive, ‘can do’ attitude in all situations. I have excellent organisational
skills which allow me to work productively and to set deadlines.
Key Skills:
Excellent organisation and work planning
Effective communicator
Professional integrity, trustworthy, loyal
Effective time management skills
‘Can do’ attitude
Completer/Finisher/thorough in all tasks
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
QUALIFICATIONS
Baccalaureat G1 (France: June 1984)
The equivalent of ‘A’ levels in typing, shorthand, economics, law and languages. A course
designed especially for secretarial work.
BTS Secretariat de Direction (France: March 1986)
The study of the same subjects for a further two years – French Foundation Degree.
First Certificate of Cambridge (England: June 1987)
The study of English as a foreign language to an Intermediate level.
Proficiency of Cambridge (England: June 1988)
The study of English as a foreign language equivalent to a French University Degree standard.
European Computer Driving License (England: October 2005)
Training and examination on the following modules: Basic concepts of IT, using the computer
and managing files, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation, information and
communication.
Spanish beginners’ course L194 (OU: November 2009)

2. EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Open University, Faculty of Social Sciences
Full-time position (July 12 to date)
PA to the Dean and to the Head of Planning and Resources. The role mainly involves:
- Providing personal secretarial and administrative support to the Dean and HPR, including
greeting visitors to the Deanery; filtering telephone calls, handling these personally as
appropriate; using initiative and discretion to deal with correspondence and e-mails which
come in to the Dean’s mailbox, controlling the flow of information and responding as
required; making travel and accommodation arrangements; managing the Dean and HPR’s
diaries using judgement to negotiate any changes.
- Word processing correspondence, reports and styling documentation, including material
of a highly confidential, restricted and sensitive nature. Producing Powerpoint presentations
for Faculty conferences, forum and workshops.
- Co-ordinating arrangements for appointments, meetings and seminars, ensuring that the
Dean and HPR are prepared for such events and that appropriate papers are prepared and
circulated. Booking venues, ordering catering and arranging IT equipment as required.
- Proactively making the necessary arrangements around the staff appraisal process on
behalf of the Dean and HPR. Ensuring all meetings and regular reviews are in the
appropriate diaries and that all necessary paperwork is requested and received in time for
the meeting, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
- Attending and taking minutes at meetings as required by the Dean and HPR.
- Supporting the Dean with the recruitment of new Heads of Departments and Programme
Directors.
Line management:
- Responsibility for line managing three Deanery support staff, providing an induction,
training and development, planning workload, monitoring progress, carrying out appraisals
and proposing merit award submissions.
- Responsibility for helping to resolve problems that might arise, this may include personal
problems, dealing with grievance, occupational health referrals and disciplinary procedures.
- Responsibility for support staff recruitment, including writing adverts, further particulars
and arranging interview panel, questions and any associated tests.
Open University, Department of Languages
Full-time position (March 09 to July 12)
PA to Head of Department/Departmental secretary. The role mainly involved:
- Supervising, organising and co-ordinating the secretarial and clerical work within the
Department of Languages. Ensuring even workloads, assessing and planning for future
requirements and exercising judgement in arranging for additional support at critical
periods;
- Carrying out appraisals for all secretarial and clerical staff within the Department;
- identifying staff development and training requirements and opportunities for
meeting such needs;
- Dealing with personal and welfare matters of secretarial and clerical staff in the
Department.
- Preparing cases for merit award and salary increments for secretarial and clerical staff
in the Department.
- Assisting the Academic Secretarial Services Manager with the recruitment of
secretarial and clerical staff for the Department;

3. - Dealing with induction and training of new secretarial and clerical staff to the
Department.
- Approving annual leave for secretarial and clerical staff within the Department. With
respect to all staff in the Department, following Faculty procedures for reporting sickness
absence and prepares reports on study leave for the Head of Department.
- Organising the Departmental meeting timetable in conjunction with the Faculty Office
and as required by the Head of Department, disseminating information to Department
members.
- Acting as personal assistant to the Head of Department: maintaining the Head of
Department’s diary; filtering telephone calls, handling these personally as appropriate;
using initiative to deal with correspondence, responding on behalf of the Head of
Department as required;
- Servicing the Language Executive meetings: note taking; researching issues; preparing
papers; creating and monitoring of an action log; following up on progress. Representing
secretarial and clerical staff from the Department at this Group;
- Being a central point of contact within the Department, welcoming and assisting
visitors to the Department;
- Being responsible for the day-to-day management of the Head of Department’s
departmental budget.
Open University, Office of the Pro Vice Chancellor (Curriculum and Awards). Part-time
position (January 03 to March 09)
Assistant PA to the Executive Personal Assistant to the Pro Vice Chancellor. The role mainly
involved:
- Acting as liaison between the Pro Vice Chancellor’s office and the staff in the Curriculum and
Awards Office;
- Managing a complex and very busy diary, using my knowledge and judgment in prioritising
appointments and making the best use of the time available;
- Circulating papers, booking rooms, equipment and catering;
- Booking travel and accommodation in the UK and abroad liaising with Staff Payment Office
and Travel Agents;
- Ensuring that the PVC receives all relevant paperwork and briefing information prior to
attendance at meetings.
- Receiving visitors on behalf of the EPA and the PVC, liaising with Berrill Reception and with
Security on parking issues;
- Managing communications in and out of the office on behalf of the EPA and PVC requiring
considerable discretion, tact, judgement, initiative alongside a broad knowledge of the
University and its operations;
- Taking sole responsibility for managing the appraisal process for the Deans of Central
Academic Units. This involved handling confidential information and working within strict
deadlines. This required excellent organisation skills, high levels of trust, discretion and
diplomacy in dealing with senior staff;
- Taking responsibility for receipt and flow of information in the Office, including soft and hard
copy correspondence;
- Taking responsibility for receipt of Vacancy Release and Change of Circumstances paperwork
to be approved by PVC(CA) from CAUs, using an e-logging system to keep track of progress
and liaising with Units directly involved on these issues;
- Taking responsibility for arranging secretarial meetings in the Curriculum and Awards Office.
Collating items and compiling agenda for circulation and taking the minutes at the meetings;

4. - Taking responsibility for maintaining email distribution lists and contacts information for
PVC(CA) and EPA;
Open University, Curriculum and Awards Office - Part-time position (Feb 99 to Jan 03)
Secretarial support to three members of staff using a range of software (Outlook, Excel, Word,
PowerPoint).
Open University, Central Secretarial Services (Nov 97 to Feb 99)
Secretarial support on a temporary basis in several very different areas of the OU which
required adaptability, flexibility and the ability to learn new skills quickly .
Open University, European and International office (Feb 90 to Feb 91)
Personal Secretary to the Associate Director and the Administrator. As well as standard
secretarial and administrative duties, this post mainly involved helping in the preparation of
visit programmes.
Open University, Faculty of Technology (April 88 to Feb 90)
Working for three academics. As well as normal secretarial duties, I participated in the
organisation of a Conference in Cambridge in September 89. This Conference being
organised in collaboration with some French people, I was in charge of translating all the
correspondence and papers.
Open University, Central Secretarial Services (March 88 to April 89)
Secretarial supports to various areas of the Open University on a temporary basis.
Translating work in France (July to Sep 87)
Au Pair in a family in Milton Keynes (Feb 87 to Feb 88)
Fiduciaire de France - An Accountancy Partnership (July 86 to Jan 87)
PA to the Managing Director
HOBBIES
I enjoy keeping fit, gardening, socialising and spending time with friends and family.