Executive Assistant to the President

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU); Melbourne; On-site; AUD 122,000 - 142,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Superannuation 15%

Annual leave loading

Work-from-home options

Additional leave days

Rostered day off

Job summary

ACTU is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to the President to provide high-level administrative and project support at the centre of the Australian union movement, based in Melbourne. You will manage the President's diary, coordinate meetings and travel, prepare briefing materials, and support governance processes, with discretion and professional communication across diverse stakeholders.

Interstate travel and occasional out-of-hours work are required, with opportunities to contribute

Qualifications

• Experienced executive assistant or senior administrator in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent judgement and discretion when supporting a senior leader.
• Proactive, able to anticipate needs and manage multiple priorities.
• Confident, professional communicator with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level administrative and project support to the ACTU President.
• Manage the President's diary, meetings, and appointments, including follow-ups.
• Prepare agendas, briefing materials, presentations, minutes and docs.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel and governance processes.
• Handle confidential correspondence and information with discretion.
• Support ACTU Executive meetings and related governance activities.
• Assist with events, research, records, and administrative systems.

Skills

Executive support

Diary management

Stakeholder management

Discretion & confidentiality

MS Office 365

Clear communication

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

Executive Assistant to the President
Level 5 | Full-time, ongoing
Location: Melbourne

The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is the peak body for unions in Australia, representing millions of working people through our affiliated unions.

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Executive Assistant to the President to provide high-level administrative, organisational and project support to the ACTU President.

This is an opportunity to work at the centre of the Australian union movement in a varied and fast-paced role requiring exceptional organisation, judgement and discretion, and the ability to anticipate priorities and provide professional and responsive support.

The ACTU is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce that reflects the rich cultural and social diversity of our community. We strongly encourage applications from women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of colour, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability, and people from working class backgrounds.

About the role

Reporting to the General Manager and providing primary support to the ACTU President, the Executive Assistant plays an important role in ensuring the President is well supported across a broad range of organisational, movement and stakeholder responsibilities.

You will manage a busy diary and competing priorities, coordinate meetings and briefing materials, manage correspondence and communications, arrange domestic and international travel, and provide support for ACTU Executive meetings and associated governance processes.

As a key point of contact for matters relating to the President, you will work closely with ACTU staff, affiliated unions, elected officials and external stakeholders. You will also work as part of the ACTU’s Executive Support Team and contribute to the effective delivery of administrative support across the organisation.

The position requires a high degree of discretion and professionalism, strong attention to detail and the ability to anticipate needs and respond effectively in a dynamic environment.

Key responsibilities include

• Providing high-level administrative and project support to the ACTU President.
• Acting as a key point of contact for matters relating to the President and liaising with ACTU staff, affiliated unions, elected officials and external stakeholders.
• Managing the President’s diary, meetings and appointments, anticipating upcoming requirements and managing competing priorities and follow-up actions.
• Preparing and coordinating agendas, briefing materials, presentations, minutes and other meeting documentation.
• Managing incoming and outgoing correspondence and communications, including drafting correspondence and prioritising matters requiring attention.
• Exercising a high degree of discretion and maintaining confidentiality when handling sensitive, political, personnel and organisational information.
• Coordinating domestic and international travel, including flights, accommodation, itineraries, travel documentation and insurance requirements.
• Supporting the administration and delivery of ACTU Executive meetings and associated governance processes.
• Assisting with meetings, conferences, events and other organisational activities.
• Undertaking research, information gathering and project support.
• Maintaining accurate records, databases and administrative systems.
• Processing expenses, financial reconciliations and associated administrative requirements.
• Contributing as a member of the Executive Support Team to effective administrative services across the ACTU.

About you

You are an experienced executive assistant or senior administrator who is highly organised, responsive and comfortable working in a busy environment where priorities can change quickly.

You have excellent judgement and understand the importance of discretion and confidentiality when supporting a senior leader. You are proactive, anticipate what needs to happen next and can manage multiple priorities without losing attention to detail.

You are a confident and professional communicator who can build effective relationships with a diverse range of people. You will bring a genuine commitment to the values and objectives of the Australian trade union movement.

You will bring

• Exceptional organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines and administrative processes.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to identify issues, problem-solve and implement practical and effective solutions.
• Sound judgement and the ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism and discretion.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and the ability to quickly learn new systems and technologies.
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment and respond to changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines while providing responsive support to a senior executive.
• An understanding of, and commitment to, the values and objectives of the Australian trade union movement.

Why work with us

• Work at the centre of the Australian union movement.
• Provide direct support to the ACTU President.
• Work closely with unions, elected officials and colleagues across the ACTU.
• Be part of a collaborative and values-driven organisation.
• Contribute to work that supports unions and working people across Australia.

Interstate travel and occasional out of hours work are required.

Benefits

The ACTU offers a competitive salary range of $121,898 to $142,404 depending on skills and experience, along with:

• Additional 15% superannuation.
• Annual leave loading.
• Working from home opportunities.
• Generous leave arrangements, including up to 5 additional days of annual leave.
• The opportunity to participate in a rostered day off arrangement.

Closing Date

Applications close on Friday 13th November 2026.