Defence Business Support Executive

ADS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Pension

Private health insurance

Life insurance

Season ticket loan

Cycle to work scheme

9-day fortnight

Hybrid working

Extended remote working

Enhanced parental leave

28 days annual leave

Buy additional annual leave

Long service additional annual leave

Job summary

ADS is seeking a highly professional Executive Assistant to provide high-quality business support to the Defence Director and the Defence sector team. The role is hybrid, split between the London office (3 days) and home (2 days), with responsibility for coordinating complex diaries, drafting briefs and presentations, and producing key governance outputs.

You will handle confidential information with discretion, build relationships with stakeholders at all levels, and work proactively to support

Qualifications

• Proven experience providing executive-level business support to senior leaders.
• Excellent organisational skills with acute attention to detail.
• Ability to manage complex diaries and coordinate meetings.
• Strong drafting and quality-assurance of briefs, reports and minutes.
• Discretion handling sensitive information; willing to undergo National Security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide Executive Assistant and business support to the Defence Director.
• Coordinate meetings and manage diaries.
• Produce Defence Impact Report and Defence Bulletin monthly.
• Create bespoke presentations and briefing packs.
• Support Head of Defence Commercial with ad-hoc requests.

Skills

Executive support

Diary management

Stakeholder management

Written communications

Discretion with sensitive information

Tools

Microsoft Office suite

CRM systems

Job description

The Role

ADS operates a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and wider engagement activity to support business development opportunities for members, shape and influence policy, and help increase investment in our sector. We have a requirement for a dedicated individual to provide high-quality business support and executive assistance to the Defence Director, ensuring the Defence team is well coordinated, informed and able to deliver against strategic priorities.

The postholder will act as a key point of contact for the Defence sector team, supporting ADS engagement with the Front-Line Commands, Ministry of Defence, Single Source Regulations Office and NATO Industry Advisory Group (NIAG). The role will also lead production of the Defence Impact Report and the monthly Defence Bulletin, create bespoke presentations and briefing packs, and provide business support to the Head of Defence Commercial.

This role would suit a candidate with strong executive assistant/secretarial capability and confident written communications skills, able to manage competing priorities, handle sensitive information with discretion and work proactively under their own initiative. Strong Microsoft Office skills are essential (Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint). Experience in a membership organisation, CRM administration and/or the defence and security environment is desirable.The role holder must be willing to undergo National Security clearance.

The role reports to the Defence Director (providing Executive Assistant and business support), with a dotted-line support relationship to the Head of Defence Commercial for agreed activities.

The Candidate

We are seeking a highly professional and proactive candidate with proven experience providing executive-level business support to senior leaders.

You will bring strong organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to manage complex diaries, coordinate meetings, and prioritise multiple workstreams effectively.

An excellent communicator, you will be confident drafting and quality-assuring a range of outputs including briefings, reports, minutes and member-facing updates, while building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

You will demonstrate high levels of discretion and integrity, handling sensitive information appropriately and be willing to undergo National Security clearance.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential, particularly in creating high-quality PowerPoint presentations alongside strong working knowledge of Outlook, Word and Excel.

You will be self-sufficient and solutions-focused, using sound judgement and initiative to anticipate needs, resolve issues, and ensure the smooth delivery of regular outputs to tight deadlines.

Experience providing structured secretariat support and maintaining effective governance processes is important, and exposure to CRM/data systems or the defence, security or membership environment would be advantageous.

The Contract & Benefits

Contract Type; Permanent, fulltime role, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week

Location; Hybrid working- 3 days in the London office and 2 days from home

• Bonus
• pension
• private health insurance
• life insurance
• season ticket loan
• cycle to work scheme
• 9-day fortnight
• hybrid working
• extended remote working
• enhanced parental leave
• 28 days annual leave
• buy additional annual leave
• long service additional annual leave

Job Description; Defence Business Support Executive ADS Job Description.pdf