Divisional Executive Assistant (Maternity Cover/Fixed Term Contract)

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking a Divisional Executive Assistant to provide high-quality support to our Executive Directors and Chief of Staff. This role covers diary, task, travel management, governance cycles, inductions and quarterly business reviews, with opportunities to contribute to projects including research, events and data analysis.

The role is based in London with hybrid working, offering flexible hours and the chance to shape executive support across

Qualifications

• Experience supporting senior leaders with diary, travel and task management.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise.
• Experience providing committee secretariat support.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Excellent communication skills with diverse stakeholders.
• Experience with governance cycles and data analysis.
• Interest in how AI can improve processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive diary, task and travel management for multiple Executive Directors.
• Understand Directors' needs and adapt your support approach.
• Run end-to-end governance cycles for committees and divisional structures.
• Facilitate timely information flow to committees and senior leadership.
• Coordinate induction of volunteers and team members per processes.
• Support quarterly business review cycle with data requests and reports.
• Assist with core financial administration, including PO creation and invoicing.
• Deliver projects such as research, events and data analysis.
• Identify process improvements to enhance senior leaders’ time use.

Skills

Diary management

Time management

Secretariat support

Stakeholder engagement

Project coordination

Data analysis

Governance cycles

Interpersonal communication

Job description

Divisional Executive Assistant (Maternity Cover/Fixed-Term Contract)

£38,382 per annum, plus excellent benefits

London WC1 and home-based/hybrid

Full-time, 35 hours per week

We are recruiting for two positions: one maternity cover contract of up to nine months and one fixed-term contract of up to 12 months.

Interviews: w/c 01 November 2026

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an organised, proactive and highly adaptable Divisional Executive Assistant to provide high-quality support to our Executive Directors and Chief of Staff. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the processes and operations that underpin the College’s Executive Directors and Divisions.

You will work closely with senior leaders and clinicians, anticipating their needs, managing competing priorities and helping them make the best use of their time. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, you will provide trusted and proactive support across diary, task and travel management, divisional governance, committee cycles, inductions and quarterly business reviews.

You will also contribute to a range of projects, including research, event coordination and data analysis. You will work autonomously across the College, building strong relationships with Executive Directors, senior clinicians, colleagues and other stakeholders. Your ability to anticipate challenges, manage upwards and find pragmatic solutions will be essential in supporting the effective delivery of the College’s strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing proactive support to multiple Executive Directors, including diary, task and travel management, anticipating requirements and resolving potential conflicts or challenges
• Developing a strong understanding of the needs and working styles of Executive Directors and adapting your approach to provide effective and trusted support
• Running the end-to-end governance cycles that underpin committees and divisional structures, ensuring information is gathered, coordinated and communicated within agreed timescales
• Working across the College with Executive Directors and senior clinicians to facilitate the timely flow of information into committees and senior leadership structures
• Coordinating the induction of volunteers and team members, ensuring relevant information is collected and maintained in line with College processes
• Working closely with the Chief of Staff to coordinate the quarterly business review cycle, supporting teams to complete data requirements and prepare reports
• Supporting core financial administration, including raising purchase orders, ensuring the safe receipt of invoices and completing credit card reconciliations
• Delivering a variety of projects on behalf of Executive Directors and the Chief of Staff, including research, event coordination and data analysis
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes and efficiencies and providing practical solutions to support the effective use of senior leaders’ time

Essential skills and experience include:

• Demonstrated ability to develop a strong understanding of other people’s needs and adapt your working style to meet those needs
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively, manage competing demands and use time efficiently
• Experience anticipating the needs and potential challenges of senior staff through effective diary management and finding pragmatic solutions
• Experience providing committee secretariat support, with the ability to deliver an effective end-to-end secretariat service
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, make informed decisions and take initiative
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and confidently with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Meticulous attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and completeness across all areas of work
• Experience working closely with clinicians and/or healthcare professionals
• Knowledge and experience of qualitative data analysis
• Understanding of project management principles and experience delivering projects across multiple areas
• An interest in how artificial intelligence can be used to improve processes, create efficiencies and support organisational effectiveness

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows worldwide and plays a leading role in improving child health and supporting paediatricians across the UK and internationally. Our Executive and Divisional teams play a vital role in coordinating the College’s strategic priorities and ensuring effective governance and delivery across the organisation. Our values - Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire - are central to everything we do. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level of the organisation. We operate a flexible and modern hybrid working policy.

This role is based across our London office and home working, with approximately 40% of working time in our London office over a four-week period and the remainder working remotely.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Employment is subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. As the College expands its involvement with children and young people, this role may in future be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.