Executive Assistant

White Woods Primary Academy Trust; Brampton-en-le-Morthen; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

White Woods Primary Academy Trust is seeking an exceptional Executive Assistant to provide high-level, proactive and confidential support to the CEO and Executive Team. This role goes beyond traditional administration, demanding anticipatory thinking, sound judgement, meticulous organisation and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex, education-focused trust.

You will liaise with trustees, headteachers and external partners to keep commitments on track and help the leadership

Qualifications

• Exceptional organisation and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving trust.
• Experience supporting senior leaders with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Providing proactive, confidential support to the CEO and Executive Team.
• Managing complex diaries, inboxes, correspondence, meetings and priorities.
• Acting as trusted first point of contact for the CEO, prioritising and escalating.
• Anticipating deadlines and information needs to keep leaders prepared.
• Preparing high-quality correspondence, briefs, reports, presentations and papers.
• Co-ordinating Executive Team meetings, agendas, papers, minutes and decisions.
• Maintaining action and decision logs and ensuring follow-through.
• Co-ordinating executive diaries, visits, and strategic activity.
• Supporting governance processes and preparation of board/committee papers.
• Developing effective executive systems, trackers, templates and ways of working.
• Handling highly sensitive information with absolute discretion.

Skills

Diary management

Discretion

Organisation

Communication skills

Stakeholder liaison

Job description

White Woods Primary Academy Trust is looking for an exceptional Executive Assistant to provide high-level, proactive and confidential support to our CEO and Executive Team.

This is much more than a traditional administrative role. We are looking for someone who can anticipate what is needed, manage competing priorities and ensure important actions and commitments do not drift.

Working at the heart of the Trust, you will be a trusted point of connection between the CEO, Executive Team, trustees, headteachers, central colleagues, schools and external partners.

The role

You will help our senior leaders use their time effectively, remain focused on strategic priorities and operate successfully within a complex and fast-moving organisation.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing proactive and confidential support to the CEO and Executive Team.
• Managing complex diaries, inboxes, correspondence, meetings and competing priorities.
• Acting as a trusted first point of contact for the CEO, using sound judgement to prioritise, respond and escalation.
• Anticipating deadlines, pressures and information requirements to ensure leaders are prepared.
• Preparing high-quality correspondence, briefings, reports, presentations and meeting papers.
• Coordinating Executive Team and senior meetings, including agendas, papers, minutes and decision records.
• Maintaining action and decision logs and ensuring agreed actions are followed through.
• Coordinating executive diaries, school visits, Trust-wide commitments, strategic activity and key events.
• Supporting the CEO to monitor strategic priorities, milestones and commitments.
• Supporting the preparation of Trust Board and committee papers alongside the Governance Lead.
• Developing effective executive systems, trackers, templates and ways of working.
• Handling highly sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.

About you

We are looking for someone with exceptional organisation skills, judgement and attention to detail.

You will be able to build trusted relationships at all levels and remain calm and solutions-focused when priorities change.

You will:

• be highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities;
• anticipate what is needed rather than simply respond to requests;
• demonstrate excellent judgement and know when to act, challenge or elevate;
• communicate exceptionally well verbally and in writing;
• produce accurate, professional and well-presented work;
• build strong and trusted relationships with senior leaders and colleagues;
• handle confidential and sensitive matters with discretion and integrity;
• take ownership and follow work through to completion; and
• confidently use digital systems and look for opportunities to improve efficiency.

Experience within education or a Multi-Academy Trust would be valuable but is not essential. We are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate high-quality executive support within another complex organisation.

Why join White Woods?

White Woods Primary Academy Trust is a family of primary schools working together to provide the very best opportunities for the children and communities we serve.

Our central team exists to enable our schools and leaders to succeed. We believe in high expectations, strong relationships, professional trust and continually improving how we work.

This is an opportunity to work directly with the Trust's senior leadership and play an important role in supporting the strategic operation and future development of the organisation.

We are looking for someone who wants to do more than support an Executive Team - we are looking for someone who wants to become an indispensable part of it.

White Woods Primary Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be subject to appropriate pre-employment and safeguarding checks.

We value diversity and are committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from candidates who share our commitment to making a positive difference to the children and communities we serve.