Executive Assistant

Osborne Clarke; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A global legal firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support their UK Managing Partner and COO. This full-time role offers a hybrid work model and involves managing complex schedules, coordinating travel, and ensuring effective communication across the leadership team. The ideal candidate will possess strong organisational abilities, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to handle sensitive information with discretion. Join a supportive environment committed to diversity and professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting senior leaders in professional services.
• Exceptional organisation and attention to detail.
• Strong judgement and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex diaries and inboxes.
• Coordinate national and international travel.
• Track actions and deadlines for leadership commitments.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Judgement

Tech-savviness

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

Role profile

We have a fantastic opportunity for a proactive, highlyorganised Executive Assistant (EA) to support our UK Managing Partner and ChiefOperating Officer, as well as the senior leadership team, including our newlyappointed Chief of Staff and Senior Business Manager.

In this brand-new role, you will turn priorities intopractical plans, keep meetings and projects on track, and ensure time is usedwell. Acting as a trusted coordination point, you'll help the leadership teamstay focused on what matters most. This role blends high-quality executivesupport with thoughtful planning, tracking and proactive follow-through.

This is a full-time, permanent position based in either ourBristol or London office. It offers hybrid working, with regular attendance atyour base office and occasional travel to other UK offices, for example tosupport key events.

What you'll do

You will operate as a tight-knit team that enablesefficient, strategic leadership and effective operational management of thefirm through the provision of excellent executive support to theManagingPartner, Chief Operating Officer and thesenior leadership team.

You'll turn the leadership priorities that theChief ofStaff drives into clear plans and next steps, ensure the right people areprepared at the right time, and drive momentum without owning project delivery.

Key responsibilities

• Planning, prioritisation and time management
• Manage complex, frequently changing diaries and inboxes; help sequence priorities and create space for key discussions and decision-making.
• Spot clashes and dependencies early and suggest workable solutions.
• Arrange complex national and international travel (flights, hotels, rail), including itineraries, visas and event registrations.
• Prepare detailed travel packs and ensure contingency planning for changes or disruptions.
• Process expenses in line with firm policies and ensure accurate tracking for budgeting and reporting.
• Play a key role in coordinating and supporting cross-firm projects and strategic initiatives.
• Budget tracking, financial administration and the management of subscriptions or business online accounts

Meeting and leadership support

• Handle the arrangements for leadership and UK Executive and Operations Board meetings and away days: forward agenda planning, papers and pre-reads, logistics, minute-taking, and capturing decisions and actions.
• Cohere clear, concise briefings and talking points; ensure everyone is ready and materials are in the right place at the right time.

Progress tracking and momentum

• Keep an overview tracker of actions and milestones; check in regularly with owners, bring together updates, and nudge things forward so commitments are delivered, and that updates are compiled for leadership meetings.

Communications and preparation

• Draft, edit and format documents and presentations; distil complex information into clear summaries and next steps.
• Support leadership updates and cascades; gather feedback and observations and share them with the Chief of Staff and Senior Business Manager.

Stakeholder liaison

• Act as a professional, discreet point of contact for theManaging Partner and COO; handle enquiries from colleagues and external contacts with good judgement.
• Build positive working relationships across the EA and wider teams and offices to remove blockers and keep work flowing.

Events and logistics

• Coordinate leadership team events and away days end-to-end, including invitations, materials, room/virtual setup and follow-up.
• Support basic budget/expense processes and supplier coordination where needed.

Ways of working and improvement

• Keep documentation tidy and easy to find; maintain a single, reliable place for agendas, papers, minutes and action logs.
• Suggest and implement small improvements to how meetings, documents and tracking are run, sharing good practice with the wider PA/EA community.
• Offer informal support and guidance to junior PAs where helpful.

What we're looking for

An experienced Executive Assistant (or similar) who:

• Has a track record of supporting senior leaders in fast-paced, professional services environments.
• Is exceptionally organised and detail-focused, able to juggle multiple deadlines without compromising quality.
• Exercises strong judgement, discretion and diplomacy when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Communicates clearly and confidently, simplifying complex information in both written and verbal formats.
• Builds strong relationships with senior stakeholders, remaining calm, friendly and solutions-focused under pressure.
• Is highly tech-savvy: confident using Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, OneNote/SharePoint, PowerPoint, Excel), document management systems, and ideally familiar with board/meeting portals.
• Is action-oriented and dependable, taking ownership, and seeing things through to completion.
• Can understand strategic objectives and translate them into practical plans, timelines and clear next steps.

About Us

Osborne Clarke is an international legal practice with over 330 Partners and more than 1,260 talented lawyers in 26 locations*. Our sector-based approach enables us to help our clients tackle the issues they are facing today, and prepare for the ones that they will face tomorrow. Advising them both comprehensively and commercially. We love working closely with our clients on new deals, products and solutions which will transform their businesses, markets and even sectors. And our unique approachable culture is not an added extra, it's fundamental to our success.

At Osborne Clarke we value difference and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We want everyone to feel that OC is a place where you can be yourself and belong, and our range of interest groups and diversity networks - not to mention our great teams - are a part of making that a reality. We're committed to responsible business and sustainability - you can read more in our Osborne Clarke for Good UK Responsible Business Report 2025: https://www.osborneclarke.com/oc-good-uk-report-2025

*Services in India are provided by a relationship firm