Executive Assistant

Colchester Institute; Colchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Colchester Institute on Colchester Campus is seeking an Executive Assistant to deliver high‑level administrative support to the College Executive, coordinating priorities, meetings, projects and papers. You will work with senior leaders and the Executive Support Team to ensure smooth operation and delivery of strategic initiatives.

The role requires 3–5 years in a similar environment, strong MS Office skills (Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and the ability to handle confidential

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of high‑level administrative and support experience, ideally in education.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite and AI tools.
• Strong organisational, communication and discretion with confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive executive support to the Vice Principal and College Executive.
• Manage calendars, travel, inbox and document preparation.
• Coordinate meetings, conferences and events, including invitations and logistics.
• Support the preparation and distribution of Board/Committee papers and papers.
• Administer designated College meetings, including agendas, minutes and action tracking.

Skills

Executive support

Calendar management

Meeting coordination

Project coordination

AI tools

Education

GCSE English & Maths (4/C) or equivalent

Level 3 qualification (A Level or equivalent)

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Join Colchester Institute - Where Your Career Makes a Difference

At Colchester Institute, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities. As one of the leading providers of education and training in the region, we are proud to offer a dynamic, supportive, and forward-thinking working environment.

We are seeking a Executive Assistant to join our team. In this role you will provide proactive, high-level executive support to members of the College Executive, ensuring the effective coordination of strategic priorities, meetings, projects and key administrative functions. Working collaboratively with senior leaders and the wider Executive Support Team, you will play a pivotal role in the smooth running of College operations, helping to deliver strategic initiatives and supporting the achievement of the College's long-term ambitions.

Job title: Executive Assistant

Full Time, Permanent

Colchester Campus

About the role:

• Provide high-level administrative support to the Vice Principal, including calendar management, meeting coordination, travel arrangements and inbox management where required.
• Prepare, produce, edit and format documents, reports, letters and presentations.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings, conferences, and other events, overseeing invitations and attendance lists, and other logistics including the setup and cleanup of meeting spaces, and ensuring all necessary materials and technology are available and functioning.
• Lead on the co-ordination of projects being delivered by the College Executive, relating to the achievement of strategic ambitions.
• Work with the wider Executive Support Team and Head of Governance to support the Annual Cycle of College-wide and Corporation Board meetings.
• Support the Vice Principal and Deputy CEO in the production of Board and Committee papers and cover sheets in line with the annual schedule of work.
• Be responsible for the administration of designated College meetings, including the Curriculum Development and Innovation Group and the Rooming and Timetabling Group; including agenda preparation, minute-taking, action tracking and the distribution of associated papers and presentations.

Essential Experience:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a High-Level Administrative and Support role, preferably within an educational setting.
• Experience of using Microsoft packages including Teams, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook and other relevant software to a very high level
• Strong systems experience and a working knowledge of AI tools
• Experience of working productively and flexibly in a high performing professional setting.

Essential Qualifications:

• English and Mathematics GCSE grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent
• Professional or academic qualifications at level 3 (A Level or equivalent)

Why join us?

At Colchester Institute, we value our staff and invest in their growth. Joining us means becoming part of a vibrant community dedicated to excellence in education and training. If you are passionate about making a difference and inspiring the next generation, we would love to hear from you.

We do not engage with recruitment or search agencies unless they have been officially contracted in line with our PSL.