Executive Assistant

Hodder & Stoughton; East Hagbourne; On-site; GBP 191,000 - 223,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual holiday

Pension plan

Life assurance

Employee benefits

Discounts on books

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Hachette UK Distribution is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to provide trusted administrative support to the CEO and the leadership team, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. The role focuses on diary and inbox management, travel, events and project support.

As an on-site, part-time position (20 hours/week, Mon-Fri 9:30–13:30), you will coordinate communications, prepare high-quality presentations and collaborate with senior leaders and external partners to drive priorities forward.

Qualifications

• Proven experience supporting senior executives as an Executive Assistant or in an equivalent role.
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation and forward-planning skills, with the ability to manage changing demands and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the judgement to reflect the CEO's and company's tone.
• Experience coordinating events, venues, catering and third-party suppliers.
• Experience supporting projects, presentations and senior leadership teams.
• Confidence using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, with the ability to learn new systems and processes.
• Sound judgement, initiative and confidence working independently.
• A collaborative, credible and approachable style, with strong stakeholder-management skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a proactive, can-do approach.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure and handle sensitive information with complete confidentiality and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Provide trusted administrative and organisational support to the HUKD CEO and leadership team.
• Manage diary, emails, meetings and travel arrangements.
• Prepare, format and proofread presentations, reports and confidential documents.
• Coordinate site events and liaise with venues and suppliers.
• Support projects with data analysis and progress tracking.
• Draft and coordinate site communications across the business.

Skills

Executive support

Organisation

Communication

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Discretion

Calm under pressure

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

PowerPoint

Job description

• Division: Hachette UK Distribution
• Department: Operations (Management)
• Location: Hely Hutchinson Centre, Milton Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, OX11 7HH
• Salary: £17,143 - £20,000 pro rata (FTE £30,000 - £35,000 dependent on experience, +bonus+benefits)
• Contact type: Part Time Permanent
• Publishing division: Hachette UK Distribution
• Closing date: Friday, 30th October 2026

Who We Are And What We Do

We, Hachette UK Distribution, are the leading book distribution company in the UK. We are one of the most advanced distribution centres in Europe, with leading-edge automation and modern systems which will ensure world-class service to customers and publisher clients. We ship in excess of 80 million books globally each year and supply one out of every four books to the UK trade.

Our mission is to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment and opportunity.

Hachette UK Distribution is part of the Hachette UK publishing group.

What you'll be doing

We're looking for an accomplished Executive Assistant to provide trusted administrative and organisational support to the HUKD CEO, with ad hoc support for the wider leadership team. You'll help keep day-to-day operations running smoothly, ensuring the CEO can focus on key priorities and assisting the successful delivery of events at our site.

This is a varied, hands-on role for someone who enjoys anticipating needs, solving problems and bringing order to a fast-moving environment. From diary and inbox management to events, travel, communications and project support, you'll act as a professional and discreet partner to senior leaders and stakeholders.

This is an on-site part time role, totalling 20 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9:30am to 1:30pm.

• Manage a busy, fast-moving diary, balancing competing priorities and resolving clashes before they arise.
• Review and prioritise emails, calls and invitations, responding directly or drafting correspondence on behalf of the CEO.
• Maintain efficient inbox and file-management systems for key information and documents.
• Organise regular meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft and coordinate site communications, bringing together contributions from across the business.
• Prepare, format and proofread high-quality presentations, reports and confidential documents.
• Plan off-site strategy days, client meetings, lunches and evening events, working closely with venues and suppliers.
• Coordinate site events in partnership with third-party suppliers and Facilities teams.
• Support projects through activity coordination, action tracking, data analysis and presentations

Who we are looking for

• Proven experience supporting senior executives as an Executive Assistant or in an equivalent role.
• Excellent organisation, prioritisation and forward-planning skills, with the ability to manage changing demands and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the judgement to reflect the CEO's and company's tone.
• Experience coordinating events, venues, catering and third-party suppliers.
• Experience supporting projects, presentations and senior leadership teams.
• Confidence using Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, with the ability to learn new systems and processes.
• Sound judgement, initiative and confidence working independently.
• A collaborative, credible and approachable style, with strong stakeholder-management skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a proactive, can-do approach.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure and handle sensitive information with complete confidentiality and discretion.

What we offer

Our people are our greatest asset and our benefits reflect this. Therefore, we offer an extensive list of benefits that include:

• 35 days annual holiday including Bank Holidays
• Pension Plan and Life Assurance schemes
• Company enhanced family policy including maternity, paternity and shared parental
• Reward programme giving discounts, savings and cash back at numerous retailers
• 2 Community Days per year
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care vouchers
• Generous discounts on books we publish
• Mental Health First Aiders / Champions and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Wide-ranging training library
• Development Programmes including Mentoring
• Staff Events
• Many employee networks to join
• Free onsite parking
• Free tea and coffee

Our commitment

Hachette employs people on the basis of their abilities. We aim to attract and develop talent from a base as broad as the world of readers we want to reach, with a wide and representative range of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional and cultural backgrounds.

If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend your interview, please let us know.

We will notify all candidates of the outcome of their application.