Executive Assistant

The Ascentis Group; Lancaster; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading educational charity is searching for a proactive Executive Assistant for maternity cover. Responsibilities include diary management for senior executives and coordination of meetings. The role offers a competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities to make a significant impact within a dynamic environment.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Competitive pension benefits

Access to informal flexibility

Enhanced family leave benefits

State-of-the-art office facilities

Free parking and bike storage

Tailored learning and development opportunities

Discounted gym membership

24-hour employee helpline

Health app with virtual GP access

Qualifications

• Experienced in providing high-level executive support to CEO/Managing Director level.
• Ability to handle complex, sensitive, and highly detailed information.
• Exceptional level of attention to detail and capability to multitask.

Responsibilities

• Maintain high-level understanding of the company's activities and prioritize work.
• Coordinate Board and Committee meetings, manage agendas, and take minutes.
• Support Company Secretary with compliance to legal and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Organisational Skills

Attention to Detail

Communication Skills

Multitasking

Experience in Executive Support

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Automation Tools

Job description

Starting Salary: £23,360 (based on full-time equivalent of £29,200)

Job Type: Temporary, fixed term (Maternity cover)

Working pattern: 28 hours per week, preferably over 5 days

Working Location: Monday-Thursday in our Head Office in Lancaster, work from home on Fridays (Flexible working options will be considered)

About the role

We are searching for a highly organised, proactive and efficient Executive Assistant to act as maternity cover for a period of up to 12 months.

In this role, you'll maintain a high-level understanding of our company's activities, enabling you to effectively prioritise work for our Group CEO and Group Deputy CEO. Additionally, you will also be responsible for the diary management and planning for the Group CEO, Deputy CEO and the Directors on the wider Leadership Team. From arranging meetings to coordinating travel and expenses, you'll ensure everything runs smoothly, offering flexible support as needed.

You will coordinate Board and Committee meetings, which will require you to manage agendas, take detailed minutes and support with the reporting of actions. You will also provide a high level of support to the Company Secretary, to ensure that the organisation complies with all company and charity legal and regulatory requirements.

You'll manage budgets effectively and work with the People and Culture team to implement internal communication events and initiatives that promote employee engagement and reflect our company culture.

The role is diverse and provides a great opportunity to make an impact on our company's success. If you're ready to contribute your skills and expertise in a dynamic environment, we'd love to hear from you. In return, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, as well as ongoing support for your wellbeing and development.

The full Job Description can be found by clicking here.

So, what are you waiting for?

If you like the sound of the role and the organisation, and you think the below attributes describe you well, then we would love to hear from you.

• You are experienced in providing high-level executive support to CEO/Managing Director level
• You have proven ability handling complex, sensitive and highly detailed information appropriately
• You have an exceptional level of attention to detail
• You can multitask and be organised with various different projects and can work under pressure to deliver
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• You are competent and experienced in the application and operation of all Microsoft packages and have a positive attitude towards the use of automation and AI to improve efficiency and minimise manual tasks

The full list of the key attributes required can be found in the job description.

Further information

Closing date: Wednesday, 18 June 2025

We reserve the right to close the job vacancy early if we find an appointable candidate or receive a high volume of applicants.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this opportunity further, you can contact Emma Knight, Director of People and Culture [e-mail]

This job does not meet the eligibility requirements to qualify for visa sponsorship.

About us

We are proud to be one of the UK’s leading educational charity groups, encompassing an awarding organisation, a provider of dyslexia intervention software and an online training organisation. Our enthusiastic people bring genuine passion and natural energy to everything that they do and through their infectious energy they transform the lives of thousands of people each year through the power of education. It has never been a more exciting time to join The Ascentis Group as we continue our journey of growth across the UK and overseas.

We are market leading in the education sector and the specialist areas we operate within, maintaining the #1 provision for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Access in the UK. We are based in Lancaster but have a national reach and hold top positions in all areas we operate within and have a dominant market share in London. We recently won two awards at the FAB 2024 Awards - Innovation of the Year and Awarding Organisation of the Year.

The Ascentis Group is made up of brilliant people, unique in terms of background, personality, characteristics, experience and skill. We value our people for the differences they bring to the table and believe this diversity is powerful. We are an equal opportunities employer, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

To find out what our employees have to say about working at Ascentis watch the video foundhere.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 public holidays (pro-rata for part time staff), birthday day off, closure days gifted during the Christmas period, increased annual leave with long service and an Annual Leave Purchase Scheme (up to a maximum of 43 days)
• Competitive pension benefits, including a salary sacrifice scheme
• Access to Informal Flexibility, allowing you to flex your working times and location where viable
• Incremental service benefits as a family-friendly employer, including enhanced Maternity, Neonatal, Paternity, Shared Parental, Adoption Leave and Pay, Sick Pay, Life Insurance, and Paid Compassionate Leave
• Access to state-of-the-art office and break facilities, such as bean-to-cup coffee machine, vending machine, pool table, Xbox, outdoor seating, dressing room (with access to hair dryers, straighteners, airers, shower facilities), Harry Potter reading room, employee library and more
• Free parking, paid electricity charging points, locked bike storage shed
• Tailored learning and development opportunities
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Home and Tech Scheme
• Discounted gym membership at 3-1-5 Health Club
• 24-hour employee helpline and a proactive focus on wellbeing
• Aviva DigiCare+ health app with access to virtual GP appointments, annual health check and more
• Reward and recognition scheme, regular team building and communication activities

Do you like the sound of Ascentis, but think your skills might suit another role?

We also have other vacancies available. Take a look at our website for more! www.ascentis.co.uk/jobs