Executive Assistant

SBFM; Manchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FM business in the UK is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support the CEO. The role involves managing the CEO's schedule, facilitating meetings, and driving strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional organisational skills, strong communication abilities, and a passion for social value and sustainability. Join a forward-thinking company that values its people and promotes internal growth.

Benefits

20 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays

Additional holiday for birthday

Pension scheme

Internal mentoring scheme

Continued development and learning

Regular company events

Onsite gym

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a fast-paced, multi-site organisation.
• Expert organiser with success in complex calendar and project management.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the CEO’s calendar and correspondence effectively.
• Plan and follow up on CEO meetings, ensuring clear actions.
• Drive progress on cross-functional initiatives and prepare reports.

Skills

Organisational Skills

Communication

Analytical Mindset

Emotional Intelligence

Tools

Microsoft 365

Power Automate

Power BI

Monday.com

Asana

Job description

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to join our team.

As an Executive Assistant, you will enable SBFM to remain the UK’s most advanced, tech-led, socially responsible, and fastest-growing FM business by providing world-class executive support to the Chief Executive Officer. The EA will act as an extension of the CEO, safeguarding his time, driving proactive organisation, and ensuring projects, meetings, and stakeholder interactions deliver impact, pace, and value.

Key Responsibilities

1. Demonstrate the SBFM values and lead by example at all times.
2. Calendar & Inbox Mastery: Own, prioritise, and optimise the CEO’s schedule and correspondence, ensuring strategic alignment with business priorities and creating capacity for high-value activity.
3. Meeting Excellence: Plan, brief, minute, and follow up on all CEO meetings (internal, client, investor, industry, or media), capturing clear actions with owners and deadlines; track completion and escalate where necessary.
4. Project Coordination: Drive progress on cross-functional initiatives sponsored by the CEO. Build simple project dashboards, request updates, flag risks, and prepare concise status reports.
5. Stakeholder Management & Gatekeeping: Build strong, trust-based relationships with Board members, senior clients, suppliers, advisers, and the SBFM leadership team; exercise sound judgment when granting access to the CEO.
6. Research & Insight: Produce timely, data-led research briefs on market trends, ESG best practices, competitors, potential partners, and emerging technology to inform strategic decisions.
7. Travel & Logistics: Design efficient UK-wide travel itineraries, coordinating multi-site visits and events while minimising environmental impact and controlling costs.
8. Confidentiality & Discretion: Handle commercially sensitive information, HR matters, and strategic plans with absolute professionalism.
9. Continuous Improvement: Champion digital tools (e.g., Power Automate, Teams, Power BI) to streamline workflows and reporting.
10. Shadowing & Coaching Support: Actively participate in CEO engagements, capturing learnings and feedback, while benefiting from direct mentoring to accelerate personal growth.

About You

• Proven experience in a fast-paced, multi-site organisation (FM, property, professional services, or tech sector advantageous).
• Expert organiser with success in complex calendar, travel, and project management.
• Advanced user of Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI) and collaborative platforms (e.g., Monday.com, Asana).
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; able to draft board-level correspondence, concise reports, and high-impact presentations.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and convert insights into clear recommendations.
• Confident facilitator comfortable liaising with senior stakeholders and frontline colleagues.
• High degree of emotional intelligence, integrity, and discretion.
• UK-wide travel flexibility; full driving licence preferred.
• A passion for social value, sustainability, and innovation aligned with SBFM’s ESG commitments.

In return you will receive

You’ll be part of a forward-thinking organisation that values its people, promotes from within, and continues to grow at an exciting pace.

If you thrive on responsibility, enjoy delivering exceptional service, and want to make a real impact—we’d love to hear from you.

You Will Also Receive

• 20 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays
• Additional holiday day to celebrate your birthday
• Pension scheme
• Internal mentoring scheme
• Continued development and learning through access to SBFM learn
• Regular company events and activities
• Newly renovated Head Office with onsite gym

Commitment to SBFM Values

• Be a Good Person: We give people opportunities and embrace their inherent goodness. We are open-minded and uphold integrity. We are respectful and considerate. We are kind and appreciative.
• Play as a Team: Community and communication are everything. We remain inclusive within our company and with our clients. Together, we grow, retain, execute, and make an impact. We are one team.
• Think Differently: We encourage a growth mindset; everything can be improved through effort. We love innovation and ideas. We are disruptors, and push boundaries for sustainable growth.
• Make an Impact: It’s all about the ultimate goal. We exceed expectations and deliver results at pace. We challenge the norm and step out of our comfort zone because, at our core, we are passionate and love to win.

About Us

Our company recognises and values the enriching benefits that equality, diversity, and inclusion bring to our community. We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applicants from minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+, disabled, and neuro-diverse groups to apply. Our aim is to nurture happy teams who learn from and inspire each other, and we believe diversity is key to achieving this goal.