Executive Assistant

Confidential; Manchester, Salford; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Pension scheme

£250 home office setup

Annual bonus

Hybrid working

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support the People Director in Manchester. This hybrid role combines a busy diary, travel coordination and executive support to help the leadership team run smoothly.

You will manage the People Director's calendar, prepare board materials, handle sensitive information with discretion, and collaborate with the HR Leadership Team. The position is a 12-month fixed-term contract with a competitive package.

Qualifications

• Previous EA experience supporting a Director or senior leadership.
• Excellent diary management and proactive prioritisation.
• Strong PowerPoint skills for board-level presentations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams).
• Experience coordinating travel, meetings and events.
• Discretion handling confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the People Director's complex diary and prioritise meetings.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements and itineraries.
• Manage expenses through SAP Concur.
• Prepare high-quality PowerPoint presentations for board-level reporting.
• Support HR Leadership Team with diary management and travel where needed.
• Organise leadership meetings, workshops and company events.

Skills

Diary management

PowerPoint

MS Office

Travel coordination

Stakeholder management

Discretion

Self-starter

Tools

SAP Concur

Job description

Executive Assistant to the People Director

Morson Edge Recruiting on behalf of Rolls‑Royce SMR

Location: Manchester (Hybrid 1 day per week in the office)
Salary: Up to £38,000 + bonus up to £2,000
Contract: 12-month Fixed-Term Contract

The Opportunity

Morson Edge is recruiting on behalf of Rolls‑Royce SMR for an experienced and proactive Executive Assistant to provide dedicated support to their People Director.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organisation at the forefront of developing the UK's next generation of nuclear technology, supporting a senior leader within a highly influential People function.

As the People Director's trusted right hand, you'll play a key role in ensuring their day‑to‑day priorities, commitments and wider business activities run seamlessly. This is a varied and rewarding position where no two days are likely to be the same, and where your ability to anticipate needs, take initiative and stay one step ahead will make a genuine difference.

You’ll provide full EA support to the People Director, alongside some ad hoc administrative support to the wider HR Leadership Team. You’ll also work closely with the centralised Executive Assistant function, building relationships across the business.

What You'll Be Doing

• Taking ownership of the People Director's complex and ever‑changing diary, proactively managing priorities, scheduling meetings and resolving clashes.
• Coordinating domestic and international travel arrangements, accommodation and itineraries.
• Managing expenses through SAP Concur, ensuring everything is processed accurately and on time.
• Preparing and producing high‑quality PowerPoint presentations, including materials for board‑level reporting and senior leadership meetings.
• Supporting the wider HR Leadership Team with occasional diary management and travel arrangements.
• Organising leadership meetings, workshops and company‑wide events, including researching and sourcing suitable venues and managing the logistics.
• Acting as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, representing the People Director professionally.
• Handling highly sensitive and confidential People‑related information with the utmost discretion.
• Taking a proactive approach to identifying what needs doing, anticipating requirements and finding ways to make the People Director's working day easier.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is naturally organised, forward‑thinking and takes real pride in providing exceptional executive support.

You'll ideally bring:

• Previous experience as an Executive Assistant, ideally supporting a Director or senior leadership team.
• Excellent diary management skills and the confidence to manage competing priorities proactively.
• Strong PowerPoint skills, with experience producing professional presentations for senior stakeholders or board‑level meetings.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams.
• Experience coordinating travel, meetings and events.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A high level of discretion and experience handling confidential information.
• A self‑starter mentality, with the confidence to use your initiative and work independently.

Experience within an HR or People function would be particularly advantageous, given the sensitive nature of the information you'll be working with.

Previous experience within the nuclear industry would be highly desirable. However, we'd also love to hear from candidates with backgrounds in other highly regulated environments, such as pharmaceuticals, rail, defence or major construction.

Ultimately, we're looking for someone who doesn't simply wait to be told what to do, but actively looks for ways to add value and make life easier for the person they support.

What's In It For You?

Alongside the opportunity to work for an innovative organisation within the nuclear industry, the package includes:

• Salary of up to £38,000 per annum.
• Additional annual cash allowance of £2,000.
• Generous pension scheme: 12% employer contribution and 6% employee contribution.
• Annual bonus scheme.
• 28 days' annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Private healthcare.
• Life assurance.
• £250 one‑off payment towards home office setup.
• Flexible working location across Derby, Warrington or Manchester (ideally Manchester for this role).
• Hybrid working, with just one day per week expected in the office.

The position is offered on an initial 12-month fixed‑term contract. There may be potential for an extension, although this cannot be guaranteed.