Executive Assistant at Twynham School

Dorset Council; Christchurch; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Professional development

Employee wellbeing programme

Employee benefits and discounts

Job summary

Dorset Council is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to provide high-level support to the Executive Headteacher, Head of School and School Operations Director. This role goes beyond traditional admin, acting as a trusted partner to senior leaders to maximise effectiveness and drive strategic priorities within a school setting.

The position is term-time, 37 hours per week, 41 weeks per year, grade 8 SCP 12-20, with a pro-rated annual salary of £27,315–£31,134.

Qualifications

• Significant experience supporting senior leaders at Headteacher, Director, Executive or equivalent level.
• Experience working within an educational environment and a strong understanding of school operations.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities.
• The confidence to make decisions, exercise professional judgement and work independently.
• Experience handling highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong ICT skills, including Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• Experience using school management information systems such as Arbor, SIMS or similar.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and finding more efficient ways of working.
• The ability to remain calm, professional and effective when managing competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive executive and strategic support to senior leaders.
• Manage complex diaries, meetings, correspondence and competing priorities.
• Act as the first point of contact and gatekeeper for senior leadership.
• Protect leadership time by filtering, prioritising and redirecting enquiries appropriately.
• Prepare reports, presentations, agendas and high-quality documentation.
• Coordinate strategic initiatives, projects and action plans.
• Support governance and compliance processes, including meeting administration and action tracking.
• Assist with school communications, website management and marketing activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, streamline processes and increase efficiency.
• Build positive working relationships with staff, parents, School Ambassadors, visitors and external stakeholders.
• Develop a detailed understanding of school operations and support a range of wider administrative and operational functions as required.

Skills

Senior leadership support

Education sector experience

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Decision making

Confidential information handling

ICT skills (Office 365)

MIS experience (Arbor/SIMS)

Continuous improvement mindset

Calm under pressure

Job description

About the role

Are you an experienced Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant or Senior Administrator looking for a role where you can make a genuine impact on the success of a thriving school?

We are seeking an exceptional Executive Assistant to provide high-level support to the Executive Headteacher, Head of School and School Operations Director. This is far more than a traditional administrative role. We are looking for a professional who can become a trusted partner to senior leaders, helping them maximise their effectiveness by managing priorities, improving efficiency and ensuring their focus remains on the strategic leadership of the school.

This role requires someone with excellent judgement, outstanding organisational skills and a strong understanding of how schools operate. You will act as a key gatekeeper, managing competing demands on senior leaders' time, resolving issues independently where appropriate and ensuring stakeholders receive a professional and responsive service.

You will have the opportunity to work at the heart of the school, supporting major projects, school improvement priorities, governance activities, communications and operational initiatives whilst building strong relationships with staff, parents, governors and external agencies.

For the right candidate, this is an exciting opportunity to become a highly valued member of the school's leadership support team and make a significant contribution to the success of the organisation.

This position is term-time only for for 37hrs per week and 41 weeks per year. Grade 8 SCP 12-20.

£27,315-£31134 pro-rated annual salary.

What you will be doing

Working closely with the Executive Headteacher, Head of School and School Operations Director, you will:

• Provide comprehensive executive and strategic support to senior leaders.
• Manage complex diaries, meetings, correspondence and competing priorities.
• Act as the first point of contact and gatekeeper for senior leadership.
• Protect leadership time by filtering, prioritising and redirecting enquiries appropriately.
• Prepare reports, presentations, agendas and high-quality documentation.
• Coordinate strategic initiatives, projects and action plans.
• Support governance and compliance processes, including meeting administration and action tracking.
• Assist with school communications, website management and marketing activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, streamline processes and increase efficiency.
• Build positive working relationships with staff, parents, School Ambassadors, visitors and external stakeholders.
• Develop a detailed understanding of school operations and support a range of wider administrative and operational functions as required.

What we can offer you

As part of Twynham Learning, you will benefit from:

• The opportunity to work closely with experienced and ambitious senior leaders.
• A varied and highly influential role at the centre of school operations.
• A friendly, supportive and collaborative working environment.
• Access to high-quality professional development.
• Opportunities to contribute to strategic projects and school improvement initiatives.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• A comprehensive employee wellbeing programme.
• Access to a range of employee benefits and discounts.

Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the education and experience of the young people and families we serve.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a highly organised, proactive and professional individual who can operate confidently within a fast-paced school environment.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience supporting senior leaders at Headteacher, Director, Executive or equivalent level.
• Experience working within an educational environment and a strong understanding of school operations.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities.
• The confidence to make decisions, exercise professional judgement and work independently.
• Experience handling highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong ICT skills, including Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• Experience using school management information systems such as Arbor, SIMS or similar.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and finding more efficient ways of working.
• The ability to remain calm, professional and effective when managing competing priorities.

Most importantly, you will be someone who combines professionalism, discretion and attention to detail with the confidence to act as a trusted extension of senior leaders.

Any questions?

To discuss the post or your application, please contact [e-mail]

Further Information

Twynham Learning values diversity and inclusiveness. We aim to eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote diversity throughout our whole workforce. We want our workforce to be representative of all sections of our community, so we give equal opportunities to all job applicants. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability status, gender reassignment, marital/partnership status, pregnancy/maternity, race/colour/national origin, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation. Only people who can evidence their right to work in the UK will be considered for this vacancy. We are committed to robust Safer Recruitment processes as part of our strong commitment to safeguard children and young people. An enhanced criminal records check will be undertaken on the successful candidate. Candidates must disclose all unprotected spent and unspent cautions and convictions. It is an offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity with children.