Executive Assistant (Governance & Compliance Professional)

Pioneer Educational Trust; Langley; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Pioneer Educational Trust seeks an Executive Assistant to the CEO, owning their diary, priorities and information flow, and acting as the trusted first contact for Trustees and stakeholders. You will support the wider executive team, prepare high-quality reports, and manage governance processes with strong discretion.

The role requires governance experience, PMO-like prioritisation, and proficient use of Microsoft Office applications, ensuring safeguarding and compliance across the Trust.

Qualifications

• Level 2 Maths and English (or equivalent) and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience providing governance support and advice to managers.
• Up-to-date knowledge of governance, compliance and data protection.
• Proficient in Microsoft packages and data interrogation, analysis and reporting.
• Ability to communicate complex information concisely, orally and in writing.
• Organise work independently and with others to meet tight deadlines.
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and belonging.
• Integrity and credibility in all interactions.

Responsibilities

• Own the CEO’s diary, priorities and information flow, filtering and prioritising to keep time focused on what matters.
• Provide governance support for trustees and chair, including minutes and agendas.
• Produce high-quality reports, briefings, presentations and correspondence.
• Manage the Trust’s governance calendar and forward planning with the executive team and schools.
• Maintain accurate governance records, and coordinate statutory returns and checks.
• Liaise with the Chair and outsourced clerking service to support committee governance.

Skills

Governance support

Data reporting

Communication

Time management

Discretion

Integrity

Education

Level 2 Maths and English

Governance professional qualification

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Outlook

MIS systems

Job description

Aboutthe Role

Workingat the centre of Pioneer, you will:

• Act as Executive Assistant to theCEO, owning their diary, priorities and information flow; anticipatingneeds, filtering and prioritising, and ensuring the CEO’s time is alwaysdirected to what matters most.
• Provide administrative support tothe wider executive team where needed, and act as the trusted first pointof contact for the CEO’s stakeholders, including trustees, headteachers,the DfE and partners.
• Produce high-quality reports,briefings, presentations and correspondence, and manage internalcommunications on behalf of the CEO and trustees, in line with the Trust’smission, vision and values.
• Provide strategic support throughrigorous prioritisation, deadline management and forward planning,tracking strategic projects across the executive team and schools, andowning the Trust’s strategic calendar.
• Act as the Trust’s governanceprofessional in line with the Academy Trust Governance Guide, providingindependent advice and effective support to the Board, includingwell-planned meetings, focused agendas, accurate minutes and rigorousaction tracking.
• Work closely with the Chair andCEO to shape the annual governance cycle, and partner with our outsourcedclerking service to ensure Local Committees are properly constituted andwell supported.
• Maintain accurate and securegovernance records and registers, keep GIAS and Companies House up todate, and ensure all required suitability checks for Members, trustees andgovernors are completed.
• Lead the governance developmentcycle, including parent trustee elections, induction, skills audits,training and succession planning, and coordinate the paperwork andminuting for panel hearings.
• Own the Trust’s policy framework,audit Trust and school websites to ensure statutory information ispublished and current, and coordinate statutory returns and censuses tothe DfE and other bodies.
• Be the trusted first point ofcontact for leaders seeking advice on governance and compliance, bringingsound judgement and discretion to all confidential and sensitive matters.

AboutYou

Weare looking for someone who has:

• Level 2 Maths and English (orequivalent), a relevant governance professional qualification (or acommitment to securing one) and evidence of continuing professionaldevelopment.
• Experience of providinggovernance support and advice to managers, and of developing good employeerelations.
• Up-to-date knowledge ofgovernance and compliance best practice, and a working knowledge of otherrelevant policies, codes of practice and legislation, including dataprotection.
• Competent use of Microsoftpackages (Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint) and other IT/MIS systems,including the interrogation, analysis and reporting of data.
• The ability to communicatecomplex information concisely, orally and in writing, to a wide range ofindividuals and organisations.
• The ability to organise workindependently and in collaboration with other agencies, to make balancedjudgements without prejudice, and to deliver effective outcomes withintight deadlines and conflicting priorities.
• The flexibility to manage avaried and agile workload and to meet the needs of Pioneer.
• A commitment to the higheststandards of child protection and safeguarding, to promoting equality,diversity, inclusion and belonging, and to the Trust’s ethos and aims.
• Integrity and credibility ineverything you do.

Experienceof team and workload management, and of working in an educational setting,would be an advantage.