Executive Assistant to CCO & Business Administrator

Ann Pettengell; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic defense start-up in Cambridge is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support their CCO. The role involves managing executive calendars, preparing meeting materials, and coordinating CRM operations. Candidates should have over 5 years of executive support experience and excellent communication skills. This is a permanent position with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in an executive support or strategic administrative role.
• Proven experience coordinating with technical or operations personnel.
• High degree of confidentiality, integrity, and independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex calendars, scheduling meetings and travel for the CCO.
• Prepare meeting agendas and follow-ups for board and leadership reviews.
• Monitor CRM dashboards and assist in prioritizing enhancements.

Skills

Executive support experience

Excellent communication skills

Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace

CRM system knowledge

Problem-solving skills

Tools

Salesforce

Asana

Notion

Monday.com

Job description

Executive Assistant to CCO & Business Administrator

Our client, a high-technology defence start-up, is seeking an experienced, commercially astute Executive Assistant to support their senior commercial executive team, with a strong focus on operational efficiency and collaboration. In this unique role, the Executive Assistant will also work closely with a dedicated CRM Administrator to ensure strategic alignment, data-driven decision-making, and seamless operational execution across executive and sales functions.

This position demands discretion, agility, and a problem-solving mindset to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. Our client is at a crucial stage of growth and the success of this appointment will influence subsequent functional hires. Your work will shape how they build, scale, and care for the people who are making it all happen.

This is a permanent position to start as soon as possible. Applications will be considered from those based in Cambridge or London and hybrid working will be available.

What Success Looks Like:

• Executive operations are streamlined, with proactive issue management and clear priorities.
• Salesforce reports and pipeline updates are accurate, timely, and actionable.
• Cross-functional coordination improves due to better communication between leadership and systems teams.
• Project execution is more efficient with organized documentation and aligned scheduling.

Executive Support

• Manage complex and constantly evolving calendars, scheduling internal/external meetings, travel, and logistics for the CCO and other executive(s)
• Prepare meeting agendas, materials, and follow-ups for board, leadership, and cross-functional reviews
• Act as the gatekeeper and point of contact between the CCO and internal/external stakeholders
• Handle confidential correspondence, communications, and reports with utmost discretion
• Track and report on key deliverables, priorities, and deadlines through to timely completion

CRM Coordination

• Serve as an operational bridge between the CCO and Salesforce Admin to ensure executive visibility into pipeline, forecasts, and sales KPIs
• Monitor and help interpret CRM dashboards, reports, and data summaries for leadership review
• Assist in prioritizing CRM enhancements and capturing business requirements alongside the Salesforce Admin
• Facilitate data hygiene processes, flag inconsistencies or action items from reports, and drive coordination with relevant teams

Operational & Project Support

• Collaborate on strategic projects, offsites, and cross-functional initiatives with program managers and sales operations teams
• Assist in preparing executive presentations, including sales performance, strategic planning, and quarterly reviews
• Maintain documentation for processes, templates, and reporting cycles related to executive or CRM needs
• Support budgeting, procurement, and vendor/partner coordination where relevant

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• 5+ years in an executive support or strategic administrative role; experience working with Salesforce or other CRM systems a strong advantage
• Proven experience coordinating with technical or operations personnel (e.g., Salesforce Admins, Revenue Ops)
• Excellent communication skills and ability to liaise across organizational levels
• High degree of confidentiality, integrity, and independent judgment
• Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Zoom, and productivity/project management tools (e.g. Asana, Notion, Monday.com)
• Salesforce experience or certification is desirable but not essential

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates.