Executive Assistant to Executive Members

Islington Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 31 days leave per year, rising 5

Flexible working arrangements

35-hour working week

Learning and development opportunities

London Living Wage at minimum

Local government pension scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Local discounts

Job summary

Islington Council is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to support its Executive Members in a fast-paced, high-profile environment. You will manage demanding diaries, coordinate meetings, handle correspondence, and act as a trusted point of contact for councillors, residents and partners.

You'll build relationships across the organisation, monitor actions, support governance processes, and contribute to service improvements while maintaining confidentiality and GDPR compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex diaries, correspondence, and competing priorities.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and maintain attention to detail in a busy environment.
• Experience handling sensitive information and working in accordance with GDPR requirements.
• Strong judgement and decision-making skills when managing enquiries, commitments, and emerging issues.
• Strong IT skills and experience using systems to track actions, correspondence, and casework.
• A diplomatic, professional approach with the ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

Responsibilities

• Manage complex diaries, meetings, briefings, visits, and events, ensuring Executive Members are fully prepared and informed.
• Build effective working relationships across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Monitor and follow up on actions arising from meetings, enquiries, and strategic priorities.
• Contribute to service improvements and help develop efficient ways of working across the Executive Support function.

Skills

Diary management

Organisational skills

GDPR compliance

Confidentiality

Stakeholder management

IT literacy

Job description

About The Role
Are you an experienced Executive Assistant who thrives in a fast-paced, high-profile environment? Do you enjoy being at the heart of decision-making, coordinating complex priorities, and building strong relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders? If so, we have an exciting opportunity to support Islington Council's Executive Members and play a key role in helping deliver positive outcomes for our residents.

About The Role
Are you an experienced Executive Assistant who thrives in a fast-paced, high-profile environment? Do you enjoy being at the heart of decision-making, coordinating complex priorities, and building strong relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders? If so, we have an exciting opportunity to support Islington Council's Executive Members and play a key role in helping deliver positive outcomes for our residents.

As Executive Assistant to Executive Members, you will provide professional, responsive, and confidential support to elected Executive Members, ensuring they can effectively carry out their leadership responsibilities. You'll manage demanding schedules, coordinate meetings, oversee correspondence, and act as a trusted point of contact for councillors, senior officers, residents, partners, and community stakeholders.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you'll:

• Manage complex diaries, meetings, briefings, visits, and events, ensuring Executive Members are fully prepared and informed.
• Build effective working relationships across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Monitor and follow up on actions arising from meetings, enquiries, and strategic priorities.
• Contribute to service improvements and help develop efficient ways of working across the Executive Support function.

What we're looking for
We're seeking a highly organised and proactive professional with:

• Experience managing complex diaries, correspondence, and competing priorities.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and maintain attention to detail in a busy environment.
• Experience handling sensitive information and working in accordance with GDPR requirements.
• Strong judgement and decision-making skills when managing enquiries, commitments, and emerging issues.
• Strong IT skills and experience using systems to track actions, correspondence, and casework.
• A diplomatic, professional approach with the ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.

About the team
You'll join the Leader's Office and Member Support Team within the Law and Governance Service, working under the guidance of the Member Development and Support Manager. The team provides vital support to elected members, helping them engage effectively with residents, officers, and partners while ensuring the smooth operation of democratic and governance processes. Working alongside other Executive Assistants and Democratic Services colleagues, you'll contribute to a collaborative, high-performing service that supports the Council's leadership in delivering its priorities for the borough.

At Islington Council, we're committed to challenging inequality, supporting our communities, and creating a workplace where people can thrive. Guided by our CARE values - Collaborative, Ambitious, Resourceful and Empowering - we believe that together we can change the future.

About You

Working for the team, service and our organisation
Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn't be clearer: we serve. It's in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.
We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out 'CARE', which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you
We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone's identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks
Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disability Confident Scheme
Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.