Executive Officer

Adecco; Croydon; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Adecco is seeking an Executive Officer to provide high-level, confidential support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services in Croydon, with hybrid working (three office days per week). The role includes managing a complex diary, compiling briefings and reports, and taking minutes for governance meetings.

You will work closely with senior leaders and elected Members, balancing priorities while maintaining discretion and outstanding customer service.

Qualifications

• Significant experience providing executive support to a senior leader in a large organisation.
• Experience managing demanding diaries, inboxes and competing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Experience preparing high-quality briefings, reports, presentations and correspondence.
• Strong experience supporting senior leadership and governance meetings, including agenda management, minute taking and action tracking.
• Proven ability to coordinate work across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Experience identifying, managing and escalating risks, issues and competing priorities.
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Providing high-level, confidential support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services.
• Managing a complex diary, inbox and correspondence, ensuring competing priorities are effectively coordinated.
• Preparing high-quality briefings, reports, presentations and meeting papers to support informed decision making.
• Taking accurate minutes and tracking actions from up to 2-3 meetings per week, including both in-person and hybrid meetings.
• Coordinating and monitoring actions arising from senior leadership, governance and partnership meetings.
• Supporting the preparation and quality assurance of Cabinet, Scrutiny, Directorate and corporate reports.
• Maintaining oversight of key deadlines, forward plans and priority work programmes.
• Building productive relationships with senior officers, Members and colleagues across the Council.
• Supporting the delivery of directorate priorities by monitoring progress, identifying risks and helping to drive improvement activity.

Skills

Executive support

Diary management

Minute taking

Briefings & reports

Governance meetings

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Supervisory experience

Job description

Job Title: Executive Officer

Location: Croydon - Hybrid working - 3 days office per week (depending on business needs)

Hourly rate: £26.68 PAYE / £35.48 Umbrella

Contract Length: 3-month contract (possibility of extension)

Working Pattern: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 36 hours

ASAP Start

About the Role

We're looking for an exceptional Executive Officer to provide high-level, confidential support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services.

This is a pivotal role at the heart of the directorate, supporting the Corporate Director to deliver key priorities and ensure the smooth and effective running of their office. You'll be a trusted adviser and key point of contact, managing complex demands, coordinating priorities, and helping to drive the delivery of services that make a real difference to children, young people and families.

No two days are the same. You'll work closely with senior leaders, elected Members and colleagues across the organisation, balancing competing priorities while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, discretion and customer service. The role also includes taking minutes for up to 2-3 meetings per week, both in-person and hybrid.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing high-level, confidential support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services.
• Managing a complex diary, inbox and correspondence, ensuring competing priorities are effectively coordinated.
• Preparing high-quality briefings, reports, presentations and meeting papers to support informed decision making.
• Taking accurate minutes and tracking actions from up to 2-3 meetings per week, including both in-person and hybrid meetings.
• Coordinating and monitoring actions arising from senior leadership, governance and partnership meetings.
• Supporting the preparation and quality assurance of Cabinet, Scrutiny, Directorate and corporate reports.
• Maintaining oversight of key deadlines, forward plans and priority work programmes.
• Building productive relationships with senior officers, Members and colleagues across the Council.
• Supporting the delivery of directorate priorities by monitoring progress, identifying risks and helping to drive improvement activity.
• Leading, supporting and coordinating the work of Executive Support Officers where applicable.

About You

We're looking for someone who can work confidently with senior stakeholders and who thrives in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

You will have:

• Significant experience providing executive support to a senior leader within a large and complex organisation.
• Experience managing demanding diaries, inboxes and competing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Experience preparing high-quality briefings, reports, presentations and correspondence.
• Strong experience supporting senior leadership and governance meetings, including agenda management, minute taking and action tracking.
• Proven ability to coordinate work across multiple teams and stakeholders.
• Experience identifying, managing and escalating risks, issues and competing priorities.
• Previous management or supervisory experience.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to work with discretion, integrity and political awareness when handling sensitive information.

The Adecco Group UK & Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer.