Executive Officer

Croydon Council; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

32 days annual leave

Hybrid working and flexible working

Job summary

Croydon Council is seeking an experienced Executive Officer to provide high-level executive support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services. You will manage a busy diary, prepare briefing notes and reports, and coordinate actions from senior leadership, governance and partnership meetings.

Join a strategic team at the heart of decision-making, with flexible hybrid working and a strong commitment to outcomes for children, young people and families in Croydon.

Qualifications

• Significant experience providing executive support to a senior leader.
• Managing complex diaries, inboxes and priorities with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for senior audiences.
• Experience supporting governance meetings and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level, confidential support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services.
• Manage a complex diary, inbox and correspondence, ensuring priorities are effectively coordinated.
• Prepare briefings, reports, presentations and meeting papers to support informed decision-making.
• Coordinate and track actions arising from senior leadership, governance and partnership meetings.
• Support the preparation and quality assurance of Cabinet, Scrutiny, Directorate and corporate reports.
• Maintain oversight of key deadlines, priorities and forward plans.
• Build productive working relationships with senior officers, Members and colleagues across the Council.
• Help drive delivery of directorate priorities by monitoring progress, highlighting risks and supporting improvement activity.
• Lead and support Executive Support Officers where applicable.

Skills

Executive support

Diary management

Stakeholder management

Governance coordination

Communication skills

Job description

Salary range: Grade 12 £50,085 - £52,194 p.a. plus fantastic benefits

Contract: Permanent

Hours of work: 36 hours per week

Location: Croydon

The opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Executive Officer to directly support the Corporate Director of Children, Young People & Education.

Are you an exceptional organiser who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys working at the heart of strategic decision-making?

Croydon Council is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Executive Officer to provide high-level executive support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in supporting the leadership of services that make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families across the borough.

As Executive Officer, you will be at the centre of the Directorate, ensuring the Corporate Director's office operates efficiently, responsively and professionally.

You will manage competing priorities, coordinate governance activity, prepare high-quality briefings and reports, and act as a trusted link between senior leaders, Members, corporate services and external partners.

No two days are the same. You'll be required to exercise sound judgement, manage sensitive information with discretion, anticipate issues before they arise and ensure that key priorities and actions are delivered on time.

About The Role

You will:

• Provide high-level, confidential support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services.
• Manage a complex diary, inbox and correspondence, ensuring priorities are effectively coordinated.
• Prepare briefings, reports, presentations and meeting papers to support informed decision-making.
• Coordinate and track actions arising from senior leadership, governance and partnership meetings.
• Support the preparation and quality assurance of Cabinet, Scrutiny, Directorate and corporate reports.
• Maintain oversight of key deadlines, priorities and forward plans.
• Build productive working relationships with senior officers, Members and colleagues across the Council.
• Help drive delivery of directorate priorities by monitoring progress, highlighting risks and supporting improvement activity.
• Lead and support Executive Support Officers where applicable.

About You

• Significant experience providing executive support to a senior leader within a complex organisation.
• Experience managing demanding diaries, inboxes and competing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including drafting briefings and correspondence for senior audiences.
• Experience supporting senior leadership and governance meetings.
• The ability to analyse information, identify key issues and present concise recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to work with senior leaders, elected Members and external partners.
• A high degree of discretion, integrity and political awareness.

Why join us?

This role offers the opportunity to work alongside the Corporate Director of Children's Services at the heart of strategic leadership and decision-making. You'll gain a unique insight into how Children's Services operates, contribute to high-profile priorities and play a key role in supporting outcomes for children and families across Croydon.

• A pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 20%
• 32 days’ annual leave in addition to Bank Holidays
• Investment into your staff well-being
• Great team ethos
• The culture at Croydon is very much about working together to make positive change
• Will have the opportunity to work from home and work flexibly which provides you with more of a work-life balance.

If you are proactive, resilient and thrive in a challenging but rewarding environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Recruitment and selection timeline

• The closing date for applications is 31st August 2026.
• Shortlisting will take place 01 September 2026
• Interviews will take place in person at Bernard Wetherill House on w/c 31 st August 2026

About Us

Croydon Council’s priorities

• Get a grip on the finances and make the council financially sustainable
• Become a council which listens to, respects and works in partnership with Croydon’s diverse communities and businesses
• Strengthen collaboration and joint working with partner organisations and the voluntary, community and faith sectors
• Ensure good governance is embedded and adopt best practice
• Develop our workforce to deliver in a manner that respects the diversity of our communities

Key Business Plan Outcomes

• Croydon is a place of opportunity for business, earning and learning
• Children and young people in Croydon have the chance to thrive, learn and fulfil their potential
• Croydon is a cleaner, safer and healthier place, a borough we’re proud to call home
• People can lead healthier and independent lives for longer
• Croydon Council’s new ways of working

Equal Opportunities Statement

Croydon Council is an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Subject to business needs, we will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements and support hybrid working, whereby staff attend the workplace for part of their working week and work from home, or elsewhere, remotely for the rest of the time.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.

Croydon council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment.

The Successful candidate will be subject to a DBS check, if the role requires one.