Executive Support Manager – AR

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

Lewisham Council is seeking an experienced Executive Support Manager to provide high-level administrative, business and strategic support to an Executive Director. You will be a trusted partner, briefing the Director and ensuring the Directorate runs effectively.

You will line manage two Executive Support Officers and coordinate cross-directorate activity. This senior role requires excellent organisation, communication and report-writing skills, the ability to manage competing priorities, and

Qualifications

• Experience providing senior-level executive or business support.
• Experience supporting Directors or Executive Directors or other senior leaders.
• Strong diary management and forward planning skills.
• Excellent written communication for reports and briefing documents.
• Experience coordinating meetings, actions and corporate deadlines.
• Experience handling FOIs, complaints, enquiries or similar casework.
• Experience line-managing or supervising staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level executive support to an Executive Director, including diary management and workload coordination.
• Act as trusted adviser to ensure the Executive Director is briefed on priorities.
• Lead and support two Executive Support Officers, including workload allocation and development.
• Draft high-quality reports, briefings, communications and other documentation.
• Undertake research to prepare briefings and support informed decisions.
• Attend meetings on behalf of the Executive Director and record actions.

Skills

Senior executive support

Diary management

Forward planning

Line management

Stakeholder management

Report writing

Public-sector experience

Job description

Executive Support Manager

Location: Lewisham
Employer: Lewisham Council
Contract: Temporary
Team: Chief Executive’s Division / Directorate Support

About the Role

Lewisham Council is looking for an experienced Executive Support Manager to provide high-level administrative, business and strategic support to an Executive Director.

You will act as a trusted partner to the Executive Director, ensuring they are fully briefed, organised and equipped to manage the Directorate effectively. You will also line manage two Executive Support Officers and coordinate key corporate and cross-directorate activity.

This is a senior executive support role requiring excellent organisation, communication, research and report-writing skills, together with the ability to manage competing priorities and work confidently with senior officers and elected Members.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-level executive support to an Executive Director, including diary management, forward planning and workload coordination.
• Act as a trusted adviser and point of contact, ensuring the Executive Director is fully briefed on key Directorate priorities and issues.
• Manage and support two Executive Support Officers, including allocating work, monitoring performance and supporting team development.
• Draft high-quality reports, briefings, communications and other documentation for senior officers, Councillors, partners and residents.
• Undertake research and gather information to prepare briefings and support informed operational and policy decisions.
• Attend meetings on behalf of the Executive Director, taking notes and ensuring actions are followed up.
• Prepare and coordinate agendas, meeting papers and documentation for meetings chaired by the Executive Director.
• Establish and maintain effective forward-planning systems across the Directorate.
• Coordinate cross-directorate information and support the programming and timely submission of committee reports.
• Lead on the coordination and drafting of Council questions, FOIs, complaints, Members’ enquiries and casework.
• Support multidisciplinary projects and monitor progress against agreed actions and deadlines.
• Maintain a strong understanding of Directorate priorities and proactively identify issues requiring attention.
• Develop and improve administrative and corporate processes to ensure efficient and consistent ways of working.
• Work collaboratively with senior officers and colleagues across policy, communications and strategic transformation functions.
• Build effective relationships with the Chief Executive, Executive Directors, Directors, senior managers, elected Members and external public-sector partners.
• Provide flexible support and cover for colleagues and other Executive Support Managers when required.

About You

The successful candidate will have experience of providing senior-level executive or business support, ideally within a local authority or other complex public-sector organisation.

You will have:

• Experience supporting Directors, Executive Directors or other senior leaders.
• Strong experience of diary management, forward planning and coordinating complex workloads.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports, briefings and correspondence.
• Experience researching and synthesising complex information for senior decision-makers.
• Experience coordinating meetings, actions, reports and corporate deadlines.
• Experience handling FOIs, complaints, Members’ enquiries, Council questions or similar casework.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Experience of line managing or supervising staff.
• The confidence to work professionally with senior officers, Councillors, external organisations and other stakeholders.
• A proactive approach with the ability to anticipate issues and ensure deadlines and actions are followed through.

Key Skills

Executive Support | Report & Briefing Writing | Diary & Forward Planning | Local Government / Public Sector | Stakeholder Management | Line Management | Research & Analysis | Committee & Corporate Support

Staff Management

Direct reports: 2 Executive Support Officers