Interim Executive Assistant to Strategic Director – AR

Carrington Blake Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington Blake Recruitment is seeking an Interim Executive Assistant to provide high-level executive and strategic support to senior Corporate and Strategic Directors within a large, complex public sector organisation in Greater London.

This senior role goes beyond traditional diary management, acting as a trusted partner, gatekeeper and contact for leadership, helping manage competing priorities and navigate stakeholder relationships to deliver organisational objectives.

Qualifications

• Significant experience providing high-level executive support to senior leaders.
• Proven diary, meeting coordination and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience producing briefs, reports and board-level papers.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication with discretion and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level executive support to Strategic Directors and senior leaders.
• Manage complex diaries, meetings and competing priorities effectively.
• Organise and coordinate senior-level meetings with high-standard agendas and papers.
• Prepare and coordinate briefings, reports, agendas and board-level papers.
• Monitor actions, deadlines and follow-up from executive meetings.
• Act as a gatekeeper, ensuring leaders' time focuses on top priorities.
• Build relationships with senior executives, elected members, partners and stakeholders.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Anticipate issues and proactively resolve obstacles for senior leaders.
• Coordinate cross-team activity and support during organisational change.

Skills

Executive support

Diary management

Stakeholder management

Briefings and papers

Organisational skills

Discretion and confidentiality

Independent working

Communication skills

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Interim Executive Assistant to Strategic Director

Role Overview

We are seeking an exceptional Interim Executive Assistant to provide high-level executive and strategic support to senior Corporate and Strategic Directors within a large and complex public sector organisation.

This is a senior executive support position and is not limited to traditional diary management. The successful candidate will act as a trusted partner, gatekeeper and key point of contact for senior leadership, helping them manage competing priorities, navigate complex stakeholder relationships and deliver organisational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-level executive support to Strategic Directors, Corporate Directors and other senior leaders.
• Manage complex diaries, meetings, appointments and competing priorities effectively.
• Organise and coordinate senior-level meetings, ensuring agendas, papers and supporting information are prepared to a high standard.
• Prepare and coordinate briefings, reports, agendas, presentations and board-level papers.
• Monitor actions, deadlines and follow-up activity arising from executive meetings.
• Act as a professional gatekeeper, ensuring senior leaders’ time and attention are focused on the highest-priority matters.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with senior executives, elected members, external partners and other influential stakeholders.
• Handle sensitive, confidential and politically complex information with a high level of discretion and professionalism.
• Anticipate issues, identify potential problems and proactively resolve obstacles on behalf of senior leaders.
• Coordinate complex activity across multiple teams and services where required.
• Provide executive support during periods of organisational change, transformation and strategic development.
• Work autonomously with minimal supervision while maintaining a high standard of accuracy and professionalism.
• Use Microsoft Office to produce high-quality correspondence, reports, presentations and executive documentation.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Significant experience working as an Executive Assistant, Executive PA, Senior PA or Executive Support Officer.
• Proven experience supporting Executive Directors, Corporate Directors, Strategic Directors, Chief Executives or equivalent senior leaders.
• Strong diary, meeting, coordination and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience producing high-quality briefings, reports, agendas and senior/board-level papers.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience handling confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• Ability to work confidently with senior executives, elected members and external stakeholders.
• Proactive approach with the ability to anticipate requirements and work independently.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability to operate effectively within a fast-paced, complex and politically sensitive environment.

Desirable Experience

Experience within one or more of the following areas would be particularly advantageous:

• Local Government
• Housing
• Environment
• Sustainability
• Regeneration
• Place
• Leisure
• Communities
• Public Sector

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a career Executive Assistant or senior executive support professional with a proven track record of supporting senior strategic leaders within a large, complex organisation.

You will be confident operating at executive level, managing sensitive information, dealing with senior stakeholders and elected members, and making sound judgements about priorities without requiring constant direction.

The successful candidate will go beyond traditional administrative support, acting as a trusted advisor, gatekeeper and strategic support partner to senior leadership.