Lead Executive Assistant

Edinburgh Napier University; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Wellbeing & family-friendly support

Learning and development opportunities

Inclusive and collaborative workplace

Job summary

Edinburgh Napier University is seeking a Lead Executive Assistant to oversee the delivery of our Executive Assistant service and lead a team of EAs, enabling the university's senior leadership teams to operate effectively and drive strategic priorities.

In this role you will provide direct executive support to senior leaders, coordinate workload planning, governance processes and service delivery, and drive continuous improvement across the function within a complex higher education environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience supporting senior leaders at executive, board or director level.
• Experience leading or coordinating an Executive Assistant, business support or administrative function.
• Proven people management, coaching and team development experience.
• Exceptional organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Sound judgement, discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive matters.
• Experience supporting governance, committee or leadership processes.
• Strong Microsoft 365 skills and confidence using technology to improve service delivery.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement and customer service.
• Experience working within Higher Education or another complex organisation would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate Executive Assistant support across senior leadership teams.
• Manage and develop a team of Executive Assistants.
• Allocate and reprioritise workloads to meet changing organisational needs.
• Provide high-level executive support to senior leaders.
• Coordinate governance and leadership meetings, including agendas, papers and action tracking.
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders across the University.
• Monitor progress against key decisions and actions.
• Identify and deliver service improvements that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Support the delivery of strategic priorities through effective planning and coordination.

Skills

Executive support

Leadership

People management

Org & prioritisation

Communication

Discretion

Governance experience

MS 365

Continuous improvement

Higher Education

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

We're looking for an experienced and highly organised Lead Executive Assistant to join Edinburgh Napier University and lead the delivery of our Executive Assistant service.

This is an exciting opportunity to combine high-level executive support with leadership responsibility for a team of Executive Assistants, helping to enable the effective operation of the University's senior leadership teams and strategic priorities.

About the Role

As Lead Executive Assistant, you'll provide direct executive support to the Director of Finance, Strategy and Planning and the Principal's Office while leading and coordinating Executive Assistant support across the University's senior leadership teams.

You’ll oversee workload planning, governance support and service delivery across the Executive Assistant function, ensuring a professional, consistent and high-quality service. You’ll also play a key role in supporting leadership decision-making, tracking actions and driving continuous improvement across executive support processes.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and coordinate Executive Assistant support across senior leadership teams.
• Manage and develop a team of Executive Assistants.
• Allocate and reprioritise workloads to meet changing organisational needs.
• Provide high-level executive support to senior leaders.
• Coordinate governance and leadership meetings, including agendas, papers and action tracking.
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders across the University.
• Monitor progress against key decisions and actions.
• Identify and deliver service improvements that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Support the delivery of strategic priorities through effective planning and coordination.

What We’re Looking For

• Significant experience supporting senior leaders at executive, board or director level.
• Experience leading or coordinating an Executive Assistant, business support or administrative function.
• Proven people management, coaching and team development experience.
• Exceptional organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Sound judgement, discretion and professionalism when handling sensitive matters.
• Experience supporting governance, committee or leadership processes.
• Strong Microsoft 365 skills and confidence using technology to improve service delivery.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement and customer service.
• Experience working within Higher Education or another complex organisation would be advantageous.

Why Join Us?

At Edinburgh Napier University, you’ll play a key role at the heart of University leadership, helping to support decision-making, governance and organisational delivery.

Alongside a varied and rewarding role, you’ll benefit from:

• 41 days annual leave
• Strong wellbeing and family-friendly support
• Excellent learning and development opportunities
• An inclusive and collaborative workplace

If you’re an experienced Executive Assistant with a passion for leading teams, supporting senior leaders and delivering exceptional service, we’d love to hear from you.