Strategic Executive Assistant to School Leadership (Term-Time)

Dorset Council; Christchurch; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Professional development

Employee wellbeing programme

Employee benefits and discounts

Job summary

Dorset Council is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to provide high-level support to the Executive Headteacher, Head of School and School Operations Director. This role goes beyond traditional admin, acting as a trusted partner to senior leaders to maximise effectiveness and drive strategic priorities within a school setting.

The position is term-time, 37 hours per week, 41 weeks per year, grade 8 SCP 12-20, with a pro-rated annual salary of £27,315–£31,134.

Qualifications

• Significant experience supporting senior leaders at Headteacher, Director, Executive or equivalent level.
• Experience working within an educational environment and a strong understanding of school operations.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities.
• The confidence to make decisions, exercise professional judgement and work independently.
• Experience handling highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong ICT skills, including Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• Experience using school management information systems such as Arbor, SIMS or similar.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and finding more efficient ways of working.
• The ability to remain calm, professional and effective when managing competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive executive and strategic support to senior leaders.
• Manage complex diaries, meetings, correspondence and competing priorities.
• Act as the first point of contact and gatekeeper for senior leadership.
• Protect leadership time by filtering, prioritising and redirecting enquiries appropriately.
• Prepare reports, presentations, agendas and high-quality documentation.
• Coordinate strategic initiatives, projects and action plans.
• Support governance and compliance processes, including meeting administration and action tracking.
• Assist with school communications, website management and marketing activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, streamline processes and increase efficiency.
• Build positive working relationships with staff, parents, School Ambassadors, visitors and external stakeholders.
• Develop a detailed understanding of school operations and support a range of wider administrative and operational functions as required.

Skills

Senior leadership support

Education sector experience

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Decision making

Confidential information handling

ICT skills (Office 365)

MIS experience (Arbor/SIMS)

Continuous improvement mindset

Calm under pressure

Job description

Dorset Council is seeking an experienced Executive Assistant to provide high-level support to the Executive Headteacher, Head of School and School Operations Director. This role goes beyond traditional admin, acting as a trusted partner to senior leaders to maximise effectiveness and drive strategic priorities within a school setting.

The position is term-time, 37 hours per week, 41 weeks per year, grade 8 SCP 12-20, with a pro-rated annual salary of £27,315–£31,134.