Temporary Executive Assistant

Search Consultancy LTD; Leeds; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Search Consultancy is seeking a proactive Executive Assistant to support a member of the Executive Team in Leeds. The role requires exceptional organisational skills, discretion and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

You will liaise with senior stakeholders, manage complex diaries, coordinate meetings, prepare reports and support strategic projects while ensuring a high-quality service and professional representation of the Executive Team.

Qualifications

• Significant experience supporting senior executives.
• Excellent diary management and organisational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proven report writing, presentations and minute-taking experience.
• Experience coordinating projects and driving actions to completion.
• Able to work independently with discretion and poor information handling.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive, high-level support to a designated Executive Team member.
• Maintain the executive diary, coordinate meetings and prepare papers and minutes.
• Research, collate and present information to support decision-making.
• Ensure senior stakeholders are prepared for meetings and events.
• Lead or support strategic projects and drive process improvements.
• Organise travel and handle confidential information with discretion.

Skills

Executive support experience

Diary management

Communication skills

Report writing

Minute taking

Project coordination

Discretion

IT skills

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Temporary Executive Assistant

Location: Leeds

Salary: £17.98 per hour

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: Temporary, Full-Time

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly professional Executive Assistant to provide comprehensive support to a member of our Executive Team. This is a pivotal temporary opportunity requiring exceptional organisational skills, sound judgement, discretion, and the ability to operate independently within a fast-paced environment.

As a trusted partner to a senior executive, you will act as a key liaison across the organisation, ensuring priorities are effectively managed, projects progress smoothly, and stakeholders receive a high-quality service. You will play a critical role in supporting strategic decision-making and driving operational effectiveness across the University.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Support & Stakeholder Management

• Provide proactive, high-level support to a designated Executive Team member, exercising initiative and judgement on their behalf.
• Act as a trusted advisor, ensuring the Executive Team member is fully informed of key issues, commitments, deadlines, and organisational developments.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, acting as a professional ambassador for the Executive Team member.
• Serve as the first point of contact for enquiries and correspondence, responding appropriately and exercising discretion at all times.

Diary, Meetings & Communications

• Manage a complex and demanding diary, ensuring the effective prioritisation of appointments and commitments.
• Coordinate and support executive meetings, committees, and boards, including the preparation of agendas, reports, papers, presentations, minutes, and action logs.
• Research, collate, analyse and present information to support executive decision-making.
• Ensure senior stakeholders are thoroughly prepared for meetings, presentations, events, and engagements.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Lead and support strategic projects, bids, proposals, and organisational initiatives on behalf of the Executive Team member.
• Facilitate collaboration across departments and engage stakeholders to deliver successful project outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve, streamline, and digitise processes and ways of working.
• Represent the Executive Team member, where appropriate, on University-wide projects and initiatives.

Administrative & Operational Support

• Organise travel and associated arrangements as required.
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.
• Contribute as part of a proactive and collaborative Executive Support team to ensure the University's senior leadership receives consistently high-quality support.

About You

We're looking for a highly organised and proactive professional who can confidently support senior leaders and manage competing priorities.

You will have:

• Significant experience supporting senior executives, directors, or board-level stakeholders.
• Exceptional organisational and diary management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Strong report writing, presentation preparation, and minute-taking experience.
• Proven experience coordinating projects and driving actions through to successful completion.
• The ability to work independently, use initiative, and make informed decisions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• A high level of discretion and professionalism when handling confidential information.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.

Search is an equal opportunities recruiter and we welcome applications from all suitably skilled or qualified applicants, regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/beliefs, sexual orientation or age