ISP Strategic Executive Assistant – Middle East & Asia

International Schools Partnership; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 30,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Strategic Executive Assistant to support its leadership team across the Middle East and Asia. This role is pivotal in ensuring seamless operations through high-level administrative support, data analysis, and strategic planning. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, a knack for problem-solving, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. Join a global community dedicated to transforming education and empowering students to become changemakers. If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a dynamic environment, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a strategic role supporting an executive team.
• Fluency in English required for communication and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Prepare data-driven reports and presentations for strategic initiatives.
• Provide high-level administrative support to the executive team.

Skills

Data Analysis

Strategic Planning

Communication

Problem-solving

Time Management

Interpersonal Skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Tools

MS Office suite

Job description

Description

ISP Strategic Executive Assistant – Middle East & Asia

Role Profile

Purpose of Role

This role provides high-level strategic and operational support to the Middle East & Asia divisional leadership team of ISP, comprising the Divisional CEO, Divisional CFO, Divisional COO, and a Divisional Chief Learning Officer.

As our Strategic Executive Assistant, you will serve as a key partner to the executive team, supporting them on alignment and strategic execution across the division to ensure seamless operations and informed business decision-making. The role requires a candidate who can anticipate needs, manage cross-functional initiatives and synthesise insights from data into reports and presentations to support critical decision-making.

ISP Principles

• Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.
• Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.
• Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.
• Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students, and our schools.
• Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

For more information visithttp://www.internationalschoolspartnership.com

About ISP

We are the International Schools Partnership (ISP), a global community of 104 schools across 25 countries.

We champion a transformative approach to learning that goes beyond the classroom.

By igniting our students' curiosity and growing their self-confidence, we empower them to become the next generation of changemakers.

ISP Strategic Executive Assistant - Middle East & Asia: Key Responsibilities

Data Analysis and Strategic Support

• Prepare compelling data-driven reports and presentations to support business development and strategic planning initiatives.
• Conduct market research, analyse internal data and KPIs to identify trends and opportunities in the K-12 education sector to support decision-making.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights, producing concise executive-level reports and strategic briefings.
• Contribute to the planning and execution of cross-functional strategic initiatives by providing data insights and performance tracking.

Executive Administration

• Provide high-level administrative support to the executive team, including calendar management, meeting coordination, and minute-taking with follow-up on action items.
• Draft, edit, and format reports, presentations, and executive communications for the use of the executive team.
• Serve as a key liaison between the executive team and internal/external stakeholders, ensuring efficient communication and maintaining confidentiality.

Travel Arrangements

• Orchestrate complex international travel itineraries, ensuring seamless experiences from departure to return.
• Research and book flights, accommodations, and ground transportation, always mindful of budget constraints and preferences.
• Prepare detailed travel briefings and manage last-minute changes with efficiency.

Event Coordination

• Plan and execute high-profile company events, from intimate executive retreats to large-scale conferences.
• Manage all aspects of event logistics, including venue selection, catering, audiovisual needs, and attendee communications.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to ensure flawless event execution.

Reporting line: The Strategic Executive Assistant – Middle East & Asia will report to the Divisional CEO.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management or a related field.
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience working in a strategic role in a global organisation supporting an executive team.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Ability to work flexibly across numerous time zones.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills, problem-solving skills and time management capabilities.
• Proficiency in MS Office suite.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion.

ISP Leadership Competencies

You consistently demonstrate and role-model the ISP Leadership Competencies in all that you do.

1) Cognitive

• Strategic, commercial and financial acumen
• Understands education sector and what drives success.
• Outcome-driven with strong a strong focus on results.
• Shares our ambition and goals and champions desired change.
• Delivers strategic outcomes by inspiring and motivating their team to work towards shared goals.
• Demonstrates financial understanding when making decisions and taking action.
• Keeps self and team organised and on track.

• Creative Problem Solver
• Tackles challenges in an organized and systematic way and finds solutions.
• Sees problems as opportunities to improve and better deliver against organisational priorities.
• Creates a safe environment within team to encourage innovation and problem-solving.
• Empowers team to apply creativity and flexibility to overcome challenges.
• Identifies risks and creates and implements mitigation plans.

2) Interpersonal

• Intentionally connects
• Supports, enables and inspires others to give their best.
• Takes time to understand their team and personalise individual experiences.
• A skilled identifier of talent who recognises the value of soft skills (emotional intelligence, drive, learnability etc.) as predictors of potential.
• Focuses on people development through coaching and mentoring, sharing their experiences and insight.
• Recognises and celebrates successes.

• Collaborative & Communicative
• Develops and shares our collective vision.
• Encourages collaboration and teamwork, making people feel like they are working and succeeding together.
• Open-minded; actively listening and seeking and welcoming feedback.
• Communicates honestly, transparently and with genuine care and empathy.
• Articulates thoughts and ideas clearly and adjusts how they communicate to the person or situation.

3) Self-Leadership

• Amazing learner
• Self-aware, humble and a good listener.
• Manages their own personal development, focusing on continuous learning and getting better.
• Is open about their own areas for development and encourages their team to be the same.
• Builds a team with complementary skillsets to support them in areas where they are not so naturally-suited.
• Curious; asks questions, explores and builds on ideas.

• Resilient
• Practices self-care and encourages their team to do the same.
• Uses inner strength when times are challenging or when working outside of their comfort zone.
• Understands their own qualities, skills, emotions and triggers and uses this understanding to remain composed and confident in uncertainty.
• Recovers positively from setbacks, using them as an opportunity.

4) Digital

• Technologically literate
• Digital collaborator, who works effectively with technical specialists.
• Stays up to date with the latest technology and trends and knows how these can be applied in their role.
• Demonstrates an adaptive techmindset, constantly evolving their understanding and application of what is possible using tech.
• Assesses the impact of new technologies for their role and the organisation.

• Digital data fluent
• Effectively interprets digital data and uses it in decision-making.
• Collects, shares and analyses evidence to demonstrate impact, make connections and set improvement targets.
• Connects data from different digital sources to design, develop and implement action.
• Simplifies complex digital data into clear and understandable information for different audiences.
• Uses a mix of digital data, experiences, instinct and context to make decisions.

5) Global

• Values-driven
• Role models the ISP Principles.
• Prioritises wellbeing, inclusion and belonging and is caring, considerate and supportive of their team.
• Demonstrates a multi-cultural mindset and respects the different values, behaviours, attitudes and practices across cultures.
• Seeks different perspectives and integrates diversity of thought from team.

• Sustainability-focused
• Considers the environmental and social impact of their decisions and finds ways to minimise these.
• Uses their passion and credibility to challenge ways of thinking.
• Advocates for policies and practices that support a more sustainable future.
• Identifies inefficiencies and wastefulness and prioritises productive and balanced use of resources.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.