Manager Executive Assistants

Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc; Breda; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc. in Breda, Netherlands, seeks a seasoned Manager, Executive & Business Support – EMEA to lead the regional EA community and elevate executive support for senior leaders.

You will foster collaboration across locations, establish shared standards, and coach a high‑performing team. You will drive governance for travel, safety, and confidentiality, and spearhead digital enablement and AI adoption.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading executive support teams and office management.
• Strong stakeholder management skills at senior levels.
• Experience driving digital enablement and AI-enabled workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the EA community across EMEA with clear standards.
• Define regional executive support standards, travel governance and safety.
• Drive continuous improvement and AI-enabled efficiency initiatives.
• Partner with HR, Safety, Facilities, Finance and IT to ensure aligned service delivery.
• Oversee travel planning, supplier relationships, and sustainability reporting.

Skills

Leadership

EA leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Digital tooling

AI integration

Vendor mgmt

Sustainability

Tools

TravelPerk

Job description

About the OpportunityWe are looking for an experienced and people-focused leader to take on the role of Manager, Executive & Business Support – EMEA. In this position, you will lead the Executive Assistant community across the region, ensuring consistent, high-quality support to senior leaders while driving operational excellence.This is a unique opportunity to combine people leadership, operational ownership, travel governance, sustainability reporting, and digital innovation. You will play a key role in elevating how executive support is delivered by improving efficiency, embedding best practices, and enabling the smart use of digital and AI tools.ResponsibilitiesPeople & Team Leadership (EMEA EA Community)As a leader, you will build and strengthen a high-performing EA community across EMEA. You will coach and develop your team, create alignment, and foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across locations.Key responsibilities include:Leading, coaching, and performance managing Executive Assistants across the regionBuilding a strong, connected EA community with shared standards and ways of workingSetting clear expectations, role clarity, and performance frameworksSupporting talent development, capability building, and succession planningActing as an escalation point for complex stakeholder or prioritisation challengesExecutive Support Standards, Ways of Working & SafetyYou will define and embed best-in-class executive support standards while ensuring safety, wellbeing, and professionalism are at the core of all activities.Key responsibilities include:Establishing regional standards for calendar management, meetings, travel, and confidentialityEmbedding duty of care, safety, and wellbeing considerations in all executive support activitiesEnsuring travel and events align with health, safety, and security requirementsActing as back-up for the Senior VP Executive AssistantProviding direct support to two executive leadersPartnering with HR, Safety, Facilities, Finance, and IT to ensure aligned service deliveryContinuous Improvement, Digital Enablement & AIYou will drive simplification and efficiency by modernising how Executive Assistants and leaders work together, leveraging digital tools and AI.Key responsibilities include:Identifying and implementing improvements that reduce administrative burdenEnhancing ease of working for both executives and EAsPiloting and scaling AI and digital solutions for:Meeting preparation, note-taking, and follow-upsAgenda and action trackingTravel planning and decision supportInformation summarisation and prioritisationEnsuring responsible and secure use of AI in line with governance and data privacy standardsTracking adoption and measuring impact to continuously improve ways of workingTravel, Vendor Management & SustainabilityYou will own and optimise travel processes and supplier relationships, ensuring cost, quality, safety, and sustainability are balanced effectively.Key responsibilities include:Managing relationships with travel providers (e.g. TravelPerk), hotels, and transport vendorsEnsuring compliance with Travel & Expense policies and safety standardsDriving smarter, more sustainable travel choices (e.g. rail vs. short-haul flights)Monitoring travel performance on cost, compliance, service quality, and sustainabilityLeading supplier reviews, contract renewals, and improvement initiativesActing as a subject matter expert for complex executive travel decisionsSustainability & Travel ReportingYou will play a key role in delivering meaningful insights that support sustainability ambitions and executive decision-making.Key responsibilities include:Leading annual travel-related sustainability reportingCollaborating with Finance, Procurement, and ESG stakeholdersProviding insights into trends, risks, and opportunitiesEnsuring accurate and timely travel data collection and reportingCandidate ProfileYou are a structured and forward-thinking leader with strong business acumen and a passion for improving ways of working.Proven experience in leading executive support teams, office management, or similar environmentsStrong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate confidently at senior levelsExperience in driving operational improvements and implementing new tools or processesAffinity with digitalisation and interest in AI-enabled ways of workingKnowledge of travel, vendor management, and budget oversightHigh level of professionalism, discretion, and integrityStrong organisational skills and ability to manage complexity across regionsWhat Success Looks Like (First 12–24 Months)A highly engaged and high-performing EA community across EMEAConsistent and professional executive support standards embedded region-wideMeasurable efficiency gains through digital and AI-enabled improvementsWell-governed travel processes with strong compliance, cost control, safety, and sustainability outcomesClear, actionable sustainability reporting supporting leadership decisions