Business Support Manager / Executive Assistant

Busy Bees; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site parking

Discounted childcare

Flexible work

Competitive salary

Job summary

Busy Bees Aotearoa seeks a Business Support Manager / Executive Assistant to support the CEO and SLT, coordinating priorities, projects, governance and business improvement from the Busy Bees Support Office in Orewa.

You will bring at least 5 years’ experience supporting a Chief Executive or SLT, proven project coordination, and the ability to prepare executive reports and board papers. Advanced MS Office 365 skills and AI tooling are essential.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years’ experience supporting a Chief Executive or Senior Leadership Team.
• Proven experience coordinating organisational projects, business improvement initiatives or strategic programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare executive reports, Board papers and presentations.
• Strong relationships with senior stakeholders and confidential handling.
• Advanced MS Office 365 skills and comfort with AI tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide high‑level executive support to the CEO and SLT to prioritise, monitor and deliver key work.
• Coordinate organisational projects, governance activities and strategic initiatives.
• Support governance and operations through accurate reporting and admin.
• Prepare high‑quality executive reports, Board papers and communications.
• Foster strong senior stakeholder relationships and clear organisational communications.
• Identify process improvements and support Group initiatives.

Skills

Executive support

Governance

Project coordination

Reporting

Communications

Education

Business management degree

Tools

MS Office 365

AI tools

Job description

Business Support Manager / Executive Assistant

The Executive Assistant & Business Support Manager plays a pivotal role in supporting the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, while ensuring organisational priorities, strategic projects and key business activities are effectively coordinated, delivered and monitored.

This is a varied and influential role combining executive support, governance, project coordination and business improvement. Based on‑site in beautiful Orewa, at the Busy Bees Aotearoa Support Office.

About us

At Busy Bees Aotearoa, people are at the heart of everything we do. Our purpose, values and commitment to excellence guide the way we work every day. Globally, Busy Bees has a workforce of more than 25,000 people, with around 1,600 employees across 84 centres in New Zealand.

The Opportunity | TeĀheinga

Working collaboratively across our centres, Support Office and wider Busy Bees Group, you’ll provide high‑level executive support while coordinating organisational priorities, projects, governance activities and business improvement initiatives.

Your work will include:

Providing high-quality executive and operational support to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, ensuring key priorities are coordinated, monitored and delivered.

Coordinating organisational projects and strategic initiatives, keeping actions, milestones and deliverables on track.

Supporting effective governance and business operations through accurate reporting, documentation and administration.

Preparing high‑quality executive reports, Board papers, presentations and organisational communications.

Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders and supporting clear, consistent communication across the organisation.

Identifying practical opportunities to improve processes, systems and ways of working.

Supporting governance, compliance and organisational accountability through effective monitoring and reporting.

Working collaboratively with the wider Busy Bees Group to support Group initiatives and organisational priorities.

Promoting a proactive culture where the health, safety and wellbeing of our people, tamariki and visitors is a shared responsibility.

You’ll be an experienced executive support and business professional who enjoys working at pace, can see the bigger picture and is confident managing competing priorities. You’ll bring:

At least 5 years’ experience supporting a Chief Executive or Senior Leadership Team.

Proven experience coordinating organisational projects, business improvement initiatives or strategic programmes.

Demonstrated ability to prepare executive reports, Board papers, presentations and organisational communications.

A track record of building high‑trust relationships with senior stakeholders.

A practical, solutions‑focused approach, with the flexibility to respond effectively as priorities change.

Excellent judgement, discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Advanced Microsoft Office 365 skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams, and confidence in using AI tools.

A relevant tertiary qualification in business management, project management or a related discipline.

Work background in a highly regulated sector would be ideal

Free on‑site parking

Competitive salary plus discounted childcare

Flexibility once you're established in the role

Applications are invited from candidates who have the legal right to work in New Zealand.

Why Work for Busy Bees?
If you’re passionate about early learning, Busy Bees is the place to be. Although we are part of a global organisation, our company was founded by three families looking for better, more enriching childcare. Three decades later, we still keep the same values at heart.

We know that we couldn’t do what we do without the important people in our teams. We invest in our people and work with them to build career pathways that inspire.