Administration officer jobs in Chertsey, surrey

ABOUT US

The Economist Educational Foundation is a fast-growing charity on a mission to ensure that every child is empowered to think critically and communicate effectively about the world’s most complex current issues.

Last year, 10,800 teachers downloaded Topical Talk lessons, reaching 532,000 children in over 86 countries. We are on track to double this number, reaching over 1 million school children by the end of 2026.

Topical Talk helps children join inspiring discussions about the news by providing:

• Topical Talk Headlines - award-winning weekly lessons for classroom discussions about global news stories

• Leadership for Change Prize - child-led solutions to complex global issues

• Community partnerships - support and training for teachers via partnerships with Multi-Academy Trusts in the UK and School Districts in America

THE ROLE

We are looking for a motivated Administrative Officer to provide the quality support and attention to detail that keeps our programmes running smoothly. You will be joining a passionate team dedicated to helping children all over the world develop their critical thinking and learn about global current affairs. We are a small but growing team of 17, and in this role, you will work across every part of the charity, seeing our impact in action and ensuring our daily operations are handled with total consistency.

We want a positive and supportive self-starter who takes genuine pride in their work being done well. You will be someone proactive who anticipates the team's needs and is always looking for ways to make our systems and processes more efficient. This is a brilliant opportunity to learn and grow with us; you will gain a unique, 360-degree insight into how a charity operates while benefiting from our position as an independent organisation supported by The Economist Group. You will experience both the charity and corporate sectors, building a professional network across the Group and developing a versatile, high-level skill set as you progress your career.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Team operations and administration

• Provide essential admin support including booking travel, purchasing equipment, managing the post, and supporting printing

• Act as the administrator for most team subscriptions, online tools and softwares

• Maintain a well-organised office environment, including inventory management for the team cupboard and equipment

• Proactively identify and fix broken systems, creating better ways to manage tasks

• Build strong relationships with the key teams from The Economist Group such as Facilities, HR, and IT to ensure smooth operational support to the Foundation’s work

Financial administration

• Accurately process and record weekly payment runs and invoices in the banking and finance systems

• Assist with financial reconciliation and proactively chase outstanding payments or missing receipts

• Process staff and volunteer expense claims, ensuring they align with the charity’s financial policies

Programme and event support

• Act as the first point of contact for the Foundation’s inboxes, providing excellent service to teachers by troubleshooting account issues and managing enquiries

• Support the programme and fundraising teams by collating qualitative and quantitative data on students and teachers for programme and funder reporting

• Manage the process of sending physical materials and resources to schools and teachers when relevant, including packing, addressing, and coordinating couriers or post

• Lead the logistics for webinars and live lessons on online event tools, including managing platform settings and hosting calls

• Coordinate logistics for team socials and events with partners, funders, and trustees, including room/venue booking, catering, and on-site setup

HR and onboarding

• Manage candidate logistics, including posting roles, redacting applications, handling diversity monitoring forms, and scheduling interviews

• Provide high-quality service to applicants, acting as a warm and professional point of contact for all interview coordination

• Lead the practical setup for new joiners, including IT access, office tours, equipment handovers, and managing DBS checks

WHAT WE OFFER 

• Real impact: you’ll support the team to make a real difference to children’s ability to think critically, listen well, express themselves and understand the big issues of our time

• A friendly, driven and highly-effective team: we are deeply committed to being an inspiring place to work, where we learn and achieve things that matter together. Our team of experts work creatively and collaboratively, whilst taking full responsibility for their goals

• Development and support: we invest in training and development and will support you to build the skills and experience as you need

• A competitive benefits package to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance

We’re particularly keen for you to apply if you are from a community under-represented in the charity sector or have lived experience of facing extra barriers because of your background. 

Role Title: Administration Officer

Contract Type: Full Time

Workstyle Arrangement: Hybrid

Reporting To: Manager, General Counsel

Department: Office of the General Counsel (OGC)

Location: London, Nairobi or Rio De Janeiro

Team Name: Corporate Secretariat and OGC Operations

Opportunity or Team description

Role Purpose

The role of Administration Officer sits within the Corporate Secretariat and OGC Operations division. OGC Operations supports the Office of the General Counsel in a wide range of administrative and executive support tasks, including contract administration, supplier payment processes, intake and resource management, learning and communications, continuous process improvement and optimization as well as housing the Corporate Secretariat function responsible for governance support.

Key responsibilities

As an Administration Officer, you will:

• Work in OGC’s Legal Support Team providing high level legal, executive, and administrative support tasks requiring discretion and confidentiality.
• Provide proactive administrative support to the Deputy General Counsel (based in Berlin, Germany), including complex calendar management, meeting coordination, travel arrangements, and expense reporting. 
• Assist senior leaders and attorneys with administrative functions including but not limited to: coordinating schedules, planning complex stakeholder meetings/events, preparing materials, and arranging logistics.
• Perform legal tasks under supervision and follow compliance-related processes, requiring familiarity with legal vocabulary but not legal practitioner expertise.
• Provide general administrative support for the OGC including, contract administration, procurement processes, invoicing, department spend tracking, coordination of team meetings, scheduling,  and assistance with travel and expenses, and other administrative duties.
• Build and establish relationships with other multi-regional operational departments within OSF. Take notes in meetings and supports project management as required.

The ideal candidate

Qualifications 

• A level of education that when combined with your professional experience will adequately show you have the capability to perform the key responsibilities and contribute to organizational success.

Experience

Essential:

• Proven experience as a highly skilled administrator and / or executive assistant supporting senior leaders including extensive international diary management and group meeting arrangements. It will be an asset if the experience has been within a law firm or in a legal department.
• Experience leading and managing a wide range of tasks and/or projects.
• Experience of administrating contracts and managing invoices.

Desirable:

• Experience working in complex international structure and/or the non-profit field.
• Familiarity with legal concepts and vocabulary
• Project Management experience
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365 tools, with experience using digital systems such as CRM platforms, SharePoint, document management systems, trackers, or similar tools

Functional Competencies:

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365, CRM tools, and digital organisation platforms, including the ability to use technology to organise work, track priorities, manage information, and improve administrative processes
• Exposure to Compliance requirements to ensure the organization adheres to laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to use verbal and written communication to deliver support for multiple professionals (within a legal team environment), including in the virtual environment.
• Ability to handle information with the utmost confidentiality

Personal Competencies:

• Demonstrates commitment to OSF’s core values of humility, commitment, collaboration, respect, inclusivity and integrity
• Strong analytical mindset
• Strong interpersonal skills enabling relationship building at various levels within and outside the organization, with sensitivity to cultural differences
• Demonstrated resourcefulness and self-motivation, able to work independently and solve problems creatively
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion by recognizing and responding positively to individual and group differences in the workplace and beyond. Building an inclusive workplace by respecting and seeking out diverse viewpoints and perspectives

Languages:

An excellent knowledge of English. Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Travel

Travel is required and travel frequency depends on the role requirements.

What we offer

• Exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact; from a generous annual professional development allowance for every employee to onsite training and learning conversations with visiting experts.
• Excellent benefits and perks to promote well-being and a healthy work-life balance, including:
• Generous time off and flexible work arrangements.
• Staff are required to work in an Open Society office 50% of working days per month.
• Employer-paid health insurance *and dental plans for individuals and families (no employee contribution required).
• Exceptional retirement savings plan (non-contributory for employees) and life insurance.
• Progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, and much more.
• A commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive workplace, so you can bring your whole self to work and make a positive impact.

Who we are

Open Society Foundations aim to establish vibrant and inclusive democracies where governments are accountable to their citizens. Our operating model organizes grantmaking around specific, time-limited projects, developed alongside support for established partners, enabling us to respond swiftly to emerging needs. We are committed to promoting human dignity, equality, and rights; reimagining democratic ideals and practice; and advancing equity in governance systems.

Guided by our founder’s values and the belief in the art of the possible, we engage directly with global entities, individuals, and policymakers through grants, advocacy, impact investing, and strategic human rights litigation to drive positive change. At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to rights, equity, and justice, inspiring every action we take.

Competitive rates of pay apply.

Open Society Foundations is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, and to building a diverse staff that reflects the movements, issues and communities that our mission serves. Candidates from all underrepresented backgrounds, identities and communities are encouraged to apply.   

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and colleagues with disabilities.