Assistant jobs

The Woodland Trust is looking for a Personal Assistant to support the Executive Director of Nature Recovery in their strategic and operational leadership role at the Trust.

The Role: 

• Manage the Director’s day-to-day activity, including diary management, forward planning, travel, daily updates and ad hoc requests.
• Handle incoming and outgoing correspondence, triage actions, maintain records and update Trust systems, including the CRM.
• Act as the main departmental point of contact, liaising with internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Prepare expense claims and maintain corporate credit card records using Business World.
• Monitor and report on departmental budgets with the Director and Management Accountant, supporting forecasting and annual budgeting.
• Support SLT recruitment, induction, onboarding and ongoing administration.
• Assist the Director in delegating and tracking SLT actions and priorities.
• Coordinate SLT meetings, agendas and papers; take minutes as required.
• Manage internal briefing processes for the Director, CEO, ELT and Chair.
• Coordinate ELT and Board papers, track actions and ensure governance deadlines are met.
• Organise SLT development activities, site visits and departmental meetings.
• Maintain and improve departmental systems, processes and ways of working.
• Support learning, wellbeing and a positive SLT culture in partnership with the People team.
• Collaborate with the wider PA team, sharing best practice and providing cover.
• Build effective internal and external relationships to support departmental objectives.
• This role includes a mix of working from home and at our main office in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Visits to Grantham would be required no more than once a month on average. 

The Candidate: 

• You have an enthusiasm for the environment and share our core values-Grow Together, Explore, Focus and Make it Count 

We are looking for candidates who have the following:

• Significant administrative experience at Director support level, including managing busy diaries and organising complex travel and logistics.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build productive relationships and work collaboratively at all levels to meet deadlines.
• Clear, confident, and persuasive communication skills, both internally and externally.
• Highly self-motivated with strong organisational and planning skills, able to manage workload, prioritise effectively, and delegate when needed.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong attention to detail.
• Proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• Demonstrates initiative, innovative thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Flexible, resilient, and able to adapt quickly and positively to change
• Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, and Zoom.
• Desirable - Keen interest in the environment and/or politics, with a desire to learn about civil society and influencing positive policy and societal change.

Benefits & Wellbeing: Joining our team means you'll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:

• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days + bank holidays (pro rata for part time) 
• Buy and Sell Annual Leave
• Enhanced Parental Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme

About Us: The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity and is dedicated to creating a world where trees and woods thrive for both people and nature. Our mission involves engaging and inspiring individuals to contribute toward tackling the nature and climate crisis through the protection, restoration, and creation of essential woodland habitats.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees. 
People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.
Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application. 

Application Advice: For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, we do not ask for your CV at application stage. Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. 
Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply.  

Acceptable Use Policy - Artificial Intelligence (AI)
We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.

Apply Now: If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.

Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams.