Executive assistant jobs in Bracknell, bracknell forest

Job Title:EA to the Chief Executive

Salary: £34,458 - £44,500 per annum

Hours:Full Time,37.5

Contract Type: Permanent

Location:Guildford/Hampton,TW12 3RA

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

We have an exciting opportunity for a Executive Assistant to CEO to join our team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or who have been bereaved. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

At the heart of what we do are our dedicated staff; their exceptional commitment and professionalism mean every family has the opportunity to make every moment count.

It’s a great time to join Shooting Star Children’s Hospices as we continue to strengthen our services and invest in improvements that will enhance the support we offer to children and families.

About the role

Your key purpose will be to provide high‑level executive and governance support to the CEO, the Directors Team and the Board of Trustees, ensuring they are organised, informed and enabled to perform at their best.

In this pivotal role, you will manage the CEO’s diary and communications, prepare and coordinate key documentation, oversee governance administration, and ensure board and committee meetings run smoothly. You will also act as a key point of contact for Trustees, supporting recruitment, compliance checks, mandatory training, and the distribution of board papers.

You will play a crucial part in keeping the organisation running efficiently by maintaining effective systems, coordinating meetings and minutes, monitoring policy reviews, and assisting with internal and external communications on behalf of the CEO.

About you

This role requires experience in providing high-level executive or PA support within a complex organisation, including managing demanding diaries, handling confidential correspondence, and preparing high-quality papers and minutes. Experience supporting governance, boards or committees would be highly advantageous.

You will also be able to organise and prioritise a varied workload, work independently with minimal supervision, and exercise sound judgement when escalating issues or acting on behalf of the CEO when delegated. You will be an excellent communicator, capable of building effective working relationships with senior leaders, Trustees, staff, and external partners.

You will demonstrate exceptional attention to detail, strong IT skills, and a commitment to maintaining professional standards, confidentiality, and accuracy in all aspects of your work.

Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

What we offer

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

Pension scheme

• NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
  
  Annual leave

• 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
• 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
  
  Contractual benefits

• Generous sick pay scheme
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
• Flexible working arrangements
• Death in service benefits
• Reimbursed professional membership fees
• Eye care
• Employee referral scheme
• Blue Light discount card
  
  Health and wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Occupational Health
• Mindfulness sessions
• Cycle to work scheme
• Mental Health First Aiders

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.

Please contact the People Team if you have any questions about this role.

Anticipated Start Date: 04/05/2026

Closing Date: 22/03/2026

High Wycombe / Hybrid (minimum one day per week in office, with flexibility)

Full-time | 2-year fixed term with potential to extend

£36,000 – £37,500 + £312 annual home‑working allowance

A role with real impact.

As our Senior EA to the CEO and Board Governance Lead, you will be a trusted partner in enabling strong leadership. You will help ensure the CEO’s time is protected for strategic work, governance remains robust, and organisation-wide priorities move forward with confidence and coordination.

This is far more than a traditional EA role. It is a strategic, trusted position supporting the CEO, Board of Trustees, Development Board and senior leaders to operate effectively, make well‑informed decisions, and uphold the highest standards of governance and organisational integrity.

You will make a direct impact by ensuring:

• The CEO is consistently prepared, focused and supported
• Board and Committee governance and meetings are well planned, compliant and professionally delivered
• Actions are recorded and followed up and escalated as appropriate
• Trustees, staff, and stakeholders have the information and clarity they need
• Systems, processes, and communication stay strong across the organisation
• Every decision is more informed, every action more purposeful

Are you looking for a role where your insight, strong organisation, governance expertise, and calm authority help power change with real purpose? At Embrace the Middle East, this is exactly the opportunity we offer.

We are seeking someone with:

• Proven experience supporting a CEO or senior leader in a high‑demand role
• Experience coordinating Board or committee governance, including agendas, papers, minute‑taking and action tracking
• Strong judgement, confidentiality and upward management skills
• Advanced Microsoft 365 skills (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, OneNote, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Exceptional organisation, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• A proactive, anticipatory working style with the confidence to influence senior stakeholders
• Experience advising on governance processes and best practice
• The ability to build clear, reliable systems and workflows across teams

A full list of essential and desirable criteria can be found in the job pack.

We are driven by a deep commitment to dignity, justice and compassionate partnership. As a Christian development charity, we work alongside local Christian organisations across the Middle East to help transform the lives of those who are vulnerable, marginalised or living in poverty. These partnerships rely on strong governance, effective systems and confident leadership - all of which this role directly supports.

If you are motivated by purpose, excel under pressure, and thrive in a role where precision and people‑focused service come together - we would love to hear from you.

As a Christian organisation, this role requires commitment to the mission, vision and values of Embrace the Middle East, either as a practising Christian or as someone supportive of and sympathetic to our faith‑based ethos. The role includes participation in internal prayer meetings, reflective gatherings and occasional Christian fellowship activities.

How to apply:

To apply, please go to our website via the apply button.

Closing date: 5.00pm on Thursday, 12th March 2026.

Provisional interview date: Thursday, 19th March 2026 (at the High Wycombe office).

We strongly encourage you to submit your application before this deadline.

Embrace the Middle East is an equal opportunity employer. In line with our recruitment policy, we are committed to attracting and selecting staff solely based on merit, skills, qualifications, and ability to perform - regardless of age, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic background. Our recruitment process is structured, transparent, and designed to eliminate bias, ensuring that every candidate receives fair treatment and consideration. All job opportunities are advertised openly, and selection decisions are based on clear, pre-defined criteria and objective assessment methods. We stand by the values of dignity, fairness, and inclusion in all our communications and activities.

About RAP

The Regulatory Assistance Project is an independent, global nonprofit advancing the transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy systems. With teams across North America, Europe, and Asia, RAP works at the intersection of policy, markets, and implementation to accelerate decarbonization and equitable energy outcomes.

RAP is currently engaged in a strategic integration process to strengthen global impact and scale operational excellence. The Executive Assistant to the CEO plays a pivotal role in enabling effective executive leadership during this next phase of growth.

Position Summary

The Executive Assistant to the CEO is a highly trusted partner who enables strategic focus, operational effectiveness, and disciplined execution at the executive level. This role requires sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to anticipate needs in a complex, global environment.

The successful candidate is a quick thinker, resourceful problem solver, and mission-driven professional who thrives in fast-moving, international settings. They bring composure under pressure, strong prioritization skills, and the ability to manage multiple competing demands with professionalism and precision.

This individual will operate at the center of RAP’s leadership ecosystem, coordinating across senior leadership, board members, external partners, and global stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the CEO’s complex global calendar across time zones with proactive prioritization and alignment to strategic objectives.
• Anticipate emerging issues and flag risks or dependencies early.
• Ensure follow-through on key commitments, action items, and cross-functional deliverables.
• Act as a gatekeeper and facilitator to protect executive focus while maintaining responsiveness.
• Facilitate information flow between the CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
• Coordinate high-level external meetings with policymakers, donors, and partner organizations.
• Draft correspondence and executive communications that reflect RAP’s values and strategic voice.
• Support travel planning, logistics, and preparation for international engagements.
• Maintain structured systems for document management, tracking, and workflow coordination.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve executive support infrastructure.
• Support expense reporting, contract coordination, and light project management as needed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting C-level executives, ideally within international nonprofit, policy, or mission-driven environments.
• Experience operating in complex, multi-country organizational structures.
• Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information with integrity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Proficiency in other global languages is highly desirable.
• High digital fluency with productivity tools such as Microsoft 365 and collaboration platforms.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Understands organizational priorities and aligns executive time accordingly.
• Resourcefulness: Finds solutions independently and navigates ambiguity effectively.
• Agility: Adapts quickly to shifting priorities and evolving circumstances.
• Discretion: Exercises mature judgment in handling sensitive information.
• Global Mindset: Comfortable operating across cultures and time zones.
• Mission Alignment: Demonstrates commitment to clean energy transition and public interest work.

Working Model

This role can be structured as part-time or full-time, depending on candidate experience and organizational need. Flexibility in working hours is essential due to RAP’s global footprint.

The position may be based in Greater London or Berlin, with remote flexibility consistent with RAP’s operating model.