Executive assistant to chief executive officer jobs

Croydon Almshouses | Croydon (hybrid – up to 60% WFH)
Permanent |£41,200 per annum, pro rated | 20-25 hours per week, spread across the week

About us

There aren’t many organisations that can say they’ve been serving their community for over 550 years. Croydon Almshouses (CA) can and we’re proud to be the oldest charity in Croydon, rooted in a long-standing commitment to local people and place.

Since 1447, we’ve provided almshouse accommodation to older people with a connection to Croydon who are negatively affected by poverty. For the past 40 years, we’ve also awarded grants to voluntary, community and faith sector organisations, and individuals across the Borough.

Now, our focus is firmly on what comes next. Our vision is to create thriving communities where everybody can live with dignity and independence, using our resources and agility to reduce the impact of poverty on people in Croydon.

To help us deliver this, we’re recruiting an experienced Executive Assistant to the CEO, who is a values-led team player, who demonstrates exceptional attention to detail and strong communication skills to support the CEO to fulfil her responsibilities and enhance her effectiveness.

Essential criteria:

· Significant experience of administration

· Significant experience of working as a EA to a senior executive/ CEO

· Experience of working within the HR field

· Experience of managing a small budget

· Experience of diary management

Interested?

If you are an experienced EA wanting to provide high level support at an ambitious local organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now to become Croydon Almshouses’ next EA to the CEO and help create thriving communities where people can live with dignity and independence.

Alongside this EA role, we are also recruiting for two other part-time roles: a Finance Assistant and an Administrator. If you are interested in being considered for more than one role, please clearly state in your application which role(s) and hours you are applying for. Applicants shortlisted for more than one role will be interviewed for those roles on the same day.

Closing date: Tuesday 1st September, 9am

Interview date: Wednesday 9th September, in person

Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive
Salary: £31,126 per annum
Location: Norwich - Hybrid working
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

About East Anglian Air Ambulance

East Anglian Air Ambulance is a life-saving regional charity delivering critical emergency care across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond.

With two state-of-the-art helicopters and a fleet of critical care vehicles, our expert teams of doctors and paramedics bring advanced pre‑hospital emergency medical care directly to people where and when they need it most.

About the role

We're looking for an organised, proactive and highly professional Personal Assistant to support our Chief Executive in a pivotal role at the heart of East Anglian Air Ambulance.

This is far more than diary management. You'll be the person who keeps the Chief Executive's office running smoothly, bringing structure, organisation and oversight to a busy and varied workload. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Executive Team and Board of Trustees, you'll help ensure priorities are managed effectively, governance responsibilities are delivered and important projects continue to move forward.

You'll coordinate meetings and governance activity, prepare briefings and correspondence, manage competing priorities and ensure actions are followed through to completion. You'll also play a key role in supporting our Trustees, helping to maintain governance records and acting as a trusted point of contact for colleagues across the charity.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys building strong relationships, working with senior stakeholders and bringing calm organisation to a fast-paced environment. You'll be trusted with highly confidential information, expected to use sound judgement and encouraged to identify better ways of working that support both the Chief Executive and the wider organisation.

You'll already have experience supporting senior leaders in an administrative, executive assistant or governance-focused role and be confident managing multiple priorities while maintaining excellent attention to detail. You'll be a strong communicator, capable of building effective relationships with colleagues, Trustees and external stakeholders, and comfortable drafting professional correspondence on behalf of senior leaders.

We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• The ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders and building trusted relationships
• Strong Microsoft Office skills
• A full UK driving licence and the ability to travel across East Anglia when required

This role will be worked a minimum of 3 days a week from our Norwich (or Cambridge, on occasion) office and up to 2 days a week from home. The exact days worked in the office will be agreed with the successful candidate, but you must live within a commutable distance of Norwich.

Closing Date: Wednesday 19th August (9am)
Interview Date: Wednesday 26th August (Helimed House, Norwich)

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website where you can complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from.

We are looking for a highly organised executive support professional who can manage complex administration, coordinate senior stakeholders, handle confidential information and ensure the smooth running of the CEO Office.

The CEO Office sits at the heart of Marie Curie, supporting the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chairman. Working closely with senior leaders, trustees and key stakeholders, the team plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the organisation's leadership activity and helping the Executive team focus on delivering Marie Curie’s strategic priorities.

As CEO Office Coordinator (Project Coordinator), you'll be a trusted partner within the CEO Office, helping to keep our Executive team organised, connected and operating effectively. From managing complex schedules and coordinating high-profile meetings to supporting leadership programmes and handling sensitive information with discretion, your work will have a direct impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation's most senior leaders.

Your Impact:

• Provide high-quality administrative and executive support to the Head of CEO Office, CEO, COO and Chairman.
• Manage complex diaries, meeting schedules and executive priorities, proactively resolving conflicts and coordinating commitments.
• Organise meetings, events, travel and accommodation arrangements for senior leaders and leadership teams.
• Prepare and coordinate correspondence, reports, presentations, agendas, minutes and other business documents.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, acting as a professional and confidential point of contact.
• Support Executive Leadership Team and Board activities, including logistics and meeting coordination.
• Maintain effective filing and information management systems, ensuring records are accurate, organised and accessible.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to support leadership initiatives, engagement activities and cross-functional meetings.

Key Requirements:

• Previous experience in an administrative, Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant or similar coordination role within a busy, complex and highly regulated environment.
• Proven experience managing diaries, meetings and priorities for senior stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, competing deadlines and changing priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage professionally with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and sound judgement.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.
• A collaborative, customer-focused approach and a commitment to providing outstanding support.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.

Please see the full job description (attached).

Application & Interview Process

• As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV and supplementary details. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.
• Close date for applications: 23 August 2026. We encourage early applications as we may close the job advert sooner after receiving a sufficient number of applications.

Salary: £29,000 (+ £3,500 London Weighting Allowance if applicable)

Contract: Permanent, full-time (35h per week)

Location:Hybrid. You will work from home and from our Embassy Gardens office in London (3 days a week)

Benefits you’ll LOVE:

• Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
• 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
• Continuous professional development opportunities.
• Industry-leading training programmes
• Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
• Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
• Access to Blue Light Card membership
• Subsidised Eye Care
• 15% discount in-store at our Marie Curie Shops (Terms & Conditions apply)

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding.  We take stringent steps to ensure that anyone who joins our organisation are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings.  We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.

Executive Assistant to the Operations Director, Head of Legal & Risk and the Head of Internal Audit

Are you an experienced Executive Assistant looking for an opportunity to work for a Christian humanitarian and development charity witha heart for seeing an end to extreme poverty? Do you have proven experience of providing EA support at Director level in a demanding environment? Then this may be the perfect opportunity for you!

As Executive Assistant you will provide strategic administrative support to Tearfund's Operations Director to enable them to operate effectively and meet the global objectives of Tearfund. This role also supports the Head of Internal Audit and the Head of Legal & Risk with timely and proactive administration of confidential and sensitive information. You will need to be able to work across different cultures, functions and time zones, being flexible and creative.

This role requires:

• Excellent organisational and administrative skills 
• A natural relationship builder with exceptional communication and intercultural skills
• The ability to prioritise and work under pressure with high attention to detail
• Proactivity and ability to coordinate across multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work with confidential and sensitive information
• Competency in travel planning
• Experience of Project Management
• Experience of managing the administration of organisational policies

All applicants must be committed to Tearfund's Christian beliefs.

We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and those from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds (in our UK workforce) as these groups are currently under-represented at Tearfund.

Hybrid working: This role is eligible for hybrid working and you will be required to work from the Teddington Tearfund office and from your home by agreement with the line manager.

Please note: This is a Full time permanent role - with some flexibility over the working hours/days.

The recruitment process will include specific checks related to safeguarding. In addition, personal identification information will be submitted against a Watchlist database to check against criminal convictions as a counter-terror measure.

Grade 4 Salary £37,160 per annum

Interviews will be scheduled for 10th and 11th September. 

We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and those from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds (in our UK workforce) as these groups are currently under-represented at Tearfund.

Applicants must be committed to Tearfund's Christian beliefs

At TLG, we’re passionate about building an exceptional staff team that’s committed to making a real difference in the lives of struggling children across the UK. We’re always on the lookout for great people to journey with us towards our vision, and we’re excited to offer a unique opportunity for a motivated and passionate individual to join us as Executive Assistant to the Executive Team (Chief Executive and Executive Director).

TLG has a vibrant organisational culture that encourages leadership at every level. The EA to the Executive Team is an integral and trusted role right at the heart of the action. Requiring a strategic leader with a proven track record in executive support, operations, and organisational efficiency. The successful candidate will love to lighten the load of key leaders across TLG’s executive team. Specifically playing a critical role in providing outstanding leadership support to the Chief Executive and the Executive Director, enabling them to be as effective as they can be in bringing a hope and a future to struggling children and their families across our country and beyond.

The successful candidate will have a natural leadership gift, will be comfortable with challenging the status quo, and be able to lead up and across the organisation. A proactive instinct is required to fulfil the role successfully, to anticipate the needs of senior leaders, and provide effective problem solving ahead of issues emerging, with a relational leader who can partner effectively and negotiate well across the team at all levels.

Alongside the vital EA aspects of the role, there is also further scope for development within the role. TLG are looking for candidates who also have a passion to pursue a broader operational remit over time, leading on our Excellence Standards and potential to train in project management to support TLG’s longer term innovation plans.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)

Closing Date: Sunday 23rd August

Initial Interviews: Thursday 3rd September – Online

Final Interviews: Thursday 17th September – at our National Support Centre in West Yorkshire

Bible Society is on a mission to change the conversation about the Bible in culture. We want to see the Bible ‘translated’ into every part of life and society and, excitingly, we are having more and more opportunities to do this.

Global trends show that the world is becoming a less secular place. There is a growing spiritual openness particularly in China and sub-Saharan Africa. But in recent years, here in England and Wales, we are also seeing a burgeoning spiritual openness with well over a quarter of the public actively seeking greater meaning and purpose in their lives. The question is will they find the Bible as part of their search?

Bible Society have recently re-configured their leadership team to release the CEO to take up more of the external opportunities that are growing in both number and profile.

The Head of Office is a new role designed to help the CEO maximise the impact of these opportunities in two main ways: first by identifying and prioritising opportunities with the greatest potential, cultivating strategic relationships and partnerships, and marshalling the talents of the team internally so that the Bible Society is not only responding to opportunities as they arise but actively shaping the environment in which they operate, and secondly helping the CEO proactively curate an effective external engagement programme to communicate my core messages so that we can grow our missional impact in this season of openness.

This role sits at the intersection of strategic acceleration, external engagement, and the strengthening of relationships and influence across the wider sector. It will require skills in strategic thinking, public engagement and messaging, relationship building, decision-making around opportunities and project management.

Bible Society today combines the dynamism of innovation with the trust and tradition of a 222-year-old organisation. Our history is full of major innovations, daring exploits and significant impact. This is the time to join us if you want to be part of writing the next chapter…

For more details including how to apply please see the job pack. Closing date 31 August 2026.

Croydon Almshouses | Croydon (hybrid – up to 60% WFH)
Permanent |£30,400 per annum, pro rated | 20-25 hours per week, spread across the week

About us

There aren’t many organisations that can say they’ve been serving their community for over 550 years. Croydon Almshouses (CA) can and we’re proud to be the oldest charity in Croydon, rooted in a long-standing commitment to local people and place.

Since 1447, we’ve provided almshouse accommodation to older people with a connection to Croydon who are negatively affected by poverty. For the past 40 years, we’ve also awarded grants to voluntary, community and faith sector organisations, and individuals across the Borough.

Now, our focus is firmly on what comes next. Our vision is to create thriving communities where everybody can live with dignity and independence, using our resources and agility to reduce the impact of poverty on people in Croydon.

To help us deliver this, we’re recruiting an experienced Finance Assistant, who is a values-led team player, who demonstrates exceptional attention to detail to provide high-quality financial administrative support across the organisation and deliver its ambitious objectives.

Essential criteria:

· Experience of maintaining accurate financial records, including income, expenditure and reconciliations

· Experience of using accounting or finance software (preferably Xero)

· Experience and understanding of financial bookkeeping

· Experience facilitating monthly payroll

· Experience working to deadlines with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail

Interested?

If you are an experienced Finance Assistant wanting to provide high level support at an ambitious local organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now to become Croydon Almshouses’ next Finance Assistant and help create thriving communities where people can live with dignity and independence.

Alongside this Finance Assistant role, we are also recruiting for two other part-time roles: an Administrator and an EA to the CEO. If you are interested in being considered for more than one role, please clearly state in your application which role(s) and hours you are applying for. Applicants shortlisted for more than one role will be interviewed for those roles on the same day.

Closing date: Tuesday 1st September, 9am

Interview date: Monday 7th September, in person

Harris Hill is delighted to be partnering with a leading UK charity that works to increase the flow of philanthropic funding to charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises around the world. We are seeking an experienced Executive Assistant & Board Administrator to join its growing and entrepreneurial team.

This is a varied opportunity for an experienced Executive Assistant who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment with senior stakeholders and has strong Board governance experience. Reporting to the Deputy CEO, you will provide comprehensive support to the CEO and Deputy CEO, while also playing a key role in the effective administration of the organisation’s Board and Committees. You will manage senior diaries, meetings and travel, prepare papers and presentations, handle confidential information and act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.

You will also coordinate the full Board and Committee meeting cycle, including scheduling, meeting logistics and Board packs, attending meetings, producing accurate minutes and tracking actions through to completion. Alongside this, you will support Foundation Boards, shared inboxes, governance and compliance activity, and a range of executive projects.

We are looking for someone with significant experience in an Executive Assistant or similar role, ideally supporting C-suite executives. You will have proven experience preparing Board meeting minutes, excellent organisational and communication skills, meticulous attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively. Discretion, sound judgement and the ability to work independently are essential.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a purpose-driven organisation with a strong reputation in the philanthropy sector and play a central role supporting its executive and governance functions.

To apply, please submit your up-to-date CV by 26 August 2026 at 23:59. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a tailored cover letter after reviewing the full job description.

Please note that only applicants with an unrestricted right to work in the UK will be considered for this position.

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As a leading charity recruitment specialist and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

We're looking for an experienced PA to join our team to work with our Chief Mission Officer. You'll be organised with excellent administrative skills and a strong communicator.

The Chief Mission Officer is a member of our Executive Team, who report into the CEO. The Exec Team help shape and deliver organisational strategy ensuring alignment with our vision, values and mission. The PA to the CMO provides operational and administrative support across a wide range activities, which could include mission development, partnerships, training, resource development, digital innovation and strategic projects.

Key Responsibilities

Administrative support for the CMO

• Manage and coordinate the CMO’s diary, meetings, travel, accommodation, and key commitments.
• Ensure the CMO is adequately prepared for meetings, including drafting agendas, papers, and tracking follow up actions.
• Assist in the prioritisation of the CMO’s workload, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Provide administrative support for the CMO, including draft correspondence, reports, presentations, and other documentation on behalf of the CMO.
• With the CMO, translate ideas and discussion into clear action plans and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain systems that improve organisation, communication, and operational efficiency.
• Attend meetings and events, both remotely and in person, taking accurate notes/minutes and translating them into action plans for the CMO.
• Maintain organised records and filing systems.

Audio transcription and document preparation

• Transcribe audio recordings into written documents.
• Format, proofread and edit documents and correspondence.

About You

Please note that there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the post holder is a committed Christian under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010. 

Skills and Abilities  

• Excellent administrative and organisational skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks at once and prioritise well.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience supporting a senior leader in a similar role.
• Experience taking meeting minutes, producing action logs and preparing professional documentation.
• Experience transcribing audio recordings.
• Knowledge of CRM systems and project management tools.

 Personal Approach and Attributes

• A genuine passion for youth leaders and the mission of Urban Saints.
• Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to work independently. 
• Positive and professional attitude. 
• Maintain focus in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Location

The role is home-based with travel as required. All full-time Urban Saints employees are required to attend two team residentials per year.

How to Apply

Please fill out our application form which you can find on our website. The closing date for applications is Monday the 24th of August at midday. Please note, we will be actively reviewing applications ahead of the closing date and reserve the right to close applications before this date.

DBS Check

Due to the nature of this position, any offer of employment with Urban Saints will be subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

Part time, fixed term contract with probation period

Power to Prosper is a national community wealth building programme, delivered by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) in partnership with a network of community hubs across the UK. The programme works to build community-owned economic power and challenge racial and economic inequality.

While we establish Power to Prosper as an independent organisation it is being incubated within the New Economics Foundation group and contracts of employment will be offered on a fixed-term basis only via NEF Consulting.

This is a hands-on Executive Assistant role providing direct support to the Executive Director (ED) and the wider Power to Prosper Senior Leadership Team. The role combines diary and executive support, meetings and events coordination, financial administration, and stakeholder liaison across NEF and the hub network.

Role: Executive Assistant
Hours of work: 0.7 FTE — 24.5hrs per week – Monday to Friday
Salary: Starting from £42,000 FTE
Location: Hybrid — London/South East with occasional travel to the London Office and Hub locations
Contract type: Fixed term contract ending 30th September 2028

How to apply

Deadline for applications: 12pm Tuesday 1st September
Interviews: First stage interviews offered online on 9th September 2026 with second stage in-person interviews on 17th September 2026, please ensure availability on both dates. 
Start date: Must be available to start by November 2026

Please answer the following questions on a separate Word document and submit alongside your CV.

1. Power to Prosper is entering a period of incubation as we establish ourselves as an independent organisation. What attracts you to this opportunity, and what experience has best prepared you to support senior leaders while helping to build an organisation, rather than simply providing administrative support? (250 words)
2. Power to Prosper exists to build long-term economic power in Black and minoritised communities. Tell us about a time when your understanding of structural racism influenced the way you supported colleagues, designed a process, coordinated a project or helped an organisation work more effectively. What did you do differently, and what did you learn? (250 words)

Please also complete the equality and diversity monitoring form.

• Job description
• Equality and diversity monitoring form

You must be eligible to work in the UK, as we are unable to sponsor visas.

Inclusivity at Power to Prosper and NEFC:
Power to Prosper and NEFC wants to be an inclusive workplace with a diverse body of staff. We don’t want to conform to the traditional think-tank model where people from certain backgrounds are hugely under-represented. We know we have some way to go in this and are therefore genuinely keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; women; neurodivergent people; disabled people; people who identify as LGBT+; people with experience of mental health problems; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.

Accessibility and Equal Opportunity
We value all candidates and are committed to equal opportunity. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the application process, or would like information in an alternative format, please let us know.

We actively promote positive action to advance fairness and tackle underrepresentation within our workforce.

Croydon Almshouses | Croydon (hybrid – up to 60% WFH)
Permanent |£29,100 per annum, pro rated | 20-25 hours per week, spread across the week

About us

There aren’t many organisations that can say they’ve been serving their community for over 550 years. Croydon Almshouses (CA) can and we’re proud to be the oldest charity in Croydon, rooted in a long-standing commitment to local people and place.

Since 1447, we’ve provided almshouse accommodation to older people with a connection to Croydon who are negatively affected by poverty. For the past 40 years, we’ve also awarded grants to voluntary, community and faith sector organisations, and individuals across the Borough.

Now, our focus is firmly on what comes next. Our vision is to create thriving communities where everybody can live with dignity and independence, using our resources and agility to reduce the impact of poverty on people in Croydon.

To help us deliver this, we’re recruiting a proactive and organised Administrator, who is a values-led team player, who demonstrates exceptional attention to detail and strong communication skills to support CA’s staff team to deliver on its ambitious objectives.

Essential criteria:

· Proven experience in a general administrative or office support role

· Experience managing multiple tasks, prioritising workloads and meeting competing deadlines

· Experience maintaining accurate records and handling confidential or sensitive information appropriately

· Experience communicating verbally and in writing effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders

Interested?

If you are an experienced Administrator wanting to provide high level support at an ambitious local organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now to become Croydon Almshouses’ next Administrator and help create thriving communities where people can live with dignity and independence.

Alongside this Administrator role, we are also recruiting for two other part-time roles: a Finance Assistant and an EA to the CEO. If you are interested in being considered for more than one role, please clearly state in your application which role(s) and hours you are applying for. Applicants shortlisted for more than one role will be interviewed for those roles on the same day.

Closing date: Tuesday 1st September, 9am

Interview date: Tuesday 8th September, in person

Governance Manager

Permanent Opportunity

35 hours per week, how, flexible Working Patterns can be considered 

Location: Craven Street, London with hybrid working

Salary: £43,813 per annum (based on 35 hour week) plus competitive benefits

The College of Optometrists is the professional body for optometry. It qualifies the profession and delivers the guidance and development to ensure optometrists provide the best possible care. We promote excellence through the College’s affixes, by building the evidence base for optometry, and raising awareness of the profession with the public, commissioners, and healthcare professionals.

We are looking for a Governance Manager to join our Chief Executive’s team. This is a high profile management role which will lead and develop the governance and stakeholder management of the College and provide the support and insights to enable the Chief Executive to lead the College with maximum impact, effectiveness and efficiency. 

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the key purpose of the role will be to: 

• Ensure the College’s governance arrangements support effective decision making, accountability and regulatory compliance.

• Provide strategic governance support to enable the Chief Executive to lead the College with maximum impact, effectiveness and efficiency.

• Ensure the effective governance and efficient operation of the College’s Council, Board and Committees, in line with its Royal Charter, charity law, regulatory requirements and good governance principles.

• Establish and maintain effective business systems and procedures within the Chief Executive’s Department including supporting the development, monitoring and reporting of the College’s business plan and strategic plan.

• Build and maintain effective relationships with those within the College’s governance structure to support delivery of its strategic objectives.

The main responsibilities for the role holder will be to:

• Ensure the College’s governance arrangements operate effectively and in accordance with its Royal Charter, regulatory requirements and recognised good governance principles.

• Develop, maintain and report on the Governance workstream key performance indicators and wider College KPI framework.

• Deveolop and maintain the College’s strategic plan reporting framework.

• Oversee the preparation and distribution of agendas and papers for Board and Council undertaken by the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive

• Manage the governance arrangements of the Annual Gneeral Meeting and election and appointment of Council members, Officers, Trustees, Committee Chairs and the early Career Representative on Council.

• Support and develop Council in their role as regional representatives and advocates for the College.

• Lead the co-ordination of the College’s stakeholder engagement, ensuring a consistent, responsive and professional experience across the College.

• Develop and manage the ongoing delivery of an effective cross-College stakeholder management process.

• Line manage and develop the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive.

• Manage the annual budget for the College’s governance activities.

To be considered for this vacancy, candidates will need to demonstrate:

• Excellent interpersonal skills including experience of working with senior level management

• Experience of managing election processes and governance procedures within a membership organisation

• Experience of managing organisation-wide projects.

• Experience of developing KPIs and operating procedures.

• Experience of stakeholder management.

• Good level of knowledge of relevant charity governance legislation

• Excellent time management and planning skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Experience of report writing, minute taking and processing numerical data

• Excellent MS Office; Teams, Word, Outlook, Excel and Powerpoint skills.

In addition you will be able to demonstrate the following attributes:

• Pro-activity

• Influencing & persuading

• Customer service 

• Confidentiality and integrity

• Attention to detail

• Reliablility

• Planning and organising – managing multiple projects and tasks. 

A copy of the full job description summarising the key activities and full list of essential requirements can be downloaded from the website.

In return, we offer a variety of benefits including a generous pension plan (10% employer contribution), life assurance and a health care cash plan. The College has a TOIL policy and provides time off for events taking place during the evening and weekends. There is also potential to progress to a range maximum of £53,038 under our performance based/market driven incremental scheme.

If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an up to date CV along with a brief covering letter that sets out the skills and experience you consider would make you suitable for this position, no later than 27 August 2026.

First Interview will take place on 04 Septemebr 2026 at our offices in Craven St.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview, which will include:

• A 10-minute presentation (details will be provided in advance). 

• A competency-based interview

Equality and inclusion 

The College is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and to avoiding unlawful discrimination. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, valuing the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation. In support of this we follow a fair recruitment process in which shortlisting and other recruitment decisions are made on the basis of skills, competencies and experience demonstrated in the application and interview process. 

If you require a reasonable adjustment to be made to support your application due to a disability or other condition, please let us know. 

Additional Information

• Typical working hours at the College are 9 am to 5 pm (7 hours, excluding lunch) working five days a week. We operate a flexible working window from 8 am to 6 pm where you can vary your start and end time (working a 7-hour day). This role is flexible and can be worked over a variety of working patterns.

• The post holder may on occasion be required to work late and should therefore have some flexibility with regard to working hours. There will be occasional overnight stays for some meetings and events in London and across the UK.

• We also offer hybrid working (a mixture of home and office working). Typically, College staff will work around 20%- 40% of their time at the workplace (whether this is the office at Craven St, or a face-to-face meeting, exam or event at another business-related site or organisation) per week.

We're looking for an enthusiastic and highly organised HR & Executive Support Assistant to support a high quality people function at IHP. This part-time role combines HR administration with wider organisational and executive support, offering a varied and rewarding opportunity within a small charity that is making a significant impact around the world.

IHP’s vision is to see a world in which all suffering due to lack of healthcare is eradicated. Our Christian faith underpins all that we do. It motivates us to care for those in need, and give our best in all circumstances, as an expression of God's love. We serve the poor in health without regard for ethnic or religious background, focusing on where the need is greatest.

About the role

The HR team is responsible for a broad range of functions supporting our 24-strong staff team and trustees. The HR & Executive Support Assistant will play a key role in delivering effective HR administration while also providing wider administrative support to help ensure the smooth running of the organisation.

Working closely with the Director of Finance & Resources, our outsourced HR Consultant and the Finance & Administration Officer, the postholder will support the employee lifecycle, maintain HR systems and records, coordinate training and wellbeing activities, and help ensure HR processes are delivered accurately and efficiently.

Alongside the core HR responsibilities, the role will provide support across a range of central organisational activities, including supporting with office administration, governance, trustee administration, staff meetings and events, maintaining internal systems and records, and assisting with cross-organisational projects led by the Senior Leadership Team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, has strong organisational skills and wants to develop their HR career while gaining experience across the wider functions of a small, collaborative charity.

We're looking for someone who can:

• Support all areas of HR administration and people processes under the direction of the outsourced HR Consultant and Director of Finance & Resources.
• Ensure HR records, systems and processes are maintained accurately, efficiently and confidentially.
• Coordinate staff training, maintain accurate training records and support employee wellbeing initiatives.
• Contribute to a positive staff experience by supporting managers and colleagues throughout the employee lifecycle.
• Provide high-quality administrative support across the organisation, including governance activities, trustee administration, office management and organisational projects.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to help ensure the smooth and effective running of IHP's central support function.

Essential skills and experience

• Experience working in an HR administration role, or in an administrative role with significant HR responsibilities.
• Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding or other employee lifecycle activities.
• Experience maintaining accurate records, databases and administrative systems.
• Excellent administration and organisational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience handling confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

 Personal attributes:

• Empathetic, approachable, and discreet
• Strong communicator with the ability to build positive working relationships across the organisation
• Solutions-focused with a hands on, flexible approach
• A commitment to staff wellbeing, development and good HR practice
• Excellent judgement 
• Committed to IHP's Christian Ethos and values

For further details regarding responsibilities and person specification, please see the job description.

IHP is an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to working and embedding diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work, including recruitment and selection. We actively encourage applicants to inform us of any specific support or reasonable adjustments we can make in the recruitment process (eg for disability or neurodivergence) and will continue this conversation into employment, as appropriate. 

Staff regularly spend time together praying for IHP’s work and there is an occupational requirement for the post holder to have a personal commitment to the Christian faith.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a meaningful mission with a strong values driven organisation
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rate for part-time hours)
• Health and wellbeing support through Unum help@hand
• Life Insurance and Critical Illness Cover 
• Hybrid and flexible working options in a modern office near Chancery Lane Tube Station 

Join a supportive and inclusive team where your skills are valued, your voice is heard, and you have the space to work independently and develop.