Executive assistant to the director of people and director o jobs

Job title: Executive Assistant

Directorate: Executive

Salary: Circa £33,000 per annum

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week

Closing date: 27 July 2026

Permanent or Fixed Term: Permanent (Two roles available)

About Us

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.

We’ve got a strong set of values that inform everything we do, and we’re looking for people who are aligned with these. As a Executive Assistant, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.

To find out more about our values and how important they are to us, please read the role profile linked above.

The Benefits

We offer a wide and generous range of benefits designed to support our employees through every stage of life. To read about these, please see the benefits section of our Careers Page.

The Role

As a Executive Assistant, you will be part of a small team delivering high quality, confidential and proactive administration support to the Directorate.

The Executive Assistant’s main duties will include diary management, meeting coordination, preparation of presentations, reports and minutes. Your ability to plan ahead, prioritise tasks, and take on ad hoc duties will be crucial in ensuring the seamless operation of the team.

To thrive in this role, you must demonstrate exceptional organisation skills, flexibility and be experienced in interacting confidently at a senior level.

Specifically, you will:

• Support the nominated Director(s) with their day-to-day duties through effective diary scheduling and management, preparation of meeting agendas and minutes, booking travel and accommodation and other ad hoc duties, deputising and covering for other Executive Assistants as required.

• Undertake a range of administrative tasks for the Directors and support with the prioritisation of workload.

• Support the Directors with management of internal and external stakeholder relationships including drafting written correspondence.

• Arrange and attend departmental meetings including the preparation and circulation of agendas, minutes and actions.

• Arrange other internal and external meetings where required, which could include liaising with Trustees and other third parties, preparing agendas and minutes and monitoring follow-up actions as required.

• On a daily basis, monitor and track emails and actions pending.

• Assist the charity’s Directors with the completion of all official company records and regulatory documentation as required.

• Use the charity’s HR System as required to monitor and approve annual leave on behalf of the charity’s Directors, ensuring compliance with current charity policies.

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• To be ideally educated to A Level or able to demonstrate relevant equivalent experience.

• To have significant experience working in a similar role providing executive support at Director level.

• To have expert proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and experience using a range of platforms and databases including CRM systems.

• To have experience of working with AI platforms to create efficiencies with work processes.

• To have exceptional organisational skills and ability to manage a diverse workload, conflicting priorities and tight deadlines.

• To have excellent interpersonal skills, an empathetic and adaptable communicator who inspires trust and confidence at all levels.

• To have proven ability to assimilate, record and convey complex information accurately and efficiently.

• To be diplomatic and discreet, and have high standards of confidentiality.

• To have excellent attention to detail ensuring accuracy and quality of work in all tasks including preparation of documents, scheduling of meetings, proof-reading communications and other administrative tasks.

Application

Before applying, please read the full role profile linked above.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer. We welcome any discussion for flexible working at the interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual’s circumstances against the needs of the charity.

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application please contact us.