Senior Executive Assistant to CEO & Chairperson

Job summary

We are recruiting for an exceptional Senior Executive Assistant to provide high‑level support to our CEO and Chair. This is a hybrid role, working two to three days per week from our Coventry headquarters and the remainder from home, Monday to Friday.

This is a key position for a highly professional and experienced executive assistant who has operated at C‑suite level. You will thrive in a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment, exercise sound judgement and deliver seamless strategic and administrative support. Acting as a central point of coordination, you will connect the board, senior leadership, governance functions and key external partners.

To succeed, you will bring outstanding organisational skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and confident, proactive communication skills to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. Absolute discretion is essential, along with a strong service mindset and commitment to supporting the delivery of our business goals. Experience of working within a membership organisation or similar would be an advantage, along with an interest in the agriculture sector.

Established in 2008, AHDB is the independent, impartial public body that unlocks success in British agriculture. Funded by a levy from over 100,000 British farmers, growers and processors in the beef, lamb, pork, dairy and cereals sectors, we support and champion farmers and processors, often where no one else can or will.

Job description

• Assist the CEO, Chair and Director of Governance to ensure the organisation meets its corporate governance requirements and is regarded as an industry leader
• Organise and maintain complex calendars, schedules and daily meetings
• Manage incoming calls, ensure accurate message‑taking, respond to information requests and direct more complex enquiries to the appropriate team members
• Prepare and manage high-quality written and visual materials, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents, agendas, reports, presentations, decks and special project materials
• Manage sensitive and confidential matters with discretion and sound judgement, including issues directly impacting the organisation
• Proactively support the executive team by researching, gathering and analysing information in advance
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key members of the Defra Relationship team and other senior stakeholders, enabling effective communication across the board and the Leadership team

Person specification

• Proven experience as an Executive Assistant, delivering high‑level support to C‑suite
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Professional, approachable and confident communicator, able to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels
• Flexible and adaptable, with the ability to prioritise effectively and respond to changing business needs, projects and timescales
• Self‑motivated and proactive, demonstrating strong judgement, the ability to assess priorities and make informed decisions when required
• Creative and service‑driven, with a commitment to delivering high standards of support
• Experience working within a membership‑based organisation and/or knowledge of the agriculture sector desirable

Benefits

We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work, so we have a great mix of benefits and opportunities to give you the recognition you deserve:

• 35 hours per week, Monday–Friday, to include hybrid working
• 33 days of annual leave plus one privilege day (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Life assurance cover (4x salary)
• A market-leading defined contribution pension scheme with Legal & General
• Enhanced pay of 20 weeks for maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to length of service
• A paid day each year to volunteer and make a difference in your community
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• Excellent training and development opportunities and an agreed development plan
• Recognition awards throughout the year
• Reward Gateway membership – this gives you a huge number of online discounts and savings

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

To apply, simply upload your CV and Cover Letter via our careers portal by clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this page. Our hiring managers will review your application, and we’ll be in touch with the outcome shortly after the closing date.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial interview via MS Teams. If successful, a second-stage face-to-face interview will be held at our HQ in Coventry, Warwickshire, following our competency-based framework.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of suitable applications.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk
• Telephone : 02476 935722

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ahdb.org.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles of the Civil Service, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact the Head of HR via email: hr@ahdb.org.uk