Executive Assistant/ PA

Executive Support Assistant
Temp-Perm. Full Time (37 hours per week, 3 days in office)
Pity Me, Durham (with some potential travel to Essex.
Salary: £34,160–£42,700 DOE

Are you an organised, proactive professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment? We’re working alongside Northumbrian Water to recruit for an Executive Support Assistant to provide high quality support to two of their Executive Directors. This is a key role that ensures their time is used effectively through exceptional diary management, travel coordination, and a wide range of administrative responsibilities.
 
About the Role 
As an Executive Support Assistant, you’ll deliver accurate, confidential, and forward-thinking support. You will be instrumental in keeping schedules running smoothly, anticipating needs, and ensuring Directors are fully prepared for meetings, visits, and strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities 

• Proactively manage complex diaries, meeting requests, external visits, and speaking engagements.
• Coordinate travel and accommodation, producing detailed and accurate itineraries.
• Manage inboxes and respond to straightforward queries on behalf of Directors.
• Look ahead to identify pinch points or scheduling issues, providing recommendations and drafting solutions.
• Ensure Directors have adequate preparation and planning time, including arranging pre-meetings and briefings.
• Implement effective systems to manage meeting papers, performance reviews, training, and other key documentation within required deadlines.
• Format and proof-read a variety of documents, including business and external reports.
• Maintain compliance with all relevant regulatory rules, managing and logging required documentation.
• Provide secretariat support for directorate-level meetings and assist with organising internal and external events.
• Manage all customer, MP, and stakeholder correspondence received via the Executive office, working with internal teams to ensure timely and accurate responses.
• Support the wider Executive Support team by covering tasks during busy periods, such as Board paper coordination and general office administration, with a focus on continuous improvement.

About you

• Extensive and proven Personal Assistant experience working at a senior level with Executives
• Experienced at interpreting needs and creating effective presentations
• Forward thinking – able to think ahead and second guess requirements and needs. This proactive skill needs to be demonstrated at a high level for all 3 directors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills with a keen eye for detail
• Ability to build relationships and networks at all levels throughout the organisation
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise workload effectively and work on own initiative
• Absolute discretion, trust and confidentiality in managing multiple stakeholders with often sensitive work
• High level of professionalism and confidentiality in working with senior leaders