Senior Executive Assistant to Chair and trustees

We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.

We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, to learn English, to get a high-quality education and to gain internationally recognised qualifications.

Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22 we reached 650 million people.

Senior Executive Assistant to Chair and Trustees
 
The Role:

Join the Heart of Global Cultural Relations – Become the Senior Executive Assistant to the Chair. Step into a pivotal role at the British Council, where you'll provide essential support and guidance to the Chair and trustees, empowering them to lead with impact, uphold accountability, and represent our organisation on the global stage. As Senior Executive Assistant, your role will be at the very centre of strategic leadership, ensuring the Chair’s time is managed effectively, their diary is precisely coordinated, and key communications and invitations are handled with insight and efficiency.

This is a varied and influential position where your work will span governance, administration, finance, communication, and speech preparation—each day bringing new challenges and opportunities to shape the effectiveness of our leadership. You’ll also work closely with trustees and be instrumental in managing correspondence, reviewing briefings, and ensuring operations run seamlessly across the Chair and Chief Executive’s Office.

Based at our vibrant headquarters in Stratford, London, this predominantly office-based role requires a presence of at least four days a week, with the flexibility to increase as needed. You’ll collaborate across teams and departments, gaining a comprehensive view of how the British Council delivers its mission through cultural relations.

This is a high-energy, high-impact environment—ideal for someone who thrives under pressure, manages competing demands with discretion and clarity, and holds the highest standards of integrity and confidentiality. It’s more than just a job; it’s a chance to be at the heart of a global organisation, supporting our most senior leaders in shaping the future of international cultural exchange.

Join us, and help drive the British Council’s mission forward—every day, at every level.

Accountabilities:

The British Council is seeking a highly capable and proactive Senior Executive Assistant to support the Chair and trustees, playing a crucial role in managing high-level priorities, stakeholder relationships, and strategic coordination. This is a rare opportunity to work at the very centre of an organisation with a global footprint, where cultural relations and international engagement are at the heart of everything we do.

In this fast-paced and high-profile role, you’ll manage the Chair’s complex schedule, balancing multiple commitments and ensuring that time is effectively prioritised. You’ll develop a deep understanding of the British Council’s strategic priorities, providing trusted advice and supporting the Chair in internal and external engagements. With strong working relationships across all levels of the organisation, and with external stakeholders including Ministerial offices and partner organisations, you’ll help ensure the Chair and trustees are fully prepared and positioned to represent the organisation at the highest level.

You’ll oversee everything from diary and correspondence management to preparing briefings, commissioning speeches, and organising meetings with senior leaders. Your work will ensure the smooth flow of information, logistics, and communication—both internally and externally. You will also manage travel logistics, produce comprehensive travel packs, and coordinate meetings and events with precision and professionalism.

Beyond executive support, your role will also involve financial management, demonstrating a strong sense of value for money in procurement and resource planning. You will provide guidance on invitations and event requests, ensure effective records management, contribute to internal and external communications, and support governance processes. Your input will help drive operational excellence and service improvement across the Chair’s office.

This role offers the chance to contribute to meaningful, high-level work while gaining insight into the leadership and strategy of a globally influential organisation. If you’re confident managing competing demands, thrive in a high-pressure environment, and can work with integrity and discretion, we want to hear from you. Join us and be part of a team that is shaping international cultural relations and making a real difference worldwide.

Requirements of the role:

·       Experience of senior level diary management and scheduling, with fast-moving deadlines and working under pressure.

·       Track record of high quality office administration in busy, ambiguous and complicated environments, ability to prioritise multiple tasks and deadlines.

·       Experience of advising senior leaders of large organisations on competing, varied and fast-changing internal and external priorities.

·       Excellent judgement and ability to understand and navigate complex and nuanced issues, and ability to respond flexibly in often ambiguous environments.

·       Ability to think analytically, prioritise and solve problems quickly, e.g. interpret large volumes of rapidly changing information across multiple complex issues at any one time, in order to make sound decisions quickly.

·       Strong team player willing to jump in to support and stand in for immediate team members, a ‘can do’ solutions-focused attitude, and ability to flex to ensure that together it delivers to a high standard.

·       Ability to work at pace and deliver against tight deadlines.

·       Knowledge of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion tools, processes and approaches.

·       Experience of holding people to account – especially in eliciting responses 

Closing Date:   Applications will close at 23:59 on Thursday 15th June 2025 UK Time.   

You must have the legal right to work in UK at the time of application.

Important Information:  

Department: CEO and Chair's Office (Corporate Affairs)

Contract type: Indefinite 
Pay band: 8

Salary: £38,820-£46,203 per annum (plus London Market Allowance of £3,300 per annum)

Location: London (Stratford) only 

Requirements:

You must have the legal right to work in United Kingdom at the time of application.

There is no relocation or sponsorship support.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service.  This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

Please note, Senior Executive Assistant to CEO role is also open for applications. If you would like to be considered for both roles, please ensure you put in an application under both vacancies. Shortlisted candidates may be assessed for both roles in 1 interview.

A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.

Equality , Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Statement

The British Council is committed to policies and practices of equality, diversity and inclusion across everything we do. We support all staff to make sure their behaviour is consistent with this commitment.  We want to address under representation and encourage applicants from under-represented groups, in particular, but not exclusively, on grounds of ethnicity and disability.  All disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview and we have Disability Confident Employer Status. We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.

The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.

We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.

Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed; these will include qualification checks, reference checks, identity & criminal record checks in line with legal requirements and with the British Council’s Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.

If you have any problems with your application please email  askhr@britishcouncil.org

Please note: Applications to this role can only be considered when made through the Apply section of our careers website. Our ‘ASK HR’ email is only to be used in case of a technical issue encountered when applying through the careers website. Emails with supporting statements and CV/Resumes sent to this email address will not be reviewed and will be deleted.