This is a 52 week contract to start as soon as possible,.
This is a senior administrative position and requires the post holder to be both the gateway and gatekeeper to the Executive Head. The postholder should work in a positive and proactive way, demonstrating a high level of initiative and competence across a range of activities. Essential to the post is the ability to manage and organise work of a confidential and complex nature with considerable tact and diplomacy and with a high level of commitment and flexibility.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Experience of providing dedicated secretarial/admin support to staff working at a senior level within an organisation.
• Experience using MIS systems such as ISAMS.
• Understanding of Independent Schools and the role of the Governing Body.
• Understanding of the organisational structure of a school.
• Understanding of Head’s role (internal and external), school policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of Safeguarding and Child Protection.

THE ROLE

The role requires exceptional communication, interpersonal and organisational skills, empathy, sympathy, flexibility, attention to detail, an understanding of confidentiality and Data Protection requirements and a co-operative and supportive attitude to colleagues. The postholder will be extremely well organised personally, have an excellent knowledge of English language and grammar and be highly computer literate, especially in MS Word and Excel.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Act as first point of contact and, in the absence of the Executive Head, exercise a high degree of initiative, integrity and sensitivity, making appropriate judgements and decisions in order to deal effectively with matters as they arise.
• Provide a high-quality executive, personal and confidential administrative support service for the Executive Head to maximise the effective and efficient use of their time.
• Oversee and advise Reception staff monitoring the main school email address in responding to general enquiries and forwarding on as appropriate.
• Prompt and discreet management of the Executive Head’s email account, dealing with critical items or forwarding on as appropriate.
• Assist the Executive Head in managing general correspondence promptly and tactfully, drafting letters and email responses as appropriate.
• Manage the Executive Head’s diary with the ability to short and long-term plan to ensure that the Executive Head is prepared for the right meetings at the right time and always provided with the necessary agenda, documents and supporting papers, in advance.
• Where appropriate, arrange travel and accommodation for conferences and trips etc. for the Executive Head.
• Take minutes of meetings involving SMT and SLT and as instructed by the Executive Head.
• Deal with all calls in a professional manner, including dealing with parental complaints, general queries and assisting colleagues.
• Act as an ambassador for the School and the Executive Head in all matters.