Executive Assistant, Diary Manager

UK Research and Innovation

Executive Assistant providing high-quality support to the Chief of External Affairs and Communications. Managing diary and meeting organization while collaborating with the senior leadership team.

Posted 4/14/2026full-timeSwindon • 🇬🇧 United KingdomMid-LevelSenior💰 £37,841 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Oracle

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Providing a high-quality end-to-end support service to the Chief of External Affairs and Communications.
Managing diaries and travel, using initiative to make considered judgements when juggling demands on the schedule.
Collating timely, focused and incisive background research, analysis and briefing.
Working with the organisation to manage information flow to and from the Chief of External Affairs and Communications, using knowledge and judgement to respond or to divert relevant information/queries to others where appropriate.
Arranging and ensuring the smooth running of meetings.
Drafting and circulating meeting papers and agendas, synthesising clear minutes and actions from complex discussions.
Effective information management, ensuring compliance with UKRI’s records management requirements.
Providing ad-hoc support for other members of the External Affairs and Communications senior leadership team as required.
Managing HR and Finance administration for the Chief of External Affairs and Communications using our in-house systems. (Oracle)

Requirements

What you’ll need

Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages and able to quickly learn new IT skills and programmes.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (verbal, presentational and written) sufficient to build credibility with relevant stakeholders. Demonstrates a high level of tact, diplomacy, integrity, resilience, patience and discretion.
Adaptable and flexible approach to work; Well-organised, demonstrates an excellent attention to detail with a focus on quality, able to effectively plan and prioritise tasks to meet deadlines.
Able to deal with challenging situations and comfortable working with uncertainty and ambiguity. Able to take a proactive approach to identify and deal with problems and initiate solutions.
Self‑motivated and proactive, able to use own initiative and work independently with minimal supervision, while also collaborating effectively as part of a team and taking a lead role when required.

Benefits

Comp & perks

An outstanding defined benefit pension scheme.
30 days' annual leave in addition to 10.5 public and privilege days (full time equivalent).
Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
Employee assistance programme, providing confidential help and advice.
Flexible working options.

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Soft Skills

communication skillsinterpersonal skillstactdiplomacyintegrityresiliencepatiencediscretionattention to detailproblem-solving