Executive Assistant to CEO

Fixed-Term Maternity Cover

Location: London (Hybrid working – 1-2 days per week in the office, with flexibility at the core)
Contract: Fixed-term maternity cover (August – December 2026)
Hours: Part-time, 30 hours per week
Salary: £30,000 - £33,000 per annum pro rata (depending on experience)

Harris Hill is delighted to be recruiting an Executive Assistant to CEO on behalf of an international charity.

This is an exciting opportunity for an organised, proactive and detail-focused Executive Assistant to join a mission-driven organisation and provide high-quality support to the CEO during a period of maternity leave.

Working closely with the CEO and wider CEO Office team, you will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the CEO’s office. You will manage a complex diary and inbox, coordinate meetings and travel, maintain effective systems and provide administrative support across a range of executive activities.

This role requires someone who is highly organised, calm under pressure and able to use their judgement to prioritise competing demands, while handling confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing the CEO’s complex diary and inbox, identifying priorities and ensuring timely follow-up.
• Coordinating meetings, including scheduling across different time zones and preparing relevant documentation.
• Arranging domestic and international travel, including detailed itineraries and logistics.
• Taking accurate meeting minutes and ensuring actions are recorded and communicated effectively.
• Supporting expense processing, credit card reconciliations and financial administration.
• Maintaining organised records, trackers and systems across shared files, Salesforce and other platforms.
• Supporting executive meetings, donor engagements and events.
• Managing sensitive information with a high level of confidentiality and discretion.

About you:

You will be an experienced Executive Assistant or senior administrator who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and supporting senior leaders. You will have:

• Previous experience providing support to a CEO, senior executive or leadership team.
• Strong diary, inbox and meeting management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft polished correspondence and documents.
• Exceptional organisation skills and attention to detail.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace.
• Strong administrative and record-keeping skills, including experience handling financial processes.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to anticipate needs.

Experience using Salesforce or another CRM system would be advantageous but is not essential.

A personal or professional connection to South Africa, or an understanding of the South African context, would be welcomed but is not required.

Application process

Please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role, including examples of your experience supporting senior stakeholders.

Due to the urgent nature of this appointment, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is encouraged.