Senior Executive Assistant
Permanent - Full Time £60,000 / yearJob Overview
Salary: c. £60,000
Bonus: Discretionary
Location: Kings Cross, London (Tuesdays-Thursdays - 3 days in our office, Monday + Friday - anywhere)
Employment Type: Permanent, full time
About ARIA
Bonus: Discretionary
Location: Kings Cross, London (Tuesdays-Thursdays - 3 days in our office, Monday + Friday - anywhere)
Employment Type: Permanent, full time
About ARIA
ARIA is a new kind of R&D funding agency. We fund scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of the possible. From climate change to AI, society faces enormous challenges and opportunities that can be uniquely addressed by science and technology. ARIA was created to activate the UK’s world-class R&D in new ways, so we can meet these head on.
We are growing our team to develop bold new approaches that can scale – from programmes to systems, processes and everything in between. If that sounds fun, come and build ARIA with us.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Executive Assistant to provide high-quality, proactive support to two Executives, acting as a central coordinating point across the organisation. This is a trusted role requiring sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to operate confidently on behalf of senior leaders.
You will enable the smooth and effective running of the Executives’ day-to-day activities, including complex diary and inbox management, meeting coordination, and event planning. You will also work closely with teams across the Corporate Services function (including People Ops, Finance and Procurement) to ensure effective collaboration and alignment.
As a Senior Executive Assistant, you will exercise delegated authority responsibly, making decisions independently where appropriate and being accountable for those decisions. You will build strong working relationships with senior colleagues and external stakeholders, acting with professionalism, integrity and confidentiality at all times.
The role requires excellent communication skills and the confidence to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders, both in writing and verbally, while maintaining tact and discretion. Occasional travel across the UK may be required to support senior leaders at meetings and events.
What you’ll do
The duties of the role will include, but are not limited to:
- Providing comprehensive support to Executives, including complex diary and inbox management, travel arrangements, and general administrative tasks
- Acting as a central point of coordination across ARIA to help secure input, support and resources for projects and initiatives
- Managing correspondence and queries, including preparation and authorisation of expense reports where needed
- Working closely with the team to facilitate delivery by tracking actions, coordinating partners, and helping the team operate effectively
- Coordinating the Executives team meetings, including preparing agendas and papers, and tracking actions and follow-ups
- Working collaboratively with the Executive Assistant team to:
- ensure consistency and alignment of processes across the organisation
- provide cover for other EAs when required (e.g. during annual leave)
- coordinate organisation-wide weekly team meetings and internal communications
- Receiving and directing visitors and acting as a professional point of contact for internal and external stakeholders
Who you are
You will have significant experience working as an Executive Assistant in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with proven ability supporting senior leaders and managing complex diaries and correspondence effectively.
You will bring:
- Excellent organisational and time-management skills, being able to prioritise effectively and work to tight deadlines
- Strategic judgment, not just support with confidence in decision-making, with the ability to operate independently within delegated authority
- Proven stakeholder management skills and the ability to build effective working relationships at senior levels
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent Executives professionally to a wide range of audiences
- High attention to detail, adaptability, and a proactive, solutions-focused approach
- A strong commitment to integrity, demonstrated through transparent decision-making, ethical conduct, and accountability for actions and outcomes
- You will be proactive, commercially aware, and highly organised, with the ability to anticipate needs, “connect the dots,” and adapt quickly to shifting priorities