Executive Assistant to Directors Cultural - London, United Kingdom - British Council

British Council

Verified Company

London, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

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Description

Executive Assistant to Directors Cultural Engagement and Arts

Date:20 Oct 2023

Location:
London, UKM, GB

Company:
British Council

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 we reached 650 million people.

Purpose of Role:

To provide excellent executive assistance to Director Cultural Engagement (50%) and Director Arts (50%) and to work closely with the Directors and their global management teams to ensure Cultural Engagement delivers work to the highest standard.

This is a key role within Cultural Engagement; a primary point of contact for both directors, holding relationships with external stakeholders and colleagues globally and across the British Council.

Main Accountabilities:

Relationship and Stakeholder management

Manages the Directors' participation in meetings and events, providing input into agendas and structure, and liaising with stakeholders and working with internal colleagues for briefing content to ensure Directors are properly prepared for the meeting/event and have all relevant material.
Liaises with senior managers, internal stakeholders and external contacts. In the case of Director Arts this role works closely with Arts External Relations team (which manages Arts external contacts) on behalf of the Directors. Providing a representational role for the Directors and ensuring that any visitors are treated in an appropriate manner.
Liaises within and beyond CE to manage engagements carried out by the Directors, particularly in relation to shared agendas with other senior British Council staff, and ensuring consistency of messages. Taking swift and concise meeting minutes where necessary
Writes and coordinates responses to correspondence as appropriate, ensuring that confidential matters are managed appropriately.

Consultancy, analysis and problem solving

Prioritises and makes decisions on the Directors' behalf. Makes sure that any matters are dealt with appropriately or directed to the appropriate colleague; actions are followed up to completion; and responses are prepared and forwarded to Director Cultural Engagement / Director Arts for signoff, where appropriate.
Ensures confidential matters are handled appropriately and correspondence filed or destroyed accordingly.

Strategy and Planning

Takes responsibility for complex diary management and meeting prioritisation for internal and external contacts
Makes travel arrangements with and on the behalf of the directors including multistop itineraries requiring strategic forward planning
In the case of Director Arts, all external programme visits are arranged and managed by Arts External Relations (AER) team.
Supports the work of the Directors in relation to line management and to HR related activities, for instance annual performance review of direct reports; induction plans for new direct reports etc.

Commercial and/or financial management

Manages the Directors' travel and expenses claims and completes expenses reports for public record. Manages expenses accounts effectively and accurately in accordance with travel and expenses policy.

Leadership & management

Plans and prioritises own work activities to ensure effective delivery of diverse responsibilities and internal deliverables
Provides project oversight to relevant departmental projects, ensuring delays are highlighted and appropriate replanning is undertaken, and that Directors are kept up to date.
Shares intelligence and ideas to support senior managers in identifying/ developing new ways of improving operational efficiency and effectiveness.
Acts as both facilitator and gatekeeper on behalf of the Directors.
Actively contributes to an inclusive and antiracist organisational culture, being aware of own biases, and taking action to mitigate against these. Ensures people feel valued and are treated equitably, with support for people's wellbeing and mental health.
Understands the British Council's approach to equality, diversity and inclusion and how it applies to role, and makes time for learning and development relating to EDI and antiracism.

Service improvement

Builds an indepth understanding of the Cultural Engagement operational context, opportunities and challenges facing Cultural Engagement colleagues to ensure the provision of advice and support based on informed business insight
Proactively seeks feedback from colleagues and other stakeholde