Divisional Executive Assistant (Maternity Cover/Fixed Term Contract)

Divisional Executive Assistant (Maternity Cover/Fixed-Term Contract)

£38,382 per annum, plus excellent benefits

London WC1 and home-based/hybrid

Full-time, 35 hours per week

We are recruiting for two positions: one maternity cover contract of up to nine months and one fixed-term contract of up to 12 months.

Closing date: 25 October 2026

Interviews: w/c 01 November 2026

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an organised, proactive and highly adaptable Divisional Executive Assistant to provide high-quality support to our Executive Directors and Chief of Staff.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the processes and operations that underpin the College’s Executive Directors and Divisions. You will work closely with senior leaders and clinicians, anticipating their needs, managing competing priorities and helping them make the best use of their time.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, you will provide trusted and proactive support across diary, task and travel management, divisional governance, committee cycles, inductions and quarterly business reviews. You will also contribute to a range of projects, including research, event coordination and data analysis.

You will work autonomously across the College, building strong relationships with Executive Directors, senior clinicians, colleagues and other stakeholders. Your ability to anticipate challenges, manage upwards and find pragmatic solutions will be essential in supporting the effective delivery of the College’s strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing proactive support to multiple Executive Directors, including diary, task and travel management, anticipating requirements and resolving potential conflicts or challenges

• Developing a strong understanding of the needs and working styles of Executive Directors and adapting your approach to provide effective and trusted support

• Running the end-to-end governance cycles that underpin committees and divisional structures, ensuring information is gathered, coordinated and communicated within agreed timescales

• Working across the College with Executive Directors and senior clinicians to facilitate the timely flow of information into committees and senior leadership structures

• Coordinating the induction of volunteers and team members, ensuring relevant information is collected and maintained in line with College processes

• Working closely with the Chief of Staff to coordinate the quarterly business review cycle, supporting teams to complete data requirements and prepare reports

• Supporting core financial administration, including raising purchase orders, ensuring the safe receipt of invoices and completing credit card reconciliations

• Delivering a variety of projects on behalf of Executive Directors and the Chief of Staff, including research, event coordination and data analysis

• Identifying opportunities to improve processes and efficiencies and providing practical solutions to support the effective use of senior leaders’ time

Essential skills and experience include:

• Demonstrated ability to develop a strong understanding of other people’s needs and adapt your working style to meet those needs

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively, manage competing demands and use time efficiently

• Experience anticipating the needs and potential challenges of senior staff through effective diary management and finding pragmatic solutions

• Experience providing committee secretariat support, with the ability to deliver an effective end-to-end secretariat service

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, make informed decisions and take initiative

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and confidently with a diverse range of stakeholders

• Meticulous attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and completeness across all areas of work

Desirable:

• Experience working closely with clinicians and/or healthcare professionals

• Knowledge and experience of qualitative data analysis

• Understanding of project management principles and experience delivering projects across multiple areas

• An interest in how artificial intelligence can be used to improve processes, create efficiencies and support organisational effectiveness

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows worldwide and plays a leading role in improving child health and supporting paediatricians across the UK and internationally. Our Executive and Divisional teams play a vital role in coordinating the College’s strategic priorities and ensuring effective governance and delivery across the organisation.

Our values – Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire – are central to everything we do. We are committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are under-represented at this level of the organisation.

We operate a flexible and modern hybrid working policy. This role is based across our London office and home working, with approximately 40% of working time in our London office over a four-week period and the remainder working remotely.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Employment is subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. As the College expands its involvement with children and young people, this role may in future be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received. If you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible.

Application Procedure

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should set out how your qualifications, experience and training meet each of the selection criteria. The supporting statement is an essential part of the selection process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. An answer to any of the criteria such as "Please see attached CV" will not be considered acceptable.

If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please email [email protected].

Location

London & home based

Appointment Type

FTC

Salary Range

38382.00

Hours

Full time

Closing Date

25/10/2026

Ref No

10155

Documents

• Job Description

  (PDF, 297.71kb)