Executive Assistant

Great Executive Assistants do more than mange priorities, they create the space and conditions for leaders to make an impact and succeed.

We're looking for an exceptional Executive Assistant to join the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority. This is a key role within the Executive Support function, leading the high-quality support to the Skills, Inclusion and Public Service Reform Directorate whilst providing direct support to the Director and helping ensure the organisation delivers for communities across the North East.

Working at the heart of the organisation you'll manage a personal assistant and influence how priorities are managed, coordinate activity across teams and ensure senior leaders have the information, support and capacity they need to deliver for communities across the North East.

The Role

As an Executive Assistant, you'll act as a trusted partner to our Director of Skills Inclusion and Public Service Reform, helping them manage complex priorities, competing demands and strategic activity where their time can have the greatest impact. You'll be a key part of the Governance team, playing a pivotal role in connecting people, priorities and processes across the organisation, helping senior leaders navigate a complex and fast-moving environment.

Working closely with senior leaders, political stakeholders and partners, you'll anticipate emerging issues, identify solutions and ensure organisational priorities, governance requirements and corporate commitments are effectively coordinated and delivered.

You will also line manage a personal assistant within the Directorate, providing guidance and oversight while helping to drive consistency, continuous improvement and high standards across the service.

This is a highly visible role at the centre of strategic activity, where sound judgement, professionalism and leadership are critical to success.

About You

You'll be someone who stays calm, thrives on busy, thinks three steps ahead and enjoys bringing clarity to complexity.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has significant experience providing executive support at Director, Executive or Board level, confidently influencing, challenging and advising.
• Can manage complex diaries, inboxes and competing priorities.
• Builds strong relationships and communicates professionally with colleagues, partners and stakeholders at all levels.
• Uses sound judgement, discretion and initiative when dealing with sensitive information and challenging situations.
• Is highly organised and comfortable managing multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Can anticipate issues, identify solutions and keep things moving forward.
• Enjoys working collaboratively and supporting others to succeed.
• Has experience supervising or leading colleagues and helping teams work effectively together.

What It Isn't

This isn't a standard office job where the task list stays the same. It is a visible and varied role that calls for judgement, initiative and confidence in a dynamic political environment.

You'll help create the conditions for senior leaders to stay focused, well briefed and able to make timely decisions, using your insight to keep work moving and issues under control.

It's a role for someone who enjoys variety, takes ownership and takes pride in being the person others rely on to bring order, pace and professionalism.

So if you...

are someone who thinks strategically, enjoys leading and influencing outcomes, can bring clarity to complexity and takes pride in helping both people and organisations succeed, we'd love to hear from you.

Join us and play a key role in helping the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority make it happen for the people and places we serve.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, communities and experiences. We support flexible working and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented including women, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

If you would like an informal discussion, or further information about this role please contact Gavin Armstong, Executive Support Manager View email address on northeastjobs.org.uk

Closing date for applications: 13th September 2026 at 23:59

For further information about the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority please visit our website .

This recruitment is being administered by Durham County Council on behalf of the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.