WHAT IS START NETWORK?

Our purpose is to be a catalyst for system-level change that improves the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of humanitarian action. We do this by working as a network to develop, test & spread new ways of collaborating and resourcing locally-led crisis response and anticipation.

Our current membership is made up of nearly 100 local, national and international NGOs based all around the world. We also support 10 national and regional hubs made up of civil society organisations and NGOs as our vehicle for devolving power, resources and accountability.

OUR SOLUTIONS

DECENTRAISLING & LOCALLY-LED ACTION: Shifting power and resources and decentralising decision-making to locally led networks and organisations.

EARLY & RAPID FINANCING: Building a global financing system that reduces risk, anticipates, and acts ahead of predictable crises.

COMMUNITY-LED INNOVATION: Incentivising innovative, locally led, and contextual solutions and learning from them together with people affected by crises.

For more information about our values and strategic priorities, please visit our website.

JOB PURPOSE

The Executive Assistant provides high quality administrative support to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO). This includes planning, prioritisation and diary management, meetings’ support communications support and other areas of administrative support to the leadership to ensure the smooth running of the organisation.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Planning, Prioritisation and Diary Management

• Manage the CEO’s and CFOO’s diaries.

• Prioritise emails and correspondence, preparing and following up on emails that need to be handled directly or referring issues to appropriate colleagues.

• Advise the CEO and CFOO daily on priority matters.

• Plan weekly to ensure good organisation of meetings, and being knowledgeable of correspondence, history, and context.

Meeting Support

• Coordinate and manage the senior leadership and senior management meetings.

• Coordinate and manage wider team meetings including regular, all-staff team meetings, and leadership briefings.

• Provide proactive meeting support and management, including engagement with external stakeholders, gathering of materials, notetaking and coordinating meeting follow up.

• Work with the company secretary to set meetings for the board and its committee dates.

Communications

• Act as the first point of contact for visitors, taking them to meeting rooms, providing refreshments.

• Produce communications, messages, and materials, including presentations and reports.

Administrative Support

• Arrange travel for the CEO and CFOO, including flights, in-country travel, visa, immunisations, accommodation, insurance, and other travel tasks.

• Provide regular, ad hoc administrative support to aid the delivery of the CEO and CFOO’s priorities and initiatives, working with the team, the Network, and external stakeholders.

• Lead on the organisation of the internal staff social events

• Provide surge administrative support on cross-organisational initiatives.

PERSON PROFILE

Technical Skills

• Previous EA experience.

• Graphic design skills are beneficial but not a requirement.

Personal Skills

• A self-starter and proactive problem solver who enjoys finding ways to make working life easier for others.

• Someone with the right attitude and willingness to learn.

• Attention to detail.

• Impeccable written and verbal communication skills.

• Take responsibility seriously and hold others to account.

• Goal and outcome focused.

• Demonstratable excellent organisational and time management skills

• Confident working based on own initiative.

• Strong IT skills, particularly in video conferencing tools, project management tools, and the Microsoft Office package.

• Great team player with flexibility to adapt to changing demands.

• Proven problem-solving skills.

• Cultural sensitivity to work with a diverse team.

Education/professional skills

• University-level degree, or similar professional qualification.

• Relevant language skills, particularly in French and/or Spanish (desirable).

Key Competencies

• Relationship management.

• Communicating with impact.

• Delivering results.

• Information management.

• Problem solving and decision making.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

• Hybrid working.

• Contributory pension.

• Life insurance.

• Family friendly policies.

• Training and development opportunities

• 25 days’ holiday plus 2 company days over the Christmas period.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

Our UK roles operate under a hybrid working policy, allowing the opportunity to work from home as well as from our Central London office.

Start Network is committed to protecting people, particularly children, at-risk adults and affected populations from any harm that may be caused due to their encountering the Start Network as well as responding effectively should any harm occur. We are also committed to safeguarding staff from any forms of bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power as outlined in the Dignity at Work policy.

Start Network embraces diversity, promotes equality of opportunity and eliminates unlawful discrimination. We are an equal opportunities employer and treat every application on merit alone. We particularly welcome applications from disabled, black, indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC), and LGBT+ and non-binary candidates. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet our essential selection criteria set out in the Skills section.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications and we may review candidates on an ongoing basis, so please apply early where possible to avoid disappointment.