About this role
Job summary
The postholder will be joining the newly established Office of the Chief Operating Officer at an exciting time. The Executive Assistant (EA) plays a critical role within the Chief Operating Officer's Private Office, supporting the Chief Operating Officer (COO) with the effective management of their time and workload, ensuring maximum benefit to the Trust. The role enables the COO to operate effectively across the organisation and with external partners.
Please note: We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Interviews will be held W/C 24th August 2026 in person.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will be expected to stay abreast at all times of the strategic priorities of the COO in order to anticipate their requirements. They would act as the first point of contact for the COO for all internal and external visitors and patients, and liaise with a variety of stakeholders at a senior level, promoting and protecting the reputation of the Trust at all times.They will provide high-quality secretarial and administrative support, exercising initiative, discretion and independent judgement in managing priorities, coordinating complex activities and making the best use of the COO's time, in conjunction with the Business Manager to the COO. The postholder will be expected to develop effective working relationships at all levels across the Trust and with key external partners, as well as be able to influence and have the confidence to challenge information and explanation supplied by others who may be experts in their field.
About us
Our strategy 2023-2028 outlines how we plan to achieve this, and is centred upon three missions focused on:
Our care- delivering outstanding emergency and urgent care whenever and wherever needed. Our organisation- being an increasingly inclusive, well-led and highly skilled organisation people are proud to work for. Our London- using our unique pan-London position to contribute to improving the health of the capital. To achieve these three missions we have set ourselves 50 commitments to deliver over the next five years. In developing these ambitious commitments, we have engaged extensively both inside our organisation, with our partners and with our patients, and we have analysed population trends and horizon scanned the future.
Job description Job responsibilities
Deliver professional, responsive and high-quality executive support to the COOEnsure effective management of the COOs time through proactive diary planning and prioritisation.As an ambassador for the COO, promoting and protecting the reputation of the Executive and Trust at all times, reflected in internal and external stakeholder views.Effective and proactive support to the COO in managing their workloads and priorities to ensure timely and high-quality deliverables.Development of effective working relationships at all levels across the Trust and with key external partners.Ensure correspondence enquiries and actions directed to the COOs Office are managed efficiently and resolved within agreed timescales.Demonstrate sound judgment when managing confidential, politically sensitive or complex information.Contribute to the effective operation of the wider Executive Leadership Team support function through collaborative working, knowledge sharing and a can do attitude.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Accreditations, Education Essential
Substantial experience in a PA or similar support role to a Chief Operating Officer or Executive Director Relevant secretarial qualification covering advanced IT skills Excellent secretarial and administrative skills, underpinned by practical experience. Excellent keyboard skills with advanced use of IT packages including MS Outlook, MS Office and video conferencing technology such as MS Teams and Zoom.
Experience Essential
Experience of working in a support role at Chief Operating Officer level / with senior managers Experience of organising conferences/events for large groups, including liaison with external venues, provision of materials and coordination of arrangements Experience of handling complex and highly sensitive enquiries from internal and external stakeholders and members of the public Experience of supporting more than one person at a time and effectively multi-tasking Experience of working proactively and on own initiative under significant pressure. Experience of managing actions to timely and quality completion
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Ability to proactively manage complex and rapidly changing diaries and situations, requiring significant mental resilience Ability to work accurately and effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines in a pressured and demanding environment. Ability to deploy interpersonal, negotiation, influencing and conflict management skills, where the subject matter is complex and/or sensitive
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Address Trust HQ
220 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8SD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)