Leadership Assistant

Temporary Contract

Job Details

Client: Thurrock Council
Service Area: Chief Executive Office / Executive Support

Hours: 37 hours per week

Working Pattern:
Hybrid working
Minimum 2 days per week in the office
Additional office attendance may be required depending on service needs

Start Date: 17 August 2026
Duration: 24 weeks

Number of Roles: 1

Location

Office Base:
New Road
Grays
Essex
RM17 6SL

Pay

PAYE Rate: £112.18 per day
Equivalent to approximately £15.16 per hour, based on 37 hours per week.

Job Overview

Thurrock Council is seeking a Leadership Assistant to provide professional, proactive and high-quality support to Assistant Directors within the Chief Executive Office.

The role will include business support, diary management, secretariat support, meeting preparation, action tracking, support with reports, wider directorate projects and close collaboration with the Executive Assistant and wider Executive Support Team.

This role requires strong executive support, senior administration, diary management, minute-taking, stakeholder communication, confidentiality, organisation and forward-planning skills.

Important – Please Read Carefully

This is a Leadership Assistant / Executive Support role.

Candidates must be confident supporting senior leaders or Assistant Director-level officers, managing complex diaries, preparing briefings and background papers, providing high-quality secretariat support and following up actions from operational and strategic meetings.

The role also involves acting as a first point of contact on complex issues, supporting Cabinet Member reports, directorate events, service tours and bespoke workstreams.

Candidates without senior administration, PA, executive support, secretariat, diary management, minute-taking or directorate support experience are unlikely to be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Provide effective, proactive and responsive support to Assistant Directors
Support Assistant Directors in the performance of their duties
Act as first point of contact on complex issues
Provide responses on behalf of Assistant Directors where appropriate
Manage diaries efficiently and proactively
Forward plan meetings and key commitments
Arrange briefings and background papers
Ensure Assistant Directors are well prepared for meetings
Arrange cover during periods of absence
Provide high-quality secretariat support to operational and strategic meetings
Plan meeting schedules and requirements in advance
Draft clear minutes, key actions and decision logs
Follow up actions with action owners
Deputise for the Executive Assistant during periods of absence
Work collaboratively with the Executive Assistant
Support high standards of performance and reporting for the Directorate
Help ensure consistency in executive support delivery
Assist with preparation for meetings and engagements
Attend meetings and engagements on behalf of or with Assistant Directors
Lead on wider directorate projects and bespoke workstreams
Support Cabinet Member reports
Organise directorate events and service tours
Work collaboratively with the wider leadership team
Provide high standards of administrative support
Support seamless integration of Council priorities and objectives
Provide DMT meeting cover where required
Take minutes and follow up actions in the absence of the Executive Assistant
Work flexibly and in an agile way according to service need
Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection requirements

Essential Experience & Skills

Executive support, PA, senior administration or leadership support experience
Experience supporting senior managers, directors or Assistant Directors
Strong diary management experience
Experience arranging meetings, briefings and background papers
Experience providing secretariat support
Experience taking minutes for senior or strategic meetings
Experience drafting action logs or decision logs
Ability to follow up actions with senior stakeholders
Strong written communication skills
Strong verbal communication skills
Strong organisational skills
Ability to act as first point of contact for complex issues
Ability to manage competing priorities
Ability to work proactively and responsively
Ability to handle confidential information appropriately
Strong attention to detail
Ability to support reports, events or project workstreams
Ability to work collaboratively with executive support colleagues
Good IT skills
Understanding of data protection and information security
Ability to work hybrid with office attendance in Grays

Desirable

Local authority or public sector executive support experience
Experience supporting Assistant Directors or senior leadership teams
Experience supporting Cabinet Member reports
Experience organising directorate events or service tours
Experience supporting DMT or strategic leadership meetings
Experience deputising for an Executive Assistant
Data Protection Level 1 Training
Experience working in a modern, self-service-oriented executive support structure

Additional Information

Interview will be held online.

Interview will focus on proactive support to Assistant Directors, diary management, forward planning, secretariat support, minute-taking, action logs, deputising for the Executive Assistant, supporting reports and wider directorate projects.

Candidate submission deadline is 12 August 2026.

Disclaimer

On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.

I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.

Job Reference

OR111455