Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide top-notch admin support to the Leadership Team and manage various tasks daily.
- Company: Join Canterbury Cathedral, a historic World Heritage Site and the heart of the Church of England.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working hours, and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Be part of a meaningful mission while developing your skills in a vibrant environment.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and experience in admin roles are essential; IT proficiency is a must.
- Other info: Opportunities for personal growth and networking within a prestigious institution.
The predicted salary is between 26700 - 35600 £ per year.
Remuneration
£31,796
Closing Date
03-Jul-25
Apply now
Canterbury Cathedral
Executive Support Officer
Remuneration
£31,796
Closing Date
03-Jul-25
About Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral is the cathedral of the archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England and symbolic leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Located in Canterbury, Kent, it is one of the oldest Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site.
Summary The Executive Support Officer will provide high quality administrative support to the Leadership Team and Executive Support Office
PRINCIPAL TASKS
Support embedding a healthy culture.
- Working closely with the Leadership Team to establish and embed a healthy culture.
- Commitment to the Cathedrals values and to demonstrate them through professional and generous behaviour.
- To sympathise with the overall mission of the Cathedral
- To demonstrate listening, learning, and a supportive team approach Administrative Support
Administration Support
- Provide high quality administrative support including managing email inboxes, expense processing, drafting reports, letters, and other correspondence on behalf of the Leadership Team
- Extensive diary management
- Act as a first point of contact with internal and external stakeholders, dealing with correspondence and phone calls on a routine basis.
- Answer general questions, filtering routine matters to appropriate parties and follow up to ensure any action needed is taken.
- Organise travel and or accommodation arrangements as may be required from time to time.
- Support the Executive Support Manager in ensuring line managers are briefed prior to attending meetings to understand expectations, duty, and role.
- Undertake research and prepare briefing papers as directed by the Executive Support Manager
- Participate in wider administrative support and cover arrangements as required including events management and reception duties.
- To provide occasional high-level administrative support to the Heads of departments when requested and agreed.
Committee Administration
- Proactively manage the preparation of committee agendas and draft papers in advance of meetings, which have been allocated to you by the Executive Support Manager
- To organise, attend and minute high level complex and sensitive meetings
- To support the Executive Support Manager in maintaining an effective forward plan of future business for Chapter, Committees and Leadership Team
- Co-ordinate and monitor progress on actions agreed by Chapter, Committees and Leadership Team to ensure actions are delivered by the due date.
Business Support
- To provide support to the Events Manager for Cathedral events and provide cover for arranging baptism, wedding, and funerals.
- Support good governance by undertaking tasks allocated by the Executive Support Manager such as maintaining list of committee members and length of tenure for non-executive members of committees.
- To provide cover for other Executive Officers as and when required
- To maintain the stationery store at Cathedral House.
- Assist Heads of Service and managers in collating performance management data across all Cathedral departments
- Assist Heads of Service and managers in preparing and collating plans for the Cathedral such as the Cathedrals Delivery Plan
- To support the issuing of Cathedral Pass.
- To provide cover for the Cathedral House Reception desk.
- Any other reasonable task as required and to work in a flexible way to provide cover for the department.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The personal specification below indicates the qualifications, experience, knowledge, and skills required to undertake the role effectively.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS – A very high standard of written and verbal communication skills
- Experience in a similar position requiring discretion and executive level support.
- Strong administrative background able to work at complex tasks.
- Excellent IT skills including but not limited to Microsoft teams, word, excel and power point.
- Proof reading documents and correspondence to a high standard.
- Information gathering and analysis skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
- High degree of numeracy.
- Take initiative to resolve problems within policies and guidelines.
- Understanding of and sympathy with the aims and purpose of the Cathedral, its mission and ministry.
DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS – Experience of providing PA and secretariat support to a formal board or committee including preparation of papers and minute taking.
- Experience of events management.
- Experience in the use of databases such as Access.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES – Articulate with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Resilient and flexible able to network effectively and externally.
- Maintain confidentiality of all information encountered.
- Self-motivating
- Professional demeanour and ability to defuse sensitive situations in a calm manner.
- Excellent organisational skills
- Proactive, flexible approach and outlook
- Work flexibly and extended hours when necessary
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritising conflicting demands to meet deadlines whilst maintaining ahigh standard of work.
- Have a clear understanding of personal and work-based wellbeing.
- Commitment to teamwork as the best way to deliver and grow.
LOCATION
Canterbury Cathedral Precincts
GRADE
5
EQUALITY STATEMENT
The Dean and Chapter recognises that discrimination and victimisation is unacceptable and that it is in the interests of the organisation and its employees to utilise the skills of the total workforce. It is the aim of the organisation is to ensure that no employee or job applicant receives less favourable facilities or treatment (either directly or indirectly) in recruitment or employment on grounds of age, disability, gender / gender reassignment, marriage / civil partnership, pregnancy / maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
This job description is provided to assist the post holder to know their principal duties. It may be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder, by, or on behalf of, the Head of the Department, without change to the level of responsibility appropriate to the grading of the post.
Our recruiting Approach
As applications are received, interviews may take place prior to the advertised closing date.
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
Remuneration
£31,796
Closing Date
03-Jul-25
Apply now
LNKD1_UKTJ #J-18808-Ljbffr
Executive Support Officer employer: Canterbury Cathedral
Contact Detail:
Canterbury Cathedral Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Support Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Canterbury Cathedral's mission and values. Understanding their culture will help you demonstrate your alignment with their goals during the interview process.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Canterbury Cathedral. They can provide insights into the work environment and expectations, which can be invaluable for tailoring your approach.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience in managing complex administrative tasks. Be ready to share specific examples that highlight your organisational skills and ability to handle sensitive information.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your IT skills, particularly with Microsoft Office applications. Being able to demonstrate proficiency in these tools will be crucial, as they are essential for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Support Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure to thoroughly read the job description for the Executive Support Officer position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, so you can tailor your application accordingly.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise any previous experience in administrative support or similar roles. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the tasks outlined in the job description.
Showcase Communication Skills: Given the importance of communication in this role, ensure that your application reflects your written and verbal communication skills. Use clear, concise language and proofread your documents to avoid any errors.
Align with the Cathedral's Values: Demonstrate your understanding of and commitment to the values and mission of Canterbury Cathedral. In your cover letter, share why you are passionate about supporting their work and how you can contribute to a healthy culture within the organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Canterbury Cathedral
✨Research the Cathedral's Mission
Before your interview, take some time to understand the mission and values of Canterbury Cathedral. This will help you demonstrate your alignment with their goals and show that you are genuinely interested in the role.
✨Prepare for Administrative Scenarios
Given the nature of the Executive Support Officer role, be ready to discuss your experience with diary management, correspondence handling, and committee administration. Prepare specific examples that showcase your organisational skills and attention to detail.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As this position requires high-level written and verbal communication, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. You might be asked to draft a sample email or summarise a complex topic, so be prepared to demonstrate your proficiency.
✨Exhibit Flexibility and Resilience
The role demands a proactive and flexible approach. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed conflicting priorities in the past and how you maintain professionalism under pressure. This will highlight your suitability for the dynamic environment at the Cathedral.
