At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the CPO by driving outcomes and managing priorities effectively.
- Company: Join Boots, a leading retail organisation with a focus on people and culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous discounts, retirement savings, and enhanced parental leave.
- Other info: Opportunities for growth and influence in a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in shaping the People function and drive strategic initiatives.
- Qualifications: Experience supporting senior executives and strong Microsoft 365 skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded EA to support our Chief People Officer – someone who can go beyond coordination and actively drive outcomes. This role sits at the centre of our People function and plays a critical part in enabling strategic delivery across the business.
What you'll be doing
- Delivering best‑in‑class executive support – anticipating needs, solving problems, and driving execution.
- Act as a true right hand to the CPO, ensuring focus on the highest‑value priorities.
- Drive follow‑through on PLT actions, maintaining momentum and holding stakeholders to account.
- Create high‑quality presentations and materials for Board and executive‑level discussions.
- Translate ideas into structured outputs – turning strategy into clear, actionable plans.
- Identify issues early and proactively drive solutions, not just escalation of problems.
- Bring discipline to time, priorities and decision‑making across the CPO's agenda.
- Act as a connector across the organisation, ensuring alignment and flow of information.
Key responsibilities
- Serve as the primary interface for the CPO, engaging senior stakeholders across the organisation.
- Proactively manage and optimise the CPO's time, ensuring alignment to strategic priorities.
- Prepare high‑impact presentations, briefings and executive materials to a consistently high standard.
- Drive governance and rhythm for the People Leadership Team, including tracking actions and outcomes.
- Manage complex scheduling, travel and logistics.
- Build strong relationships across EA/PA and leadership communities to enable delivery at pace.
- Respond to business‑critical queries with sound judgement and commercial awareness.
- Support delivery of key People initiatives by coordinating activity and ensuring execution.
What you'll need to have (our must‑haves)
- Proven experience supporting a CPO, HR Director or senior executive in a large, matrixed organisation.
- Advanced Microsoft 365 capability – able to build clear, compelling executive‑level narratives.
- Strong commercial judgement with the ability to prioritise based on business impact.
- A highly proactive approach – you anticipate, challenge and drive outcomes.
- Experience operating in a fast‑paced, high‑expectation environment with shifting priorities.
- Excellent stakeholder‑management skills, with confidence engaging at senior levels.
- Strong written and verbal communication, with attention to detail and clarity.
- High levels of discretion, professionalism and trust.
It would be great if you also have
- Experience operating in a strategic support role.
- Track record of contributing to projects or transformation initiatives.
- Background supporting corporate functions within a retail or similarly complex organisation.
Where your brilliance can take you
At Boots, this role offers real exposure and influence. You will be part of shaping how the People function delivers against business priorities, with opportunities to grow your scope and impact over time.
Rewards designed for you
- Boots Retirement Savings Plan (up to 12% company contribution).
- Generous employee discounts for you and a family member.
- Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave pay.
- Access to free, 24/7 counselling and support through TELUS Health, our Employee Assistance Programme.
At Boots, we're proud to be an equal opportunity employer, creating a place where everyone feels welcome, supported, and free to be themselves. We believe that when our people feel valued and included, they thrive, so we're committed to creating a brilliant Boots for our people so they can make a difference for our customers and colleagues every time.
Executive Assistant to Cpo employer: Boots
At Boots, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As an Executive Assistant to the Chief People Officer in Nottingham, you will enjoy generous employee benefits, including a robust retirement savings plan and extensive discounts, while having the opportunity to influence key people initiatives and grow your career within a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Assistant to Cpo
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Boots, especially those in similar roles. A friendly chat can give us insider info and maybe even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the CPO's recent initiatives. We want to show that we’re not just interested in the role but also in how we can contribute to their vision.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice our pitch! We should be ready to explain how our skills align with the job description. Highlight our experience in managing complex schedules and driving outcomes.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed and shows we’re serious about joining the team at Boots.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Assistant to Cpo
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Proactive Side:In your application, make sure to highlight how you've anticipated needs and driven outcomes in previous roles. We love candidates who can think ahead and tackle challenges before they arise!
Craft Compelling Narratives:Since you'll be preparing high-impact presentations, showcase your ability to create clear and engaging narratives. Use examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your advanced Microsoft 365 skills and attention to detail.
Emphasise Stakeholder Management:This role involves engaging with senior stakeholders, so don’t forget to mention your experience in building strong relationships. Share specific instances where you’ve successfully navigated complex interactions to drive results.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to see your application and get you on the path to joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Boots
✨Know Your CPO
Before the interview, do your homework on the Chief People Officer and their recent initiatives. Understanding their priorities and challenges will help you demonstrate how you can support them effectively.
✨Showcase Your Proactivity
Be ready to share examples of how you've anticipated needs and driven outcomes in previous roles. Highlight specific instances where your proactive approach made a significant impact.
✨Master Microsoft 365
Since advanced Microsoft 365 skills are a must-have, prepare to discuss your experience with creating high-quality presentations and executive materials. Bring examples that showcase your ability to turn complex ideas into clear narratives.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Demonstrate your excellent stakeholder management skills by discussing how you've built relationships across different levels in previous roles. Be prepared to explain how you ensure alignment and flow of information in a fast-paced environment.
