Senior Officer - Executive Office (2 years fixed term contract)

Girls Not Brides is the only global organisation uniquely focused on creating and sustaining a worldwide movement to end child, early and forced marriage and unions (CEFMU) and ensuring that this movement leads to tangible change for the girls at risk or affected by the practice. We are a network of more than 1,400 civil society organisations in nearly 100 countries working in partnership to end child marriage.

Our vision is a world without child marriage where girls and women enjoy equal status with boys and men and can achieve their full potential in all aspects of their lives. Our vision challenges deeply embedded social norms that harm the lives of girls, women, and their communities.

INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLE

This is an exciting time to join Girls Not Brides as we are currently in the process of reviewing our strategy for the next 5 years. The Senior Officer- Executive Office plays a vital role in providing high-level strategic, operational and administrative support to the Chief Executive Officer. This position is central to the smooth functioning of the CEO’s office, enabling the CEO to focus on leading the organisation effectively and with impact. The ideal candidate will be proactive, exceptionally organised, discreet, and able to anticipate needs in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

In addition to supporting the CEO directly, the Senior Officer- Executive Office will also play a key role in facilitating the CEO’s engagement with the Senior Leadership Team and the Board of Trustees. This includes contributing to strategic planning, project coordination, internal communications, and leadership governance processes.

ABOUT YOU

We are seeking a Senior Officer- Executive Office with strong experience supporting CEOs, senior leaders and Boards. You will be proactive and independent: an instinctive problem-solver with experience in designing and deploying easy-to-use systems and processes to support effective communication and project delivery within and beyond senior leadership, the Board, and wider team members.

You will support leadership to prioritise projects and tasks in a complex, fast-paced environment.  This role requires sound judgement, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage sensitive information with professionalism and confidence. You will be motivated by the mission of Girls Not Brides and dedicated to working within a diverse team.

The successful candidate must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of applying and for the duration of the contract.

Fluency in English is essential for this role.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic and Project Management

• Assist the CEO in tracking strategic priorities and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Support key projects or initiatives driven by the CEO and the SLT office, including special assignments or donor/stakeholder engagement for example supporting development and coordination of end child marriage Global leaders Forum.
• Provide oversight of internal and external communications requiring the CEO's input or signature.

External Engagement and Relationship Management

• Work closely with the External Engagement team to support and enhance the CEO’s external profile, including media, public appearances, keynotes, and thought leadership opportunities.
• Manage and update the CEO’s social media handles (e.g., LinkedIn, Twitter/X), in coordination with the Communications team, to reflect the strategic positioning of the organisation.
• Monitor media and public engagement metrics related to the CEO and propose content ideas aligned with organisational goals.
• Represent the CEO’s office in internal and external engagements with professionalism and confidentiality.
• Support the CEO’s participation in global forums, strategic partnerships, and high-level convenings.

Governance and Leadership Coordination

• In close collaboration with the Director of Operations and Finance, support the Board recruitment process, including conducting due diligence, managing conflict of interest declarations, and ensuring robust compliance and documentation.
• Lead the planning and coordination of induction and onboarding for new Board members, including the facilitation of any required training such as safeguarding, governance responsibilities, and organisational policies.
• Support the review and update of the organisation’s Articles of Association, working in liaison with legal counsel to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and alignment with organisational priorities
• Liaise with SLT members to ensure the effective delivery of Board and Committee meetings, including preparing high-quality papers and presentations, maintaining records, tracking actions, and supporting timely follow-up.
• Provide executive support to the CEO, including coordinating AMT, SLT and Board meetings, minute-taking, managing follow-ups, and ensuring team-wide communication flows smoothly.

Executive Support

• Act as both a gatekeeper and gateway to the CEO, exercising sound judgment in managing access and prioritising engagements, while nurturing trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment, efficiency, and strategic connectivity.
• Ensure the CEO is well-prepared for meetings by providing timely and accurate briefings, agendas,  relevant materials.
• Liaise with internal teams and external stakeholders to coordinate meetings, events, and engagements involving the CEO.
• Manage the CEO’s global travel, events and calendars.
• Manage CEO expenses and budget-related documentation and ensure accurate financial tracking for the CEO’s office.

Internal communications

• Lead on the delivery of internal communications to all team members, gathering inputs and updates from all teams and producing a regular internal staff newsletter
• Working with other teams, support the coordination and delivery of team-wide convenings and events.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

 Essential experience

• A minimum of 7 years extensive professional experience in a similar role working directly with a high-performing leadership team and Board.
• Significant experience managing Board and governance processes, documentation, and communication flows.
• Strong track record in internal communications processes for diverse, multi-cultural teams.
• Advanced level in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Exceptional and demonstratable experience with or knowledge of project management tools/ software and management systems and procedures.
• Strong ability to be proactive and take initiative.

Essential skills and knowledge

• High level of professionalism, integrity and confidentiality in handling sensitive information and in compliance with GDPR.
• Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills, with strong copyediting and an ability to write concisely for diverse audiences.
• Highly organised, with excellent time management, strong work ethic and attention to detail in order to meet deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving skills, an instinct to assist others, and the ability to work proactively and independently.
• Proven ability to work calmly and flexibly within a busy environment, multitask, and to adjust quickly when priorities change.
• Strong knowledge of UK Charity Commission guidance and requirements for non-profit Boards and governance.

Please see our website for the full job description.

Girls Not Brides is an equal opportunities employer. We embrace diversity, equal opportunity and inclusion in a serious way. We are committed to building a staff body that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

The successful candidate must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of applying and for the duration of the contract.

The closing date for this role is 23:59 GMT on 10th August 2025.

Interviews will commence on 19th and 20th August.

To apply, please click on the 'Apply now' button on the job page and submit your CV and a brief cover letter, clearly demonstrating how you meet the criteria.

We encourage all candidates to apply as soon as possible, as we may close this vacancy early if we receive a very high number of applications and won't be able to accept further submissions.