Executive Assistant in London

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Humanity Insured is a not-for-profit incubated by Howden and launched with the support of 6 other insurance firms in September 2024. Its aim is to alleviate poverty using the tools of the insurance industry and makes insurance solutions accessible to those most vulnerable to climate shocks. To date, Humanity Insured has made 16 grants to 16 countries, protecting 2 million people. We provide grants to subsidise insurance premiums, increase resilience, and fund climate modelling. All grants benefit one or more of the following communities, living in countries that are eligible for Official Development Assistance:

• Urban informal workers
• Coastal communities
• Smallholder farmers
• Displaced people

We prioritise the needs of women and girls across all focus communities.

Joining Humanity Insured means contributing to work that has tangible, real-world impact, helping individuals to rebuild, recover, and thrive when facing climate volatility. We operate at an intersection of philanthropy, insurance, and finance, collaborating with global partners. This provides a unique opportunity to gain exposure to a range of industries and a broad portfolio of projects across geographies. The Chief Executive also has an advisory role within the global insurance broker, Howden, offering great insight into the commercial insurance sector and senior stakeholders within a leading international firm. As part of a small and growing charity, every team member has a meaningful role. You will be able to take ownership and define your position as EA as the organisation evolves. We work closely as a team and have built a supportive, collaborative environment where ideas are valued and every voice is heard. Working at Humanity Insured offers the chance to combine a purpose-driven career whilst contributing to solutions that help people on the climate frontline.

We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Executive Assistant to support the Chief Executive of Humanity Insured. We are specifically looking for a highly capable EA who is ready to hit the ground running. This role requires exceptional attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and strong communication skills. Please note this is a full-time, permanent role based in our Central London office. Following a hybrid work pattern, the expectation is to be onsite 3 days per week.

What you’ll be doing:

• Managing the Chair/Chief Executive’s inboxes, prioritising urgent matters and responding to routine enquiries where appropriate
• Managing diaries and scheduling meetings to ensure effective time management
• Assessing meeting requests, delegating where appropriate, and ensuring focus on high-value engagements
• Liaising with internal teams and external stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and collaboration
• Supporting the drafting of emails and correspondence
• Acting as the first point of contact for complex tasks and problem-solving, using initiative and resourcefulness to assist the Chair/Chief Executive
• Preparing briefing materials for meetings, events, and speaking engagements
• Working with internal teams to compile relevant background, key messages, and objectives
• Preparing documentation, including reports, presentations, and correspondence, ensuring accuracy and professional formatting
• Taking and distributing accurate meeting minutes, ensuring follow-up actions are tracked and completed
• Attending selected meetings, capturing actions and ensuring follow-up is completed
• Providing support in planning key initiatives and coordinating subsequent diary management
• Coordinating domestic and international travel arrangements, including visas, itineraries and accommodation, and preparing detailed travel briefings
• Organising offsites and events throughout the year, ensuring smooth planning and execution
• Managing expenses, processing invoices, and maintaining financial records for the department
• Supporting onboarding processes for new team members and facilitating introductions
• Maintaining strong attention to detail throughout all tasks and upholding the professional brand of the business

What qualifications we’re looking for:

• Exceptional judgment, intuition, and high levels of common sense
• Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail
• Ability to manage competing priorities and stay calm under pressure
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills
• High level of discretion and ability to handle confidential information
• Proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate needs and solve problems independently
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well with senior stakeholders
• Comfortable with scheduling, correspondence, meeting preparation, and general administrative support
• Highly dependable, resourceful, and able to follow through on tasks
• Self-motivated individual, able to manage their own workload as well as the Chair/Chief Executive
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion
• Experience supporting an executive, team, or busy office environment is welcome
• Secretarial, administrative, or coordination experience is a plus
• A university degree or relevant professional qualification is welcome, but not essential

Diversity and Inclusion: We value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality type’. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new
• We support each other, in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges
• We are determined to make a positive difference, at work and beyond

We consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.

Reasonable adjustments: We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.

Our sustainability promise: We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world.