PA to People Senior Leadership Team in Woking

At McLaren, our mission is to set the standard for high performance in sport. And everyone, in every part of the team, has a role to play. So if you want to test your ideas with the world watching... And measure your progress in milliseconds... And play your part in racing history... You belong here. High performance starts with you.

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Associate, PA provides high‑quality, proactive executive support to the People Senior Leadership Team (SLT), enabling effective leadership delivery across the People function. The role has primary responsibility for diary management for the Chief People Officer (CPO), working under the direction of the Business Manager to the CPO, alongside full diary and administrative support for the People SLT. Through strong judgement, coordination, and attention to detail, the role ensures leadership time is used effectively and aligned to strategic people priorities. Operating with discretion and professionalism, the role manages sensitive people‑related matters with confidence and integrity. Working in close partnership with the Business Manager to the CPO, the role provides consistent, efficient support across the People leadership population, contributing to a well‑run and highly effective leadership environment.

Role Dimensions

• Primary diary management support for the Chief People Officer, under the direction of the Business Manager to the CPO.
• Full diary and administrative support for the People Senior Leadership Team.
• High exposure to confidential people, organisational, and leadership matters.

Principal Accountabilities

Executive & Leadership Support

• Proactively manage complex diaries for the People SLT, ensuring alignment to strategic priorities, key people cycles, and leadership commitments.
• Provide primary diary management support to the CPO, working closely with the Business Manager to prioritise activities, resolve conflicts, and optimise time allocation.
• Coordinate People SLT meetings, leadership forums, and cross functional sessions, ensuring clear agendas, materials, and follow ups.
• Anticipate and manage scheduling challenges across multiple senior leaders, making informed decisions to protect time for strategic activity.
• Prepare briefing packs, presentations, and supporting materials for internal and external engagements where required.

People Leadership Coordination

• Act as a central coordination point for People leadership activity and key People processes.
• Support coordination of key People cycles including performance, talent, and engagement activity.
• Track actions arising from People SLT meetings and ensure timely follow‑up with action owners.
• Support coordination of People engagement activity, including town halls, leadership offsites, and team events.

Stakeholder & Communication Management

• Build strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across the organisation.
• Act as a key liaison between People SLT members and internal or external stakeholders.
• Support preparation and distribution of leadership updates and People communications where required.
• Maintain discretion and professionalism when handling confidential employee and organisational information.
• Work closely with the Business Manager to the CPO to ensure alignment of priorities, communications, and scheduling.

Operational & Administrative Excellence

• Manage travel, expenses, and logistics for People SLT members, ensuring efficiency and cost awareness.
• Coordinate meetings end to end (rooms, AV, catering, virtual logistics).
• Maintain organised documentation, records, and systems within the People function.
• Support budget tracking and supplier coordination where required, in partnership with the Business Manager.
• Provide flexible support across the EA/PA community and cover where needed.

Continuous Improvement & Projects

• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and ways of working.
• Support the Business Manager and People SLT on ad hoc projects and priorities.
• Work collaboratively with Executive Assistants where stakeholder groups or priorities overlap.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Proven experience as a PA or Executive Assistant supporting multiple senior leaders.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence engaging stakeholders at all levels.
• High level of discretion and experience handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised, methodical, and detail‑oriented.
• Proactive and able to anticipate needs ahead of time.
• Calm and resilient under pressure.

What McLaren Offers

We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part. We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace. McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking. Here at McLaren, we offer hybrid working with 3 days a week based in the MTC. Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break‑out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.