At a Glance
- Tasks: Support a senior leader in a fast-paced environment, managing diaries and communications.
- Company: Join QinetiQ, a leader in defence technology and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous holidays, and health benefits.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Be at the heart of innovation, making a real impact in a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Experience as an Executive Assistant with strong organisational and interpersonal skills.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting-edge defence technology to ground-breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as an Executive Assistant supporting a key member of our Senior Leadership Team at our Farnborough site, where you will play a vital role at the heart of a fast-paced, high-profile environment.
The Role
As an Executive Assistant, you will be a trusted and dependable support to your senior leader, ensuring they are well-organised, well-prepared, and able to focus on delivering business priorities. This is a practical, hands-on role where attention to detail, responsiveness and a willingness to get involved at every level are key to success. This role requires a practical, highly supportive mindset, with a strong sense of ownership and pride in delivery. You will bring consistency and sound judgement helping to create an environment where people feel comfortable, supported and able to engage openly.
Day-to-day, you’ll take ownership of diary and inbox management, create clarity from complexity, and act as a warm, professional and approachable representative of the leadership team. You’ll bring a calm, solutions-focused approach, while maintaining openness, transparency and collaboration across the business, reflecting the leadership style you support.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing a complex and dynamic diary, balancing priorities and ensuring effective use of time
- Filtering and prioritising a high volume of email traffic with sound judgement and responsiveness
- Coordinating meetings, briefings, and travel, ensuring all logistics are handled seamlessly and to a high standard
- Handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion and care
- Supporting an open and transparent working style, enabling collaboration and helping others feel comfortable engaging
- Bringing structure, organisation and focus to a fast-paced environment, ensuring follow-through and attention to detail
- Acting as a professional and approachable point of contact for a wide range of stakeholders, helping to create positive and effective working relationships
- Acting as a trusted extension of the leader, representing their style and values through open, transparent and constructive communication
Essential experience of the Executive Assistant:
- Proven experience supporting a senior leader in a busy, fast-paced environment
- Strong diary and inbox management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and exercise sound judgement
- Experience handling confidential information with a high level of discretion and professionalism
- Excellent organisational skills with a disciplined, detail-oriented and reliable approach
- Strong interpersonal skills, with a warm, approachable and collaborative style that puts others at ease
- High levels of emotional awareness, with the ability to remain calm, constructive and solution-focused in a variety of situations
- A proactive, flexible mindset with a willingness to support across a broad range of tasks, maintaining a positive and helpful approach
This role is 37 hours per week based at our Farnborough site. Occasional travel to other QinetiQ and customer sites will be expected.
Why Join QinetiQ?
As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges. As a QinetiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential.
Our Benefits
- Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
- Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
- Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
- Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
- We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
- Volunteering Opportunities - helping charities and local community
Our Recruitment Process:
We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.
Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.
Executive Assistant in Farnborough employer: QinetiQ Security & Defense Contractors
At QinetiQ, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation. As an Executive Assistant at our Farnborough site, you will benefit from a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a matched contribution pension scheme, all while supporting a senior leader in a fast-paced environment where your contributions are valued. Join us to experience meaningful career growth opportunities and be part of a team dedicated to empowering and protecting lives through cutting-edge technology.
Contact Details:
QinetiQ Security & Defense Contractors Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Executive Assistant in Farnborough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at QinetiQ. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info about the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company culture and values. Show how your skills align with their mission of innovation and collaboration. We want to see that you’re not just a fit for the role, but for the team!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, but keep it natural. We love authenticity! Be ready to share examples of how you've handled complex situations or supported senior leaders in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows you’re keen and professional, which is exactly what we’re looking for in an Executive Assistant.
We think you need these skills to ace Executive Assistant in Farnborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Executive Assistant role. Highlight your experience in diary management and handling confidential information, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Skills:Use specific examples to demonstrate your organisational skills and ability to prioritise effectively. We want to see how you've tackled complex situations in the past and what solutions you came up with.
Be Professional Yet Approachable:Remember, this role is all about being a warm and professional representative of the leadership team. Let your personality shine through while maintaining a level of professionalism in your written application.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves and helps us get to know you better!
How to prepare for a job interview at QinetiQ Security & Defense Contractors
✨Know Your Leader
Before the interview, take some time to research the senior leader you'll be supporting. Understand their leadership style, priorities, and any recent projects they've been involved in. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in supporting them.
✨Master Diary Management
Since diary management is a key part of the role, be prepared to discuss your strategies for managing complex schedules. Bring examples of how you've successfully balanced competing priorities in the past, and be ready to demonstrate your organisational skills during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Discretion
Handling sensitive information is crucial for an Executive Assistant. Be ready to share experiences where you've maintained confidentiality and exercised sound judgement. This will reassure the interviewer that you can be trusted with important matters.
✨Emphasise Your Interpersonal Skills
As an Executive Assistant, you'll need to build strong relationships with various stakeholders. Highlight your warm and approachable nature during the interview. Share examples of how you've fostered collaboration and created a positive working environment in previous roles.
