Associate, Office of the CEO & Strategic Initiatives in London

Join a team which leverages media, legal and data-driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business. We are the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, one of the world’s leading content and technology companies. A registered charity in the UK and the USA, our expertise is embedded across the globe.

For more than 40 years, we have promoted the highest standards in journalism by training reporters around the world to cover issues relevant to their local context, accurately and impartially. Today, we aim to foster free, fair, and informed societies by harnessing the power of the media, the law, and data intelligence.

We do this by informing, empowering and equipping key actors working in our areas of focus so that their decisions can have a positive impact on people, society and the environment. Our unique combination of media and legal expertise enables us to deliver targeted capacity-building programmes, research, news, legal support and convenings that support our mission. Together, we can shape a prosperous planet where no one is left behind.

We are seeking an Associate, O-CEO & Strategic Initiatives to join the Foundation. This role exists to maximise the effectiveness of the CEO and senior leadership by combining high‐quality executive support with analytical insight and delivery discipline across priority initiatives. Acting as a Business Analyst for the team, the role will have a constant finger on the pulse of our internal and external operating environment, helping to ensure these insights translate to meaningful action. Reporting to the Foundation’s Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives, you will work closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to facilitate the effective delivery of our leadership function, ensuring that time and resources are managed efficiently to help meet the CEO’s priorities.

About the Role

• CEO Support, Leadership Enablement and Governance: Acts as the Executive Assistant to the CEO: Effectively owns the CEO’s calendar and inbox, flagging issues and providing solutions, and understanding how engagements help (or don’t) meet organisational objectives. You will anticipate needs, define and brief on the CEO’s role and input ahead of meetings, conduct periodic calendar audits, assess productivity, and identify areas for improvement.
• Corporate governance and leadership support: Manage the Foundation's board meeting agendas and coordinate board papers; manage relationships with Foundation Trustees and Directors.
• Organise and manage Leadership Meetings: Planning these effectively, setting agendas and tracking actions, working closely with the Chief of Staff to ensure key priorities are followed through and owners are accountable.
• Wider diary management, logistical and administrative support: Alongside your core duties optimising the time of the CEO, provide light-touch diary management for the Office of the CEO & Strategic Initiatives, CFO and Director of Business Development, managing expenses, and handling additional logistical matters as required. Supports the CEO Office with travel planning & diary management.

Strategic Insight, Executive Positioning and Project Management:

• Act as a Business Analyst for the unit: offering regular competitor and stakeholder insights, alongside horizon scanning for key opportunities (events, profile engagements, lead generation). Provides project management of key internal and external initiatives, coordinating cross functional stakeholders and ensuring accountability.
• Enhanced Business Development alignment: Work with the Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives to strengthen alignment between CEO priorities, business development activity, and the Foundation’s external positioning.
• Executive communications support: Collect and develop Foundation materials (presentations, spreadsheets, data visualisations), assist in research and intelligence gathering, horizon scan for speaking opportunities, and support internal and external communications. Supports internal communications, working with the team to ensure messages reflect CEO priorities and meet staff needs.
• Event logistics and execution: Project manage quarterly Town Halls logistics, coordinate Foundation Awards, organise End of Year Events, and manage other organisational events logistics as needed. Support the effective delivery of external events and speaking engagements that have CEO-level engagement.

About You

This role will suit someone who thrives in proximity to senior decision‐making, enjoys bringing clarity to complexity, and takes pride in enabling others to perform at their best. To be our Associate, Office of the CEO & Strategic Initiatives, you will:

• Have a strong understanding of the Foundation’s work and how your role helps to enable our wider success.
• Be comfortable blending traditional executive support with strategic and analytical responsibilities – this role will suit someone who is happy to switch between detail-oriented execution and big-picture thinking.
• Possess solid business acumen, strong analytical skills, and administrative excellence.
• Have excellent organisational and communication skills, able to translate complex ideas into actionable insights.
• Demonstrate initiative and take responsibility for projects and activities.
• Be resilient under pressure, with the confidence to work with senior stakeholders, using your judgement and discretion to assess opportunities and push back where necessary.
• Be able to demonstrate knowledge of operational dynamics and nuances, and the ability to prioritise interactions to maximise time and enhance efficiency based on business needs.
• Be keen to use the role as an opportunity to learn about decision making and accountability at the highest level in a global Foundation, identifying opportunities for development and growth.

Global Perspective and Impact:

• Unique Approach: Our expertise in media and the law is world class. We combine the power of both to address the critical issues faced by humanity.
• Our Relevance: With a focus on advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights, our work has never been more needed than right now.
• Industry Competitive Benefits: We offer competitive salary packages and market-leading benefits.
• Learning & Development: We are dedicated to the continual professional development of our employees and offer access to both in-house and external training opportunities.

About Thomson Reuters Foundation

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. As an independent charity, registered in the UK and USA, we leverage our media, legal and data driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business. Through news, media development, free legal assistance and data intelligence, we aim to build free, fair and informed societies.