Senior Administrator in Croydon, Surrey

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve. We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve. As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff. Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

We are looking for a Senior Administrator to join the CEO's Office, playing a key role in providing high-quality administrative and coordination support to senior leaders across the Federation. You will ensure the smooth running of day-to-day operations, managing priorities, supporting meetings and events and delivering work to a consistently high standard.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Providing high-quality administrative and coordination support to the CEO's Office and senior leaders.
• Preparing, formatting and updating documents, reports, correspondence and presentations.
• Maintaining accurate and accessible electronic and hard-copy filing systems.
• Responding to calls, emails and queries promptly and professionally.
• Supporting day-to-day office operations by managing priorities and tracking actions.
• Coordinating Federation-wide meetings and events, including preparing papers and recording actions.
• Supporting and attending conferences and key Federation events.
• Undertaking ad hoc administrative tasks and project support.
• Facilitating HR administration and onboarding for senior staff.
• Maintaining accurate employee records within Oracle Fusion.
• Supporting payroll changes and ensuring accuracy of submitted information.
• Preparing data for annual salary reviews, including pay and bonus information.
• Managing the annual collection of Declaration of Interest forms.
• Maintaining and updating emergency contact records.
• Setting up and managing the annual leave system (E-days).
• Handling sensitive HR and payroll information with confidentiality and discretion.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience of working in a busy administrative, executive support or office coordination role.
• Experience of handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and using administrative systems.
• Understanding of the importance of safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection.
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders and responding to competing priorities.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage a varied workload and meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to prioritise effectively and use initiative without needing close supervision.
• Ability to follow processes carefully while also identifying where improvements may be needed.
• Ability to produce clear, accurate documents, records, action points and correspondence.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence and professionalism when dealing with senior leaders, colleagues, academies, external organisations and visitors.
• Ability to build and maintain effective professional relationships at all levels.
• Calm, helpful and customer-focused approach.
• Ability to handle sensitive or challenging queries with tact and discretion.

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation. Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date. When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application. A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

Our Vision & Values

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed. We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that's why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

Important Information

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed. The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

What We Can Offer You

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression.
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus.
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution.
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts.
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare.
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice.
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme.
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts.
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees.
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans.