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- Tasks: Support senior leadership and manage key operations for impactful global engagement.
- Company: Join the Rhodes Trust, a leading educational charity with a mission to build a better world.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days annual leave, private health insurance, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working environment with excellent career growth and diverse team culture.
- Why this job: Make a difference by supporting innovative programmes that connect compassionate leaders worldwide.
- Qualifications: Experience in coordination or operations with strong communication and IT skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 50000 £ per year.
We are recruiting for a Senior Executive Assistant and Development Operations Lead to join the Rhodes Trust, Oxford. This role plays a pivotal role in enabling the effectiveness and impact of the Chief Engagement and Development Officer and the wider Global Engagement leadership department. We are looking for the successful candidate to start with us as soon as possible.
About the Rhodes Trust
The Rhodes Trust is an educational charity which offers Rhodes Scholarships to exceptional students from around the world to come and study at the University of Oxford. Our mission is to build a better world through global fellowship programmes that develop and connect compassionate, innovative, and public-spirited people committed to solving humanity’s challenges.
The role
This position acts as an operational partner to the senior leadership team, with responsibility for key development operations, donor stewardship processes, senior leadership logistics and governance-related coordination.
The role will be responsible for:
- Executive and Leadership Support
- Proactively manage the CEDO’s diary, inbox, and scheduling, anticipating priorities and easing pressure on senior leadership time.
- Coordinate complex UK and international travel and engagement logistics for the CEDO and other senior team members ensuring arrangements are efficient, well planned and aligned with wider organisational priorities.
- Plan and coordinate internal and external meeting coordination, including preparation of briefing materials, tracking follow-up actions, and supporting effective relationship management.
- Communications, Donor Stewardship, Reporting and Knowledge Management
- Work closely with Relationship Managers to coordinate and deliver bespoke donor reports, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely delivery.
- Prepare condolence letters and other sensitive correspondence with discretion, empathy, and professionalism.
- Take ownership of key development communications and organisational materials, including contributions to the Annual Report, donor publications such as Rhodes Scholar Magazine, rotating website features related to donors, etc.
- Governance, Meetings and Project Support
- Coordinate governance and committee processes end-to-end including agenda planning, paper preparation, accurate minute taking and tracking actions to completion.
- Support the planning and delivery of team meetings, retreats, and key events.
- Provide project coordination support for strategic initiatives led by the CEDO and the Engagement and Development team.
- Other
- Role modelling the Trust’s organisational values of commitment, inclusion, belonging, growth and innovation.
- Carrying out any other duties relevant to the role, as requested.
- A deep commitment to the values, ethos and mission of the Rhodes Trust.
Essential skills, experience and knowledge:
- Demonstrable experience in a coordination, operations, development, governance, or similar role within a complex organisation, with responsibility for delivering work to a high standard and managing multiple priorities.
- Experience working closely with senior stakeholders, exercising discretion, sound judgement, and professionalism in high-trust environments.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing clear, accurate, correspondence, briefings, and materials for internal and external audiences.
- Strong IT skills, with confidence using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and related systems to support effective coordination, reporting, and delivery.
- Experience using databases or CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to support reporting, knowledge management, and data quality, with the ability to turn information into useful, decision-ready outputs.
Benefits of working here
- 30 days annual leave (pro rata) plus 8 bank holidays
- Competitive pension scheme
- Generous family leave schemes
- Private health insurance
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Personal development opportunities
- Additional benefits, such as free access to the University's gardens, parks, libraries and museums, and University staff discounts in shops across Oxford.
- Cycle to work scheme
- Electric car scheme
If you would like to find out more, please click ‘apply’ to view the full job description and to find the link to apply. Please send us your CV and a covering letter. Please note, this advert will close on 3 May 2026. Interviews are expected to be the week commencing 18 May 2026.
If you have any issues with submitting your application, please email the Recruitment team.
The Rhodes Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We warmly welcome applications from talented people of diverse backgrounds and appoint without regard to age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, parental status, marital or civil partner status, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief.
Senior Executive Assistant and Development Operations Lead in Oxford employer: The Rhodes Trust
Contact Detail:
The Rhodes Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Executive Assistant and Development Operations Lead in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees of the Rhodes Trust on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the Rhodes Trust's mission and values. Show us how your skills align with their goals, especially in donor stewardship and governance processes. We love candidates who are passionate about our cause!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! Since this role involves a lot of correspondence and relationship management, being articulate and confident in your responses will set you apart. Consider mock interviews with friends or mentors.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining the Rhodes Trust team. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Executive Assistant and Development Operations Lead in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Senior Executive Assistant and Development Operations Lead. Highlight relevant experience, especially in coordination and operations, and don’t forget to showcase your strong communication skills!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about the Rhodes Trust’s mission and how your skills align with the job. Keep it professional but let your personality come through.
Showcase Your IT Skills: Since the role requires strong IT skills, make sure to mention your proficiency with Microsoft Office and any CRM systems you've used. If you have experience with databases, definitely include that too!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly and is considered promptly!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Rhodes Trust
✨Know the Rhodes Trust Inside Out
Before your interview, take some time to research the Rhodes Trust and its mission. Understand their values and recent initiatives, like the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and Schmidt Science Fellows. This will help you align your answers with their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Coordination Skills
As a Senior Executive Assistant, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully coordinated complex schedules or events. Be ready to discuss how you handle tight deadlines and unexpected changes.
✨Communicate with Clarity and Confidence
Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. You might even want to prepare a brief presentation on a relevant topic to showcase your communication prowess during the interview.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and judgement in high-trust environments. Think of scenarios where you've had to exercise discretion or manage sensitive information. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.