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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support senior leadership with operations, donor stewardship, and logistics for impactful initiatives.
- Company: Join the Rhodes Trust, a charity dedicated to global fellowship and education.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days leave, private health insurance, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a difference in a mission-driven organisation while developing your professional skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in coordination or operations with strong communication and IT skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 50000 £ per year.
£50,000 per annum plus benefits
Permanent, Full Time
Oxford (hybrid)
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. In recent years, we have also partnered with several other remarkable organisations to create the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Atlantic Institute, Schmidt Science Fellows, RISE and Oxford Next Horizons.
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.
- 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.
- Liaise with the Warden's office to ensure coordination and alignment of travel plans.
- 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
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 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
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections and let them know you're on the hunt for a Senior Executive Assistant role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities at places like the Rhodes Trust.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the Rhodes Trust and its mission. Show us that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly aligns with our values of commitment, inclusion, and innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! Whether it’s drafting emails or preparing for interview questions, being clear and professional is key. We want to see that you can handle sensitive correspondence with discretion and empathy.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at the Rhodes Trust.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Executive Assistant and Development Operations Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Executive Assistant and Development Operations Lead role. Highlight your experience in coordination and operations, and show how it aligns with our mission at the Rhodes Trust.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since strong written communication is key for this role, ensure your application is clear and professional. Use examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your ability to produce accurate correspondence and materials.
Highlight Your Organisational Skills: We want to see how you manage multiple priorities effectively. Share specific instances where you've coordinated complex logistics or supported senior stakeholders, as this will resonate well with us.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at the Rhodes Trust.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Rhodes Trust
✨Know the Rhodes Trust Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the mission and values of the Rhodes Trust. Understand their global fellowship programmes and partnerships. This knowledge will not only impress but also help you align your answers with their ethos.
✨Showcase Your Coordination Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past roles where you successfully managed complex schedules or logistics. Highlight your experience with senior stakeholders and how you maintained professionalism in high-trust environments.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities, especially in governance and project support. Think of scenarios where you had to coordinate meetings or manage sensitive communications, and be prepared to explain your thought process.
✨Demonstrate Strong Communication Skills
Since the role involves producing clear correspondence and reports, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Bring samples of your written work if possible, and be ready to discuss how you tailor your communication for different audiences.