Executive Assistant

Overview

Executive Assistant to CEO
Zertus UK & Ireland

We’re looking for a highly experienced, professional, and proactive Executive Assistant to support our CEO in a fast-paced, multi-site food manufacturing group. This role is ideal for someone who brings structure, clarity, and calm to complexity, and who thrives on getting things done quickly and efficiently.

You’ll be a strategic liaison and trusted partner, managing a high volume of priorities, coordinating meetings and events, and ensuring the CEO stays on track. You’ll need to be confident using technology and digital tools (including AI-powered platforms) to drive efficiency, streamline admin, and stay one step ahead. You’ll be joining a growing, ambitious group at a pivotal time with a new CEO, an ambitious vision, and a collaborative culture. This is a chance to shape the role, bring your experience to the table, and make a real impact.

Position type Full time, permanent

Working Hours Monday – Friday, 0830 – 1630 (37.5 hours per week)

Pay range up to £43,000 per annum + benefits

Location Hybrid role based between home and our Sherburn in Elmet site with some travel required

Responsibilities

• Acting as a trusted partner to the CEO, handling sensitive information with discretion.
• Managing a complex and fast-moving diary, including internal and external meetings, site visits, and board-level engagements.
• Organise and book UK and international travel and accommodation.
• Coordinating events, meetings, and logistics – this role would suit someone with an events or operations background.
• Handling email triage and follow-up, ensuring nothing is missed.
• Supporting with internal communications and liaising with senior stakeholders across the group.
• Prepare presentations and complex spreadsheets.
• Collate receipts and submit expenses.
• Set agendas and take minutes for key meetings, researching and using new AI tools to stay ahead.
• Handle sensitive and financial information with discretion.
• Support with key tasks, deadlines, and ad-hoc business projects.
• Respond to emails and phone calls professionally.
• A seasoned Executive Assistant or senior-level administrator with experience supporting C-suite or board-level leaders. This role could also suit an events-management professional who is meticulous at planning.
• Passionately organised, structured, and calm under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills – able to build relationships and influence at all levels.
• Comfortable with volume, pace, and ambiguity.
• A practical, hands-on approach.
• Confident using Microsoft Office, AI and modern collaboration tools.
• Demonstrates discretion, trustworthiness and personal integrity.
• Good written and verbal communication.
• Confidential nature due to exposure to sensitive and financial data.
• Able to support change, influence and build relationships at all levels.
• Ability to work flexibly to support business needs as required.
• Able to demonstrate evidence of problem solving.
• Good level of numerical and analytical skill.
• Able to work independently and on own initiative.
• Proactive approach to work and generating ideas – challenges the status quo, suggests new ideas/processes of working.
• Previous experience in similar role within fast paced FMCG.
• Experience of using One Note, Publisher and Team Viewer.
• Preference for a strong interest or experience in working on / with AI alternatives to support day-to-day tasks.
• Pension (4% Employer Contributions) & Life Assurance Scheme at x4 basic salary.
• Health Care Cash Plan via Paycare (physio, dental, optical care…because your wellbeing is important to us).
• Holiday Purchase Salary Sacrifice Scheme – buy up to one extra week per year (subject to meeting minimum criteria).
• Cycle to Work & Electrical Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme – subject to meeting minimum criteria (because the environment is important to us).
• Family friendly policies including hybrid working opportunities and Maternity and Paternity leave above statutory minimum (because family time is important).
• Annual engagement calendar, volunteering days and wellbeing events.
• Monthly employee recognition scheme via the ‘Zertus Values Awards’.
• Recruitment Refer a Friend rewards.
• Training and Development Opportunities (Leadership courses, External qualifications, Professional membership fee\’s).

Zertus UK & Ireland brings together Humdinger Foods, Kinnerton Confectionery, and Lir Chocolates – three brilliant businesses crafting snacks and chocolates that people love. From brands like Lir Chocolates, Kinnerton Kids, NOMO, Sun Valley Nuts, and The Fruit Factory, to exciting collaborations with Bailey’s, Guinness, and Budweiser, we’re all about creating products that delight. We’re part of the Zertus Group, a European network headquartered in Hamburg, with over 2,000 colleagues across the continent.

Zertus is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Your application will be reviewed and entered into the selection process; if successful you will receive a call or email from a member of our Recruitment or HR Team. If successful, you will attend an interview either online or in person.

Please let us know if you require any special arrangements or adjustments to be made for your interview by speaking with the Talent Acquisition team at application stage. The provision of this information is likely to include special category data and is therefore covered by data protection laws. We ask for this information so that we are fully aware of any adjustments needed and we will use the information provided to inform our decisions about making those changes.