The Role
We are seeking a highly organised and efficient Executive Assistant to support our Dubai-based Senior Managing Directors (SMD), Chief Operating Officer, and their team. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved with a team in a fast paced, high growth business.
This is a busy and varied role which requires experience supporting a team in a fast paced environment, who can bring exceptional organisational and communication skills. The ideal candidate will have experience in similar teams and enjoy a role where an ability to multi-task and liaise effectively with people of all levels across different organisations, countries and cultures is key.
You should be able to pre-empt issues or problems before they arise and work closely with your SMDs in helping them to find solutions. You will also be responsible for building relationships with counterparts at client organisations and across the Teneo network globally.
Key Responsibilities
- Main point of contact when the SMDs are unavailable – dealing with very senior international personnel on their behalf.
- Holds key relationships with counterparts EAs/PAs at client offices and builds knowledge of key clients.
- Looks ahead and is responsible for the proactive management of SMDs’ calendars.
- Anticipates diary/calendar changes and responds accordingly.
- Manages and coordinates flight and other travel activities, ensuring timely preparation whilst adhering to the firm's travel policy to ensure cost efficiencies at all times. Assisting with the preparation of any travel-related visa applications and other protocols.
- Stay ahead of the SMDs and anticipate their needs, taking responsibility for filtering, prioritising and escalating issues as appropriate and recommending solutions to issues.
- Manages business-sensitive information in a professional manner and maintains highest levels of confidentiality.
- Supports other EAs during times of leave or sickness and creates a supportive and efficient environment for the wider support team to work in.
- Is flexible and adaptable in taking on new tasks or supporting other areas of the business when required.
- Leads by example, including demonstrating teamwork with colleagues and participating in support team meetings or events to enhance the office environment.
- Demonstrates a collegiate and collaborative style, actively getting to know peers across the consultancy and using this to better understand all areas of our offer.
- Supports a learning culture and plays an active role in sharing knowledge and insight, as well as attending relevant training.
- Is committed and enthusiastic and creates an environment which is client-centric, focused and reflects the importance of our relentless focus on clients.
- Creates a positive and highly professional atmosphere with a can-do attitude, always focused on pre-empting issues/problems and being solutions-focused.
- Sources information/documents and pre-brief material from relevant sources ahead of meetings to prepare the SMDs.
- Actively finds solutions to enable the SMDs to complete tasks or attend meetings.
- Supports senior leaders directly with their clients and teams and where necessary providing administrative and, presentation support to ensure client projects can be delivered at times of time pressure or resource constraints.
- Organise events to include client lunches, dinners and any other ad hoc client entertainment.
- Organise team meetings, coordinating any data documentation for discussion.
- Manage, coordinate and process all expenses in a timely manner.
Key Skills & Experience
- First-class Executive Assistant experience from a professional services environment with demonstratable exceptional communication and organisation skills.
- Has extensive experience supporting business leaders in senior management.
- Becomes quickly familiar with the Teneo brand and quality guidelines/IT systems and kit, administrative processes and Teneo internal systems.
- Has extreme attention to detail and superior organisational skills in pursuing and completing, to full resolution and satisfaction, multiple and overlapping tasks.
- Uses knowledge of the business to support the Senior Managing Directors and their small team.
- Liaises with, builds and maintains relationships with key contacts – both internal and external.
- Is aware of current policies such as travel, expenses, gifts, and entertainment etc.
- Professional telephone manner
- Diplomatic, discreet, polite and patient.
- Must have an adaptable, keen and flexible approach.
- Accurate typing
- Advanced Outlook skills (proficient use of email, calendar, internet and intranet essential)
- Intermediate IT skills in MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint essential