Job Title: Executive Assistant

Actual Annual Salary: £31,954 - £34,860 (CLF Grade D) Based on hours and working weeks.

Contract Type: Fixed Term (Maternity Cover)

Contract Length: Fixed until December 2026 or the return of the substantive postholder.

Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, All Year Round (Term time only will be considered for the right candidate)

Working pattern: 8.00am – 4.00pm or 8.30am – 4.30pm (Please note: there is a requirement for an 8.00am start one Monday per fortnight to support an Executive Team meeting, including minute taking)

Location and flexibility: The main base for this role is the CLF Institute in Redfield, Bristol, and there is an expectation that the successful candidate will work from this office most days each week to support the Executive Team effectively. There is, however, some flexibility to work from home or another CLF site where appropriate, depending on the nature of the work and the location of the Executive Team. Occasional travel to other CLF sites and academies will be required.

Provisional Start Date: ASAP

Your opportunity to support educational leadership and enable excellence across CLF

This is a high-profile opportunity for an exceptional Executive Assistant to join Cabot Learning Federation’s central Executive Assistant team, providing dedicated support to the Education Executive Team, including the CEO, Deputy CEO and Executive Directors. You will play a key role in enabling senior leaders to focus on strategic priorities and delivering positive outcomes for children and young people across the Trust.

Working at the heart of CLF, you will provide confidential, proactive and professional executive support, acting as a trusted point of contact and exercising discretion, empathy and sound judgement. You will collaborate closely with Executive Assistants across Professional Services and Education, building strong relationships across Federation House, The Institute and our academies. The role is primarily based at The Institute, Redfield, Bristol, with occasional travel to other CLF sites.

The Role:

You will provide high-level administrative and diary support to senior leaders, managing complex diaries and inboxes, coordinating meetings and events, taking accurate minutes, arranging travel, and producing high-quality documentation. You will act as a first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, support national education networks, and work flexibly in a fast-paced executive environment while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and professionalism.

This is a role that requires confidence, emotional intelligence and the ability to make informed decisions on behalf of senior leaders where appropriate.

About you:

You will be polished, highly organised and confident supporting senior executives.

You will bring:

• Proven experience providing high‑level administrative or PA support, ideally within education or a similarly complex organisation
• Excellent organisational, time management and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage conflicting and changing demands
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with confidence engaging professionally with stakeholders at all levels
• Advanced IT capability, particularly in Microsoft Office, producing accurate, high‑quality written materials
• Outstanding attention to detail, including confident and accurate minute taking
• A proactive, solutions‑focused approach and commitment to continuous improvement
• Discretion, resilience and professionalism when handling sensitive or complex information
• A positive, empathetic and collaborative style, aligned with CLF’s values and commitment to inclusive education
• A calm, personable and well‑presented manner, with the emotional intelligence required to support senior leaders effectively

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification prior to submitting an application.

Why work in CLF’s Executive Assistant team?

You will be part of a highly regarded central executive support function, working alongside experienced Executive Assistants who enable strategic leadership across the Trust. This is a role where your contribution genuinely matters and where excellence is recognised.

We offer:

• The opportunity to support and work closely with CLF’s most senior educational leaders
• Exposure to strategic decision-making at Trust level
• A collaborative, professional and supportive working culture
• A primarily site-based role at The Institute, with limited home working where appropriate (typically during school holidays)
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities within CLF’s central teams

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more!

Recruitment timeline:

• Closing Date: 28 April 2026 @11.59pm
• Shortlisting: 29 April 2026 
• Interviews: Week Commencing 04 May 2026

We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment.

As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.

Skilled Worker visas cannot be sponsored through this role.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.