Job Vacancy at Save the Children International – Executive Assistant to CPO (October 2026)

Job Details

• Job Title: Executive Assistant to Chief People Officer (CPO)

• Organisation: Save the Children International

• Location: Any approved SCI office location within three hours of UTC

• Work Pattern: Remote, with flexible working options available

• Job Type: Full-Time

• Contract Length: Permanent

• Reports To: Chief People Officer (CPO)

• Language Requirements: English; additional languages are desirable

• Right to Work: Applicants must have the right to work in the country where the role is based for the duration of employment.

1. Team Purpose

The People Team exists to ensure that Save the Children International has the talent, culture, and organisational capabilities needed to deliver positive, lasting change for children.

The team achieves this by attracting and developing high-performing, diverse teams; fostering an inclusive, values-driven culture; strengthening leadership and organisational effectiveness; and ensuring fair, safe, and supportive working environments across all offices and country operations.

Its purpose is to empower colleagues to thrive so that, together, they can maximise their impact on children around the world.

2. Role Purpose

The Executive Assistant to the Chief People Officer (CPO) plays a pivotal role in enabling the success of the People Department by providing comprehensive executive, administrative, organisational, and coordination support.

Working closely with the CPO and the wider People leadership team, the successful candidate will ensure the efficient management of priorities through proactive diary and inbox management, meeting and governance coordination, travel planning, and the smooth delivery of day-to-day operational activities.

The role aims to maximise the CPO’s capacity to focus on strategic priorities by independently managing administrative and logistical requirements with professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.

As a trusted partner, the Executive Assistant will facilitate effective communication, maintain strong stakeholder relationships, coordinate key meetings and governance processes, and contribute to knowledge management across the department.

The role will also support wider People Team initiatives, including onboarding new direct reports of the CPO, strengthening departmental engagement, and coordinating activities that improve organisational effectiveness.

Through excellent organisation, collaboration, and attention to detail, the role contributes to the successful delivery of the People strategy and Save the Children’s mission.

3. Principal Accountabilities

A. Core Executive Assistant Responsibilities

1. Provide proactive, high-quality executive support to the CPO, enabling effective management of priorities and ensuring their time is focused on strategic leadership and organisational objectives.

2. Manage a complex and dynamic diary, coordinating meetings, appointments, and events while balancing competing priorities and ensuring all logistics, briefing materials, and preparatory information are provided in advance.

3. Manage and monitor the CPO’s inbox by responding to, redirecting, escalating, and prioritising communications appropriately, while maintaining an effective filing system.

4. Coordinate domestic and international travel arrangements, including flights, accommodation, visas, itineraries, logistics, and related documentation, ensuring efficient and cost-effective planning.

5. Handle highly sensitive and confidential information with discretion, professionalism, sound judgement, and integrity.

6. Anticipate the CPO’s requirements and priorities, identifying upcoming issues, risks, deadlines, and opportunities to support effective planning and decision-making.

7. Prepare agendas, briefing packs, presentations, reports, and correspondence to a consistently high standard.

8. Track actions, decisions, and follow-up activities arising from meetings, correspondence, leadership discussions, and stakeholder engagements, ensuring progress is monitored and deadlines are met.

9. Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, managing enquiries and communications efficiently while fostering positive working relationships.

10. Prepare and submit expense claims on behalf of the CPO and review expenses requiring approval, ensuring compliance with organisational policies and procedures.

11. Process invoices and procurement-related transactions within delegated budgets, ensuring adherence to financial controls, procurement requirements, and organisational policies.

12. Maintain accurate departmental distribution lists, contact databases, records, and information management systems to support communication and knowledge sharing across the People function.

13. Build collaborative relationships with Executive Assistants and support staff across the organisation to ensure effective coordination, cover arrangements, and alignment of leadership activities.

14. Undertake officer-related duties for the SCA/SCI People Leads Group.

B. Additional Team Support Responsibilities

1. Coordinate and manage People Leadership Team meetings, departmental forums, town halls, workshops, and other key meetings. Responsibilities include scheduling, agenda preparation, collation of papers, distribution of pre-reading materials, note-taking, and action tracking.

2. Support communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing across the People function by maintaining clear information flows, managing shared documentation and resources, and ensuring colleagues have timely access to departmental updates and materials.

3. Assist in maintaining departmental communications, including newsletters, team updates, people announcements, organisational charts, and other communications that support employee engagement and awareness of People initiatives.

4. Support departmental recognition and appreciation activities to promote inclusion, wellbeing, collaboration, and celebration across the People function.

5. Maintain awareness of key People priorities, initiatives, and organisational developments, ensuring the CPO receives relevant information and departmental activities remain aligned with strategic objectives.

6. Contribute to continuous improvement of departmental processes, administrative systems, and working methods to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and service delivery.

4. Experience and Skills

Essential Requirements

1. Demonstrable experience providing executive support to a senior leader.

2. Proven experience managing complex and frequently changing diaries, coordinating meetings across multiple time zones, and balancing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

3. Experience managing high-volume inboxes and exercising sound judgement to prioritise, redirect, and respond appropriately to communications on behalf of senior leaders.

4. Extensive experience planning and coordinating complex domestic and international travel arrangements, including visas, accommodation, itineraries, and logistics.

5. Experience supporting meetings initiated by the CPO, including agenda preparation, coordination of papers, minute-taking, and action tracking.

6. Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple activities simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

7. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft, edit, and proofread documents, presentations, reports, and correspondence to a professional standard.

8. Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive information with discretion, professionalism, and sound judgement.

9. Strong stakeholder management and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues, senior leaders, and external partners at all levels.

10. Ability to work independently, anticipate needs, identify potential issues, and implement practical solutions proactively.

11. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and Excel, together with confidence using digital collaboration and business systems.

12. Ability to learn and use organisational systems and technologies, including financial management, procurement, travel booking, and workflow management platforms.

13. Strong digital confidence and willingness to embrace new technologies, including an interest in using AI and digital tools to improve productivity, efficiency, and working methods.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience supporting a Chief People Officer, HR Director, or equivalent within a People or Human Resources function.

• Experience working in a complex, global, matrixed, or international organisation.

• Familiarity with HR practices, organisational development, employee engagement, or culture-related activities.

• Experience working within a charity.

• An interest in the work undertaken by Save the Children International.

5. Education and Qualifications

Essential

– Educated to degree level and/or holds a relevant professional qualification, or possesses equivalent experience.

Desirable

– Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to executive support, administration, business operations, or governance.

6. Working at Save the Children International

Save the Children is the world’s leading organisation for children, employing approximately 25,000 staff. The organisation works in 116 countries to save children’s lives, fight for their rights, and help them fulfil their potential.

The organisation recognises that its employees play a crucial role in achieving its ambitions for children. It offers a meaningful and rewarding career in a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Employees work alongside talented and committed colleagues who are determined to ensure that all children survive, learn, and are protected.

Their contributions support the organisation’s global strategy, Ambition for Children 2030, and its commitment to reaching every last child.

7. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is central to Save the Children’s vision, values, and global strategy.

Save the Children is committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation that supports every child’s right to survival, protection, development, and participation.

The organisation provides equal employment opportunities regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality, disability, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, caring or parental responsibilities, age, beliefs, or religion.

It actively welcomes applications from underrepresented groups to better reflect the communities it serves.

Reasonable adjustments will be made for candidates invited to interview who require them.

8. Application Information

Applicants must attach the following documents to their applications:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV).

• Cover letter.

A full copy of the role profile is available through the official Save the Children International careers website. Applicants are advised to save a copy because it may no longer be available after the advert closes.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the vacancy may close earlier than advertised depending on the volume of suitable applications. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Candidates who are shortlisted should expect to hear from the organisation within two weeks of the advert deadline.

9. Recruitment Process

The recruitment process consists of the following stages:

1. Application Review: The recruitment team reviews the CV and cover letter.

2. Competency-Based Interviews: Two interview stages with the hiring team.

3. Additional Assessment (if applicable): Some recruitment processes may include an assessment, case study, or third interview stage.

4. Conditional Offer: Successful candidates receive a conditional offer, followed by a contract subject to satisfactory background checks.

Save the Children is committed to safeguarding children and adults. Its selection process includes rigorous background checks to protect children and adults from abuse.

All employees must perform their duties in accordance with the organisation’s Code of Conduct and relevant policies on anti-harassment, health and safety, safeguarding, diversity, equity and inclusion, and equal opportunities.

Save the Children does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

10. How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications through the official recruitment link below.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY