Deputy Executive Assistant to Group Chief Executive Officer - 6 Month FTC

Department:Chief Executive's Office

Location:37 Caledonian Road, N1 9BU - Hybrid (Minimum 3 - 4 day visits to our head office per week)

Salary:Between £60,000 and £62,000 per annum pro rota (depending on experience)

Job Advert Description:

The Institute of Physics (IOP) exists to help our lives, our society and our planet through promoting physics applications and supporting the people behind it.

Working alongside our members and leaders from across the physics community and beyond, we’ve identified three priorities that will shape our work over the next five years: Skills, Science and Society. These priorities sit at the heart of everything we do.

We’re proud of our ambitious and forward looking 2024 – 2029 strategy. You can find out more about our priorities and principles by clicking here.

We’re currently looking for a Deputy Executive Assistant to the Group Chief Executive Officer, offered on a fixed term basis of 6 months, to help us deliver our mission. This a full-time position, 35 hours per week.

What’s it like working at the IOP?

The IOP is a friendly, inclusive and ambitious organisation. Diversity and inclusion are central to how we work. We focus on supporting our people to thrive, offering competitive pay, great development opportunities and a generous benefits package.

Some of our benefits include:

• An excellent pension scheme
• Private medical insurance, life assurance, dental insurance and a healthcare cash plan
• Eye care vouchers, annual flu vaccinations, long service awards and access to an employee assistance programme
• 25 days’ annual leave as a standard, in addition to floating bank holidays
• Flexible working opportunities

The Role

What will I be doing?

You’ll be responsible for a broad range of high‑level Executive Office support activities, including:

• Preparing, coordinating and servicing senior leadership meetings, including drafting clear agendas, collating accurate papers, taking high‑quality minutes and tracking actions with a strong attention to detail.
• Providing high‑quality executive and administrative support to the CEO Office, including complex diary and inbox management, and the drafting, handling and dispatch of correspondence on behalf of the Group CEO with excellent written accuracy and judgment.
• Supporting effective planning, briefing and preparation to ensure the Group CEO is fully equipped for internal and external engagements, with well‑structured briefings and precise, timely documentation.

Projects you may work on include:

• Coordinating national and international travel programmes for the Group CEO, President and senior trustees, producing accurate itineraries and paperwork to ensure effective use of time and seamless stakeholder engagement.
• Supporting the delivery of high‑profile Institute events involving the Group CEO, Executive Team and senior stakeholders, with a strong focus on detail, logistics and written briefings.
• Undertaking short‑term project work and research for the Executive Team, analysing and summarising information clearly and producing briefings, reports or presentations as required.

Who will I work with?

You’ll work closely with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders, including:

• The CEO Office Operations Manager and Executive Assistant to the Group CEO and President, working collaboratively to ensure the smooth, accurate and professional running of the Executive Office.
• Executive Directors, senior trustees and members of the Leadership Team across the Institute and its subsidiary companies, including IOP Publishing.
• Senior internal and external stakeholders, including equivalent CEO offices in partner organisations, government and learned societies, requiring clear, professional written communication and attention to detail.

Ideally, we hope you’ll apply if you bring:

Essential:

• Proven experience providing high‑level PA or Executive Assistant support in a fast‑paced, complex environment, including diary management, meeting support and high‑quality minute‑taking.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, accurate and professional correspondence, briefings and minutes, alongside a consistently high level of attention to detail.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the judgment and discretion to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Advanced IT skills, including confident use of Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel).

Nice to have:

• Experience supporting senior executives or boards within a charity, professional body, membership organisation or similarly complex environment.
• Experience using CRM systems and maintaining accurate electronic records and contact databases.
• A professional qualification as an Executive Assistant or Personal Assistant (or working towards one).

How to apply

Alongside your CV, please include a cover letter explaining how you meet the person specification.

How will I be working?

We operate a flexible, trust based working model that gives colleagues autonomy over how, when and where they work, while recognising the value of in person collaboration. You will be assigned a base office, with hybrid working offered as standard. This role does however involve regular visits to our head office based on business needs. 

You will engage in regular in person collaboration with your team (as operational appropriate), as well as with colleagues across the wider organisation, to ensure effective operational alignment and to support our inclusive approach to working.

As an organization we meet in person once a quarter at our Head Office in Kings Cross, London.

Why join the IOP?

The IOP is the professional body and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. As a charity, we’re passionate about increasing public understanding of physics and supporting a diverse and inclusive physics community. There’s never been a better time to join us, watch our film to find out more about the difference we make.

We’re committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive culture for everyone. If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process, please let us know we’re always happy to help.

Please note whilst we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role, we warmly encourage applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK and Ireland.

Employment Type:Full time

Employment Basis:Fixed Term

Closing date for applications: Monday 13 April 2026 Interviews to be held: First round interview (online with written test): Tuesday 21 April, Second round interview (in-person): Thursday 23 April