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THE SWANAGE RAILWAY TRUST
26,000 per year
Swanage Railway
Full-time
Job Description

Executive Administration Officer

Salary: £26,000
Hours: 30 hours per week (6 hours per day)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Department: Executive Team
Location: Swanage Railway

1. Role Purpose

The Executive Administration Officer provides high-level, proactive administrative
and organisational support to the CEO and the Executive Team (CFO and Chief
Mechanical & Engineering Officer).

This role exists to bring structure, coordination, and efficiency to a dynamic
heritage railway undergoing significant organisational change. You will ensure the
smooth running of day-to-day executive operations, support governance
requirements, and help deliver the 2025–2035 Strategic Plan in line with our core
values of Integrity, Safety, Respect, Education, and Empowerment.

2. Key Responsibilities

Executive Support

•  Provide comprehensive administrative support to the CEO, including diary
management, correspondence handling, meeting preparation, and travel
arrangements.

•  Prepare briefings, reports, presentations, and documentation for internal

and external meetings.

•  Track actions arising from Executive Board, Governance Committees, and

project meetings, ensuring timely progress.

•  Coordinate communication between the CEO, Executive Team, managers,

volunteers, and external stakeholders.

Governance & Compliance

•  Support the preparation of papers for the Trustee Director Board and its

subcommittees.

•  Maintain an accurate archive of governance documents, including policies,

minutes, and statutory records.

•  Assist with annual governance processes such as audit coordination,

reporting cycles, and statutory returns.

•  Always uphold confidentiality and data protection standards.

Organisational Coordination

•  Manage the Executive Team calendar, ensuring key operational, project,

and governance deadlines are met.

•  Support cross-department communication by circulating updates, drafting

internal messages, and coordinating information flows.

•  Provide administrative oversight for strategic projects, including document

control, scheduling, and logistics.

•  Assist with workforce planning processes, recruitment administration, and

onboarding for executive-level appointments.

Office & Systems Administration

•  Maintain accurate digital and paper filing systems and ensure effective

document control.

•  Support the implementation of new processes, systems, and organisational

improvements.

•  Oversee general administrative functions that enable the efficient operation

of the Executive Office.

•  Provide occasional support during events, stakeholder meetings, or VIP

visits as required.

Values & Culture

•  Model the organisation’s values in all interactions: Integrity, Safety,

Respect, Education, Empowerment.

•  Contribute positively to a culture of professionalism, inclusion, and

continuous improvement.

•  Build strong relationships with staff, volunteers, and partners.

3. Person Specification

Essential

•  Proven experience in an administrative, executive assistant, or coordination

role.

•  Exceptional organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to

manage multiple priorities.

•  Strong written and verbal communication skills.

•  High level of accuracy, professionalism, and attention to detail.
•  Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
•  Confident using Microsoft Office, Teams, and document management

systems.

•  A proactive, solution-focused approach and ability to work independently.
•  Ability to build positive, collaborative working relationships across all levels.

Desirable

•  Experience supporting senior leadership or governance bodies.
•  Understanding of charity operations or public-facing organisations.
•  Knowledge of heritage railways, tourism, or visitor experience sectors.
•  Experience coordinating projects or managing documentation workflows.

4. Additional Information

•  The role may involve occasional evening or weekend work to support

governance meetings, events, or operational requirements.

•  The Executive Administration Officer is a key part of the new Executive

Team and will help embed strong governance and professional
management across the railway.

•  Training and development opportunities will be provided, including

customer service, governance, and organisational systems.