Executive Assistant to CFO & CSD - Temporary up to 6 months (Internal only)

Executive Assistant to CFO & CSD - Temporary up to 6 months (Internal only)

Internal vacancy

The RNLI actively promotes continuous development within the organisation and is only seeking applications from current RNLI employees and volunteers at this time. If this position is not filled internally it may be re-advertised openly. #LI-DNI

Are you interested in the bigger picture? Do you want an insight into strategic development at Executive Team level? Keen to raise your profile? Are you looking to develop the breadth of your skills and knowledge and are you the kind of person prepared to rise to a challenge and really make a difference?

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue.

We’re looking for an Executive Assistant (temporary up to 6 months) to provide strategic, confidential and high-level executive support to our Chief Finance Officer & Corporate Services Director (CFO & CSD) in our Finance & Corporate Services team. The role supports the RNLI by enabling the CFO and CSD, and where required, their Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to operate effectively and focus on delivering critical organisational outcomes.

This is a very rewarding role and could be a fantastic development opportunity for someone.

Some of the benefits

• Salary Grade E
• Flexible working
• 26 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Competitive pension scheme (employer contributions of up to 10% of basic salary)
• Life assurance
• Health cashplan option

Your Role

As Executive Assistant, you will represent the Directorate with professionalism across internal and external engagements, and as a trusted partner to the CFO & CSD, play a key role in enabling strategic alignment, operational excellence, and governance compliance.

You will be tasked with focus on the following areas:

• Play a key role in supporting the Chief Finance Officer & Corporate Services Director, managing a busy and fast‑moving diary, inbox and meeting schedule - with plenty of opportunity to grow your confidence in high‑level executive support.
• Help shape how the Director shows up across the organisation by preparing clear, polished briefings, presentations, speeches and written communications.
• Support smooth and effective governance by coordinating Board and Committee papers, agendas and minutes, and keeping key performance, risk and reporting information up to date.
• Build strong working relationships across the Directorate and wider RNLI, helping to connect teams, share clear communications, and represent the Director’s Office in a professional, approachable way.
• Work alongside HR and Finance Business Partners to support people and financial processes, champion better ways of working, and coordinate directorate‑wide events, meetings and socials that bring our teams together.

About You

You’ll be an excellent communicator and relationship builder, confident in leading delegated projects as well as thriving under pressure and able to manage competing priorities against tight deadlines.

To be considered as the Executive Assistant you will need:

• Strong administrative or customer‑facing experience, with either existing exposure to supporting senior leaders or a keen interest in developing the confidence and capability to step into an Executive Assistant role.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt tone for different audiences, using good, values‑led judgement about what to share and showing calm, compassionate professionalism in all interactions.
• Great IT capability, including confident use of Microsoft Office and a willingness to learn new digital tools and systems.
• Ability to coordinate information and communications across busy teams, ensuring clarity, accuracy and timely follow‑up in a complex environment.
• A solid understanding of people processes (or the appetite to build this quickly), such as recruitment, onboarding, absence and organisational change.

If this sounds like you, please apply via the button shown.

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.