Executive Support Officer
| Posting date: | 23 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £28,636 to £30,394 per year |
| Additional salary information: | (For exceptional performers, there is scope for further progression up to £34,953 per annum) |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 07 April 2026 |
| Location: | Derby, Derbyshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | University of Derby |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 0034-26 |
Summary
We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
About the College/Department
The Executive Services team provide professional, executive level assistance and support to members of the University’s Executive Board (“UEB”), the senior leaders of the University. This is a busy yet exciting and diverse team to be a part of, working with colleagues within both the University and externally.
About the Role
We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Executive Support Officer to join our Executive Services team, playing a pivotal role in supporting senior leadership and driving key institutional priorities.
In this dynamic and varied role, you will provide a comprehensive, high-level support service to members of the University Executive Board (UEB) and the wider Executive Team. Your responsibilities will include complex diary management, coordinating and servicing meetings and committees, organising events, arranging travel, and monitoring action plans to ensure timely delivery of key objectives.
Acting as a central point of contact, you will liaise across the University, building strong working relationships and helping to resolve inter-departmental matters efficiently. You will also use a range of digital tools to gather, analyse, and present information, producing high-quality briefing papers and presentations to support strategic decision-making.
The role also involves project coordination, financial administration, and occasional out-of-hours support to ensure the smooth delivery of executive priorities.
As part of the Executive Services team, you will contribute to the University’s research and knowledge exchange agenda. This includes supporting activities related to funding opportunities, knowledge transfer partnerships, researcher development, ethics processes, impact initiatives, postgraduate research, and external frameworks such as Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).
About You
The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and are confident working with colleagues across the University. You’ll communicate clearly and professionally, with a strong focus on accuracy and customer service.
You will be highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities while meeting deadlines. You’ll also be able to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and sound judgement.
You’ll need to bring proven experience supporting senior colleagues, ideally in a large, complex organisation, and can produce high-quality minutes and reports to tight timescales. You will be able work collaboratively, build effective relationships, and be confident influencing and negotiating with stakeholders.
You should be proactive and inquisitive, willing to question, investigate, and improve processes. Adaptable and resilient, you’ll respond positively to changing priorities and challenges.
You will be digitally confident, with strong Microsoft Office skills and an understanding of data protection; as well as have experience in event support and delivering service improvements based on feedback.
To be successful, you will hold an HND (or equivalent qualification/professional experience) and GCSE Maths and English (grade C/4 or above, or equivalent qualification).
Benefits
Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
Local Government Pension Scheme
Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
Discounted onsite gym
Cycle to Work scheme
A flexible working environment
A commitment to personal and professional development
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Charlotte Dakin, Executive Support Officer, via c.dakin@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
Important Information
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Please visit our website for more information.
The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.
We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.
Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.
About the College/Department
The Executive Services team provide professional, executive level assistance and support to members of the University’s Executive Board (“UEB”), the senior leaders of the University. This is a busy yet exciting and diverse team to be a part of, working with colleagues within both the University and externally.
About the Role
We are seeking a highly organised and proactive Executive Support Officer to join our Executive Services team, playing a pivotal role in supporting senior leadership and driving key institutional priorities.
In this dynamic and varied role, you will provide a comprehensive, high-level support service to members of the University Executive Board (UEB) and the wider Executive Team. Your responsibilities will include complex diary management, coordinating and servicing meetings and committees, organising events, arranging travel, and monitoring action plans to ensure timely delivery of key objectives.
Acting as a central point of contact, you will liaise across the University, building strong working relationships and helping to resolve inter-departmental matters efficiently. You will also use a range of digital tools to gather, analyse, and present information, producing high-quality briefing papers and presentations to support strategic decision-making.
The role also involves project coordination, financial administration, and occasional out-of-hours support to ensure the smooth delivery of executive priorities.
As part of the Executive Services team, you will contribute to the University’s research and knowledge exchange agenda. This includes supporting activities related to funding opportunities, knowledge transfer partnerships, researcher development, ethics processes, impact initiatives, postgraduate research, and external frameworks such as Research Excellence Framework (REF) and Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).
About You
The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and are confident working with colleagues across the University. You’ll communicate clearly and professionally, with a strong focus on accuracy and customer service.
You will be highly organised, detail-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities while meeting deadlines. You’ll also be able to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and sound judgement.
You’ll need to bring proven experience supporting senior colleagues, ideally in a large, complex organisation, and can produce high-quality minutes and reports to tight timescales. You will be able work collaboratively, build effective relationships, and be confident influencing and negotiating with stakeholders.
You should be proactive and inquisitive, willing to question, investigate, and improve processes. Adaptable and resilient, you’ll respond positively to changing priorities and challenges.
You will be digitally confident, with strong Microsoft Office skills and an understanding of data protection; as well as have experience in event support and delivering service improvements based on feedback.
To be successful, you will hold an HND (or equivalent qualification/professional experience) and GCSE Maths and English (grade C/4 or above, or equivalent qualification).
Benefits
Generous annual leave entitlement of 38 days inclusive of bank holidays and concessionary days (pro rata)
Local Government Pension Scheme
Suite of holistic wellbeing benefits and support including family-friendly policies, generous sick pay provision and comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
Access to a variety of staff discounts at high street retailers
Discounted onsite gym
Cycle to Work scheme
A flexible working environment
A commitment to personal and professional development
Key Contact
For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Charlotte Dakin, Executive Support Officer, via c.dakin@derby.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via recruitment@derby.ac.uk
Important Information
The University is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Please visit our website for more information.