CAT is seeking an Executive Assistant with strong secretarial and administrative skills to support the effective leadership of the organisation
About CAT
The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is an internationally renowned environmental charity, a world-leading eco centre, and one of the foremost providers of postgraduate environmental education in the UK, based near Machynlleth in Mid Wales.
CAT provides inspiration, education and training in solutions to the climate and biodiversity emergency.
Key activities include a visitor centre where groups can see solutions in action, residential short courses, vocational training and postgraduate degrees in a wide range of sustainability-related topics, with online courses and events offered alongside in-person learning.
Job details:
EA250331
Area of Responsibility: Administrative support for the Co-Chief Executive Officer, Director of Finance & Operations, Senior Management Team and charity Trustees
Responsible to: Co-Chief Executive Officer Paul Booth
Responsible for: No Line management duties
Contract type: Permanent
Responsibility Grade: 4
Location: CAT Charity’s site near Machynlleth, Mid Wales. Some remote working possible.
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE).
Working Days: Normally Monday to Friday
Salary and employee benefits:
£24,901.50 p.a.
CAT offers a generous annual leave allowance of 25 days p.a., plus bank holidays, plus additional allowance at Christmas (usually 3 days), plus 1 extra day for every year worked (up to 5 days).
CAT also offers an attractive package of employee benefits, including:
• a free cooked lunch and free hot drinks from the café whenever working from the CAT eco centre
• 40% discount on retail goods purchased from CAT
• Opportunities for CPD training, qualifications & professional memberships to be funded by CAT
• Opportunity to take 1 CAT short courses per year free-of-charge
• the opportunity to purchase additional holiday days
• a ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme
• 5% pension contribution
• generous maternity and paternity entitlement and Death In Service benefit
• 2 hours per month for general health & wellbeing & 2 hours per month for Welsh language tuition.
Work remotely: See Location
Application deadline: 9am 02 May 2025
Interviews to be held: week commencing 12 May 2025
(on site)
Expected start date: As soon as possible
Overview of Role
This post is an exciting opportunity to support the leadership of a national charity at a time when the organisation is striving to increase its impact in working for a sustainable society.
The Executive Assistant is responsible for administering management and Board meetings (secretariat services), assisting with office and diary management for the Co-Chief Executive and admin support for the Director of Finance & Operations.
CAT is seeking a candidate with strong secretarial and administrative skills to support the effective leadership of the organisation. The postholder will be line managed by the Co-Chief Executive/Director of Finance & Operations but will also work closely with the Trustees.
Main Responsibilities
Assisting with Diary and office management:
• Planning and arranging meetings, appointments and collating information ahead of meetings
• Monitoring of the Co-Chief Executive’s e-mails, post and phone calls when required and dealing with administrative matters including editing and formatting of documents, co-ordinating, updating and formatting CAT’s policies.
• To provide organisational and diary support to the Chair and other Trustees, including taking of meeting minutes, timetabling meetings, ensuring attendees submit required papers and circulation of the same.
• Maintain records of Board and management minutes, correspondence with Companies House and the Charities Commission and other official documentation
• To provide administrative support to the Director of Finance & Operations and other members of the Senior Management Team as needed
• To maintain and develop office systems
Secretariat services:
• Collating and circulating agenda papers for Board and management meetings and other meetings as required
• Taking minutes at Board and management meetings and other meetings as required and maintaining action logs
• To maintain and communicate a programme of Board, management and other meetings
• To support communication with Trustees between meetings
• To support the Director of Finance & Operations and Co-Chief Executive Officer in ensuring the organisation adheres to its governing documents
Other administrative support:
• To support the Director of Finance & Operations, Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chair in the collation and submission of annual returns and other correspondence with the Charity Commission and Companies House
• To provide cover to other functions in the central admin team as needed
• Providing other administrative support to the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Senior Management Team as needed, such as proof reading, collating reports and basic web research.
Any other appropriate duties as defined by the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director of Finance & Operations.