Executive Assistant - People and Engagement

At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), we’re on a mission to translate scientific discovery into real world impact. We bring together visionary scientists, technologists, engineers, researchers, educators and innovators to tackle humanity’s greatest challenges in four transformative areas:

• Health, Medical Science & Generative Biology
• Food Security & Sustainable Agriculture
• Climate Change & Managing CO₂
• Artificial Intelligence & Robotics

This is ambitious work - work that demands curiosity, courage, and a relentless drive to make a difference. At EIT, you’ll join a community built on excellence, innovation, tenacity, trust, and collaboration, where bold ideas become real-world breakthroughs. Together, we push boundaries, embrace complexity, and create solutions to scale ideas from lab to society. Explore more at www.eit.org.

At EIT we are seeking an experienced and detail orientated Executive Assistant to provide strategic, proactive, and high-trust support across the People & Engagement Team. The role reports to the Senior Director and acts as a central point of coordination across the People & Engagement function, helping ensure that priorities remain aligned, commitments are delivered and the team have the information, insight and support required to operate effectively in support of EIT’s Mission. 

This role has real breadth requiring the ability to work 1-1 with the Senior Director on long range planning, ensuring that the programme of work is actively managed and reported on, through to logistics and co-ordination of diverse individuals and teams. 

• →Strategic support and Team Co-ordination. Act as confidential support to the Senior Director and provide continuity across the function through visibility of priorities and plans.
• →Support leadership discussions by preparing analysis, briefing materials and recommendations.
• →Help identify opportunities to improve team effectiveness, simplify processes and increase capacity. This to include adding your capacity to key activity as it arises – actively contributing to projects rather than solely co-ordinating updates.
• →Support the development and ongoing management of the People & Engagement roadmap and programme of work.
• →Track progress against key initiatives and ensure priorities remain visible and on track. 
• →Work collaboratively across the People & Engagement team to develop, manage and quality assure the reporting that is required.
• →Manage and approve travel arrangements, itineraries, and expenses.
• →Manage budget tracker and cost reporting.
• →Act as an active member of the EA community, driving best practice and continuous improvement.

• Demonstrable experience in project and process management with strong organisational capability.
• Highly skilled at data and information management - advanced excel and powerpoint user.
• Experience gained in fast paced, fluid and scaling environments.
• Confident user of AI and are able to demonstrate how you have used AI and digital productivity tools to improve efficiency, analysis, communication and workflow management.
• Highly experienced at handling confidential and sensitive information with discretion.

• Experience working in a similar position within a life sciences organisation, such as a research institute, biotech company, or similar environment.

• You must be eligible to work in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary.
• You must be based in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford.
• During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the work we undertake.  
• This is an onsite role based in Oxford. Some flexibility may be arranged in line with business requirements and operational priorities.