Job summary
NHS Blood & Transplant(NHSBT) are looking for an Executive Assistant to our Chief Nursing Officer(CNO) to be based in Tooting, with hybrid working. Our Chief Nursing Officer has been in post since the creation of our Nursing Directorate which was established towards the end of 2023.The Chief Nursing Officer is shaping our Nursing strategy here at NHSBT and is also a board member.
In this role, you will be providing high level administrative support to the CNO and the wider Nursing Senior Management Team. This includes managing calendars, scheduling meetings, preparing reports and correspondence, handling confidential information, coordinating travel arrangements, and acting as a liaison between the executive and internal/external stakeholders. You will need to be highly organised and proactive and possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
You will be part of a business support team within the directorate and working closely with other senior EAs across the business and wider NHS.
Main duties of the job
Your responsibilities will include:
- Proactively managing the diary of the CNO, dealing with clashes and last-minute meeting requests, ensuring appropriate cover for meetings that the CNO cannot attend and ensuring she has all relevant information and papers required. This will involve liaising with other EAs and senior leaders in order to facilitate larger meetings.
- Providing administrative support for meetings both within the Nursing Directorate and across the organisation and NHS. This will include arranging and planning meetings, managing attendance, sending reminders for papers, setting and managing agendas, producing slide decks, taking minutes and monitoring actions.
- A solid understanding of good governance is required, as well as the ability to manage and understand sensitive information.
Being involved in a range of activities for the Nursing Directorate (as commitments allow) including supporting the Nursing Directorate Senior Leadership team and undertaking projects to support work within the Directorate.
- This role may also require liaison with external agencies (e.g. other NHS organisations and government bodies) and internally at Executive and Board level.
- Providing support to the Nursing Directorate SLT where required, which will include diary management, drafting documents and other administrative tasks, such as booking travel, purchasing goods and maintaining annual leave planners.
About us
It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, youll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.
Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.
By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too. Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality.
Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.
You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key working relationships will be with the Chief Nursing Officer, and Chief Nurses as well as EAs for other Directors and Senior Managers across NHSBT and the wider NHS. You will be required to travel and spend time away from base occasionally, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice.
What we offer:
- NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
- 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
- NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
- Weve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. Its open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.
This vacancy will close at 23:59 on 29th October 2025 Interviews are anticipated to be held on Friday 7th November 2025 subject to confirmation. For informal enquiries please contact Sophie Seymour, Head of Office-Nursing, Sophie.seymour@nhsbt.nhs.uk
This vacancy is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. Please do not apply unless you have another means of establishing a right to work, or you are already employed by the NHS and would transfer to the pay point above the base of Band 5.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key working relationships will be with the Chief Nursing Officer, and Chief Nurses as well as EAs for other Directors and Senior Managers across NHSBT and the wider NHS. You will be required to travel and spend time away from base occasionally, which will involve working irregular hours and overnight stays when required, with prior notice.
What we offer:
- NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities where the role will allow.
- 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
- NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions
- Weve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. Its open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.
Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.
This vacancy will close at 23:59 on 29th October 2025 Interviews are anticipated to be held on Friday 7th November 2025 subject to confirmation. For informal enquiries please contact Sophie Seymour, Head of Office-Nursing, Sophie.seymour@nhsbt.nhs.uk
This vacancy is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. Please do not apply unless you have another means of establishing a right to work, or you are already employed by the NHS and would transfer to the pay point above the base of Band 5.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ 4 in a business subject or equivalent qualification OR equivalent relevant experience
- Plus experience in a Personal Assistant role working for senior management/Executive teams.
- Educated to OCR (RSA) level II or equivalent qualification / experience
- Willingness and ability to undertake travel and spend time away from base to meet the requirements of the post (with appropriate prior notice).
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with Senior Management in an advanced secretarial or administrative post.
- Experience of complex and proactive diary management
- Experienced in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint, as well as specialised IT packages e.g. OneNote, Qpulse, Visio, Publisher, as appropriate to the post.
- Good basic knowledge of relevant statutory directives, i.e. Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, Equality and Diversity Directive.
- Ability to analyse and present a wide range of management information
- Experience of managing agendas and taking minutes at Board or equivalent level meetings where topics can be introduced with intricate and wide-ranging discussions, and to transcribe accurately.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ 4 in a business subject or equivalent qualification OR equivalent relevant experience
- Plus experience in a Personal Assistant role working for senior management/Executive teams.
- Educated to OCR (RSA) level II or equivalent qualification / experience
- Willingness and ability to undertake travel and spend time away from base to meet the requirements of the post (with appropriate prior notice).
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working with Senior Management in an advanced secretarial or administrative post.
- Experience of complex and proactive diary management
- Experienced in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint, as well as specialised IT packages e.g. OneNote, Qpulse, Visio, Publisher, as appropriate to the post.
- Good basic knowledge of relevant statutory directives, i.e. Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, Equality and Diversity Directive.
- Ability to analyse and present a wide range of management information
- Experience of managing agendas and taking minutes at Board or equivalent level meetings where topics can be introduced with intricate and wide-ranging discussions, and to transcribe accurately.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
