Executive Assistant to Director of External Relations & Advocacy
Salary: £33,398 per annum + London Weighting (If applicable)
Location: Birmingham or London
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
The Vacancy
Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Established in 1984, with an active presence in over 45 countries, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters.
IRW’s External Relations & Advocacy Division is recruiting an Executive Assistant to support the divisional Director, from its offices in eitherBirmingham or London. The position is being offered on a permanent, full-time basis, and the organisation is currently operating to a hybrid working model.
In close cooperation with the other divisions of the organisation and the direct line reports of the Director of External Relations and Advocacy (ERA), the Executive Assistant will play a central role in supporting the External Relations and Advocacy Director in driving the effectiveness and strategic delivery of the ERA Division by anticipating needs, solving problems, and coordinating seamlessly across senior leadership and global partners.
The role involves providing confidential executive level support to the ERA Director; assisting in the smooth running of the division including travel and accommodation arrangements and regular managers’ and all-staff meetings; managing the calendar of the Director ; ensuring agreed processes and project management tools are followed; providing effective reporting mechanisms; preparing reports and presentational materials on a regular basis; and completion of special projects and tasks agreed in consultation with the divisional management team.
The successful candidate must have:
* Significant previous experience of providing senior executive support
* Previous experience of coordinating meeting agendas, minute taking and related skills
* Previous experience of budget monitoring and finance-related administrative tasks
* Previous experience of project and process management
* Some knowledge of the social media landscape is desirable, coupled with some experience in creating social media content
* Previous experience of analysis and research in a communications, marketing or public relations setting.
* Relentlessly organised, anticipatory in approach and resourceful under pressure.
* Committed to integrity and IR values, upholding the highest standards of conduct.
* Flexible, and able to adapt to changing situations and priorities
* A learning attitude and a continuous improvement philosophy.
* Good knowledge and sound understanding of the voluntary INGO sector
* Good knowledge and sound understanding of the needs, sensitivities and professional discipline of public communications and external relations
* Ability to navigate and influence stakeholders in this complex organisation and work cross-functionally with diplomacy and clarity.
* Strong interpersonal skills and strong communication skills in English. This includes listening skills, writing, basic editing/proof reading, and delivering complex information accurately and with clarity. A good wordsmith in English is essential for this role
* Ability to work in a way that is discreet and maintains confidentiality
* Ability to triage priorities and think critically under pressure.
* Skilled in exercising sound judgement and decisions when dealing with unexpected issues
* Strong project management and process optimisation skills to improve divisional performance. Digital native, with strong command of MS 365 (particularly Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Teams) and efficiency tools (e.g., project dashboards, CRM, internal knowledge bases, content calendars)
* Proven ability to maintain calm, confidence and clarity during crises or high-pressure scenarios.
* Ability to contribute to group discussions in a thoughtful manner
* Analytical skills to interpret large volumes of data and to be able to summarise salient key messages
* Ability to take accurate and well-presented minutes
* Ability to help prepare presentations for the ERA Director for meetings
* Willingness to travel and work outside normal office hours
For more information, please click on the Documents tab above to view the full Job Description.
If you are talented, reliable, service-minded, resilient and a highly motivated professional looking for a meaningful career, with a strong commitment to IRW’s mission and values of sincerity, excellence, compassion, social justice and custodianship, please apply by completing our online application form.
For more information on the excellent company benefits we offer our employees, please visit:
PLEASE NOTE: Interviews are expected to take place on 18th August 2025.
Pre-employment Checks:
Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:
* screening clearance
* proof of eligibility to live and work within the UK
* receipt of satisfactory references
Please note, for UK-based roles, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in the UK. We are unable to progress applications which would require sponsorship.
Our values and commitment to safeguarding
IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.
The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.
Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer
The Company
Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired humanitarian aid and development agency working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. We work in over 45 countries, assist people of all faiths and none according to need and do not discriminate in any way. Our proximity means we can often respond swiftly to emergencies and work in areas that other organisations cannot access.
We are the only UK-based Muslim faith-inspired charity to have been certified against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS), which is designed to ensure that charities best meet the needs of the communities they serve.
Islamic Relief is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), we have Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and we are a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
What We Offer
Islamic Relief Worldwide recognises our staff as our biggest asset, and so we offer a range of benefits designed to support their professional development, mental and physical health, and work/life balance.
Personal learning and development opportunities
Annual leave and additional leave
Service related pension scheme
Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave and pay
Employee assistance support
Occupational advanced sick pay
Mental Health First Aiders
Charity volunteering
Cycle to Work scheme
On-site car parking
Field
visits
Our Values
Sincerity
Sincerity
We are driven and motivated by sincerity to God and our duty to humanity.
Excellence
A commitment to excellence is a hallmark of our operations, programmes and conduct towards the vulnerable people we serve.
Compassion
Compassion
Every life is precious, so we join other humanitarian actors in easing the suffering caused by disasters, poverty and injustice.
Social Justice
Social Justice
We empower poor and vulnerable people to have their rights fulfilled and to achieve their God-given potential.
Custodianship
Custodianship
We value and protect the Earth and its resources, including its people, and we aim to honour the trust people place in us to be transparent and accountable. #J-18808-Ljbffr