Salary range: Grade 12 £50,085 - £52,194 p.a. plus fantastic benefits
Contract: Permanent
Hours of work: 36 hours per week
Location: Croydon

The opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Executive Officer to directly support the Corporate Director of Children, Young People & Education

Are you an exceptional organiser who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys working at the heart of strategic decision-making?

Croydon Council is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Executive Officer to provide high-level executive support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in supporting the leadership of services that make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families across the borough.

As Executive Officer, you will be at the centre of the Directorate, ensuring the Corporate Director's office operates efficiently, responsively and professionally. You will manage competing priorities, coordinate governance activity, prepare high-quality briefings and reports, and act as a trusted link between senior leaders, Members, corporate services and external partners.

No two days are the same. You'll be required to exercise sound judgement, manage sensitive information with discretion, anticipate issues before they arise and ensure that key priorities and actions are delivered on time.

About the role

You will:

Provide high-level, confidential support to the Corporate Director of Children's Services.
Manage a complex diary, inbox and correspondence, ensuring priorities are effectively coordinated.
Prepare briefings, reports, presentations and meeting papers to support informed decision-making.
Coordinate and track actions arising from senior leadership, governance and partnership meetings.
Support the preparation and quality assurance of Cabinet, Scrutiny, Directorate and corporate reports.
Maintain oversight of key deadlines, priorities and forward plans.
Build productive working relationships with senior officers, Members and colleagues across the Council.
Help drive delivery of directorate priorities by monitoring progress, highlighting risks and supporting improvement activity.
Lead and support Executive Support Officers where applicable.

About you

We're looking for someone who has:

Significant experience providing executive support to a senior leader within a complex organisation.
Experience managing demanding diaries, inboxes and competing priorities with minimal supervision.
Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work effectively under pressure.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including drafting briefings and correspondence for senior audiences.
Experience supporting senior leadership and governance meetings.
The ability to analyse information, identify key issues and present concise recommendations.
Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to work with senior leaders, elected Members and external partners.
A high degree of discretion, integrity and political awareness.

Why join us?

This role offers the opportunity to work alongside the Corporate Director of Children's Services at the heart of strategic leadership and decision-making. You'll gain a unique insight into how Children's Services operates, contribute to high-profile priorities and play a key role in supporting outcomes for children and families across Croydon.

A pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 20%
32 days’ annual leave in addition to Bank Holidays
Investment into your staff well-being
Great team ethos
The culture at Croydon is very much about working together to make positive change
Will have the opportunity to work from home and work flexibly which provides you with more of a work-life balance.

If you are proactive, resilient and thrive in a challenging but rewarding environment, we'd love to hear from you.

To view the Executive Officer - Housing role profile please click here

Recruitment and selection timeline

The closing date for applications is 31st August 2026.
Shortlisting will take place 01 September 2026
Interviews will take place in person at Bernard Wetherill House on w/c 31^st August 2026

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Venisha Carr at venisha.carr@croydon.gov.uk