Head of Executive Support

This is a career-defining opportunity for a highly strategic leader to partner directly with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) at the RSPCA. We are seeking an exceptional individual to serve as a pivotal Head of Executive Support, driving organisational effectiveness and leading complex, high-impact strategic priorities.

Operating as an indispensable extension of the CEO and her executive team, you will be situated at the core of the RSPCA, ensuring clarity of purpose and accelerating the translation of strategy into decisive action. This role is designed for someone who thrives in complexity, demonstrating quiet authority and gravitas to foster accountability and maintain critical momentum across the entire organisation.

Working directly with Executive Leaders as their trusted advisor, you will coordinate key strategic initiatives, strengthen governance and decision-making processes, and ensure the effective operation of the Executive Leadership Team. This involves overseeing forward planning of their time, monitoring progress against agreed actions, and ensuring decision and executive directives remain aligned and on track.

You will expertly manage high-level internal and external stakeholder relationships, represent the CEO and organisation where appropriate, and communicate strategic imperatives with clarity, credibility, and influence. You will also provide robust leadership to the Executive Support function, cultivating a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

This is an opportunity for a purpose-driven leader with proven executive support experience to make a profound contribution to the future of the RSPCA and our mission to transform animals' lives.

You will predominantly be home-based; however, there will be an expectation to travel to support Jo at either our London Hub in Blackfriars or at Animal Centres across England.

If you are motivated by impact, thrive in complex environments, and enjoy working at the centre of organisational leadership in a chief of staff or similar capacity, we would love to hear from you.

We're expecting a high level of interest in this role and would love for you to be considered. To avoid missing out, please note that applications will close on 15 June.

Your Recruitment Journey & Key Dates

Here's what the process looks like, no surprises, just a friendly guide:

Application

You'll be asked to submit your interest through our internal careers site by CV and no more than 2 page letter explaining why you feel you are the right fit for this critical role.

Meeting with Executive Leadership Team (ELT) - 23rd June - Virtual

Candidates successful at shortlisting will be invited to meet the Executive Leadership Team. At this meeting you will be invited to present a 5 minute presentation on what you would bring to this role and the skills you have that will make us a more successful team. The Executive Team will then get to know you better through a structured conversation, from which they will pass feedback to the interview panel.

Interview - 2nd July - London Blackfriars

If your application is successful, you'll be invited to a first-stage panel interview with Jo Rowland CEO, Jo Jones - Regional HRBP and a member of the Executive Team.

This is an opportunity for us to hear more about your experience, achievements, and what draws you to the role. It's a chance for us to explore how your skills, strengths, and aspirations align with this exciting opportunity as well as allow you to gain more insight into the role.

Please note that a second interview may be required. Dates are currently to be confirmed (TBC). We will advise you as soon as possible if a second interview is necessary.

Essential skills for this role

• Significant experience operating as a Chief of Staff, Head of Executive Office, Senior Executive Partner, or in a comparable strategic leadership role supporting CEO, COO or Executive-level leadership.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence outcomes across all levels of an organisation.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in complex, fast-paced environments with competing priorities.
• Strong strategic thinking, sound judgement and evidence-based decision-making and the ability to translate ambiguity into clear plans, priorities and actions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear, concise and impactful messages.
• Experience coordinating board and committee activity, including the preparation of board papers, executive briefings and strategic communications.
• Strong governance, planning and organisational effectiveness experience.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, discretion and confidentiality.
• A proactive and forward-thinking approach, with the ability to anticipate risks, identify opportunities and develop practical solutions.
• Experience leading, developing and inspiring high-performing teams.
• A collaborative leadership style, with a proven ability to bring people together around shared objectives and deliver results through influence.