Job overview

We are seeking a highly skilled administrator, who brings with them experience of working with Board Members, for this exciting opportunity to join the CEO and Chairs office.  

As the Business Manager to the NHFT and LPT Chair, you will provide comprehensive, high-level administrative support to the Chair, Deputy Chairs and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs).  You will manage the administrative workflow within the office of the Chair, ensuring deadlines are met efficiently and all needs are addressed.  

This is a key role that requires a highly organised individual, who is flexible and calm in their approach and has proven experience in managing competing demands, priorities and deadlines.  We are seeking a candidate who can demonstrate strong interpersonal skills given the engagement with stakeholders at a number of levels Given our ambition for administrative excellence, we are seeking an individual with a strong track record of experience in Personal Assistant/Executive Assistant/Board support roles at an Executive level. 

By applying your emotional intelligence, you will play a crucial role in maintaining a positive work culture and ensuring the success of the Chair’s office in both Trusts.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a candidate with a high level of emotional intelligence who can navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and respond to situations with empathy, understanding, and professionalism. You will:

• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills: Engage with stakeholders at all levels, building positive, respectful, and collaborative relationships.
• Display self-awareness and emotional regulation: Respond to challenging situations calmly, keeping a level head and managing stress effectively, ensuring that the needs of the Trust and team are met.
• Show empathy and active listening: Understand the perspectives of others and provide support to colleagues, leaders, and stakeholders, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Adapt to change: Use emotional intelligence to adapt your approach to meet the needs of the organization and individuals in a flexible and constructive way.
• Collaborate with others: Foster a team-oriented environment where all voices are heard, and conflicts are managed with tact and professionalism

Your work will support the Chair’s leadership and governance role in both Trusts and will link closely to the wider Corporate Governance teams of the two Trusts.  This is a key position where you will be responsible for email and diary management, meeting administration, report writing, minute-taking, action tracking, and being the first point of contact for the Chair and NEDs.

Working for our organisation

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

The group model commenced in April 2021, with both Trusts continuing to operate as separate organisations.  This model has allowed for a unique and valuable way of working through an agreed formal approach with a number of joint positions including Chair & CEO.  The Trusts have worked together on a range of initiatives including staff programmes, quality improvement work, Together Against Racism, strategy planning and more.  

There will be an expectation to travel between venues across Northants and Leicestershire with flexible working opportunities considered.

To familiarise yourself with both Trusts governance arrangements, we suggest you explore the following links which take you to the Board of Directors meetings for both Trusts and the Council of Governor meetings for NHFT.

 Our board | NHFT

Governors | NHFT

Trust Board - Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust