Defence Business Support Executive

Job Description

The Role

ADS operates a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and wider engagement activity to support business development opportunities for members, shape and influence policy, and help increase investment in our sector. We have a requirement for a dedicated individual to provide high-quality business support and executive assistance to the Defence Director, ensuring the Defence team is well coordinated, informed and able to deliver against strategic priorities.

The postholder will act as a key point of contact for the Defence sector team, supporting ADS engagement with the Front-Line Commands, Ministry of Defence, Single Source Regulations Office and NATO Industry Advisory Group (NIAG). The role will also lead production of the Defence Impact Report and the monthly Defence Bulletin, create bespoke presentations and briefing packs, and provide business support to the Head of Defence Commercial.

This role would suit a candidate with strong executive assistant/secretarial capability and confident written communications skills, able to manage competing priorities, handle sensitive information with discretion and work proactively under their own initiative. Strong Microsoft Office skills are essential (Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint). Experience in a membership organisation, CRM administration and/or the defence and security environment is desirable. The role holder must be willing to undergo National Security clearance.

The role reports to the Defence Director (providing Executive Assistant and business support), with a dotted-line support relationship to the Head of Defence Commercial for agreed activities.

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The Candidate

We are seeking a highly professional and proactive candidate with proven experience providing executive-level business support to senior leaders.

You will bring strong organisational skills and exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to manage complex diaries, coordinate meetings, and prioritise multiple workstreams effectively.

An excellent communicator, you will be confident drafting and quality-assuring a range of outputs including briefings, reports, minutes and member-facing updates, while building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels.

You will demonstrate high levels of discretion and integrity, handling sensitive information appropriately and be willing to undergo National Security clearance.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office is essential, particularly in creating high-quality PowerPoint presentations alongside strong working knowledge of Outlook, Word and Excel.

You will be self-sufficient and solutions-focused, using sound judgement and initiative to anticipate needs, resolve issues, and ensure the smooth delivery of regular outputs to tight deadlines.

Experience providing structured secretariat support and maintaining effective governance processes is important, and exposure to CRM/data systems or the defence, security or membership environment would be advantageous.

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​The Contract & Benefits

Contract Type; Permanent, fulltime role, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week

Location; Hybrid working- 3 days in the London office and 2 days from home

Job Description; Defence Business Support Executive ADS Job Description.pdf

Benefits; Bonus, pension, private health insurance, life insurance, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, 9-day fortnight, hybrid working, extended remote working, enhanced parental leave, 28 days annual leave, buy additional annual leave, long service additional annual leave

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Company Description

ADS represents and supports more than 1800+ UK businesses operating in the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.

Whether representing industry, connecting our members with business opportunities or driving forward innovation and growth, ADS is at the forefront of an array of activities, events and programmes that benefit our members.

Our membership ranges from major multinational businesses with substantial UK presences, to hundreds of small and medium sized companies in every part of the country.

We are an organisation that aims to deliver to the highest standards, and as such we have successfully been accredited for the ISO9001:2015 Standard and Cyber Essentials Plus.