Personal Assistant to ADS Membership Director and Head of SME Engagement

Location: Farnborough, Hampshire

Job Description: Personal Assistant to ADS Membership Director and Head of SME Engagement JD AG270726.pdf

Contract: Full Time, Permanent, 37.5hours per week, Monday to Friday

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About ADS

ADS is the UK trade association for the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors, representing more than 2,000 member organisations across the UK. We support businesses of all sizes through policy advocacy, market intelligence, networking opportunities, business development support and industry-leading events. Our members range from major multinational organisations to innovative SMEs, all contributing to the success and growth of the UK's advanced engineering and technology sectors.

The Membership Team sits at the heart of ADS, leading member engagement, recruitment and retention activities across the organisation. Working collaboratively with colleagues from across the business, the team is responsible for delivering value to members through events, communications, account management and business development initiatives.

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The Role

We are seeking a highly organised, professional and proactive Personal Assistant to provide dedicated support to the ADS Membership Director and Head of SME Engagement. This is a key role within a busy and dynamic team, requiring exceptional organisational skills, sound judgement and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

As a trusted member of the team, you will play a central role in ensuring the efficient management of senior leadership activities. You will coordinate complex diaries, manage meeting arrangements, prepare high-quality documentation and act as an important point of contact for members, colleagues and external stakeholders. Working with a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism, you will help ensure priorities are delivered effectively and that leaders are fully prepared for meetings, events and engagements.

The role also supports the wider Membership Team, contributing to the delivery of membership services and helping to ensure ADS continues to provide exceptional value and engagement opportunities for its members. Occasional travel and attendance at events may be required.

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What You'll Be Doing

In this varied role, you will provide comprehensive executive support to two senior leaders, managing diaries, coordinating meetings and organising travel arrangements. You will prepare agendas, presentations, reports, briefing papers and correspondence, ensuring information is accurate, professional and delivered within agreed timeframes. You will also monitor actions arising from meetings and projects, following up with stakeholders to ensure progress and completion.

You will support the coordination of training sessions and meetings relating to ADS's CRM project, liaising with external providers and internal stakeholders as required. In addition, you will be responsible for maintaining accurate records within the CRM system, managing expense submissions and supporting the smooth operation of the wider Membership Team. ​

Building strong relationships will be an important part of the role. You will regularly engage with members, senior leaders, colleagues, external partners and representatives from industry and government organisations, acting as a trusted and professional liaison on behalf of the Membership Director and Head of SME Engagement.

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About You

You will have previous experience as a Personal Assistant, Executive Assistant or in a senior administrative support role, with a proven ability to manage busy workloads and competing priorities. You will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where attention to detail, organisation and discretion are essential.

You will possess excellent communication skills and be confident interacting with stakeholders at all levels. Strong experience preparing reports, briefing packs, presentations and business correspondence is important, as is the ability to manage complex diaries, coordinate meetings and oversee travel arrangements.

A strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams, is required. Experience using CRM systems or managing databases would be advantageous. Most importantly, you will be proactive, adaptable and able to build productive working relationships while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality. ​

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Why Join ADS?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an influential organisation operating at the forefront of the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors. You will work closely with senior leaders, engage with a broad network of industry stakeholders and play an important role in supporting a function that sits at the heart of member engagement and business growth.

If you are an experienced Personal Assistant looking for a varied and rewarding role where you can make a real impact, we would love to hear from you.