Executive Assistant

Purpose of the job 

The Executive Assistant provides high quality secretarial and administrative support to the Managing Director; together with any ad-hoc and personal assistance that may be required. The Executive Assistant may also assist with a number of administrative tasks for their department. The role will interact with all levels within their Department, their Vice-Presidency and Bank wide, to include  Board Secretariat, President’s Office as well external clients and institutions.

The Executive Assistant is responsible for providing administrative and secretarial support  to the Managing Director based in Istanbul and providing support to all RO visitors, including organising the ageda and briefing notes for high level visits from HQ. The role is responsible for the smooth running of the Managing Director’s business activities including extensive travel planning, diary management and a variety of ad-hoc tasks.

For this role to be successful key relationships are with Managing Director, Team Directors/Managers, colleagues in the ROs, as well as in the various departments in HQ and with external clients & service providers.

Accountabilities and Responsibilities 

The Executive Assistant is responsible for providing comprehensive high quality secretarial and administrative support to the Managing Director; together with any ad-hoc and personal assistance that may be required to the Managing Director ensuring that day-to-day operations run smoothly which may include, but is not limited to the following:

• Efficient diary management
• Monitoring e-mails; screening and prioritising messages and replying on behalf of the Managing Director where appropriate; manage incoming telephone calls; prioritising communications and re-routing as necessary and taking comprehensive messages
• Drafting correspondence for the Managing Director signature/review; taking minutes; proof-reading and checking documents to for the Managing Director ensure quality management and control. Coordinate team submissions acting as quality control & ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Arrange all elements of travel according to EBRD travel policy including arranging visas, accommodation, ordering currency and preparing itineraries. Check travel expense reports and other expenditure for the relevant cost centre(s) to ensure adherence to the Bank's policy; monitor and assist the MD in claiming expenses in a timely manner.
• To anticipate the need for background briefing material and ensuring it is available in advance of meetings with the President, the Banks senior management, Board Directors, members of the Group and other internal/external officials as required.
• Liaise with the relevant Committee Secretariats with regard to the scheduling of their department’s items at Bank committee meetings and Board of Directors’ meetings 

• Produce and/or prepare team related documents such as Power Point presentations, business correspondence, factsheets, briefing notes, reports ensuring all deadlines are met and contents are accurate in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Bank Committee procedures.

• To act as a key person in preparation for the regular senior level events with participation of the President, Board members and other senior managers.
• Conduct ad-hoc or specific tasks assigned by Line Manager which may be related amongst others to pipeline or reporting.
• Maintain comprehensive filing in various hard copy and electronic systems and archiving for Managers’/team to ensure instant retrieval of documents.
• If requested, assist in the recruitment, interview process, training and management of other Assistants, including monitoring workload, setting their objectives to maintain an effective workplace capable of meeting its demands; may act as a secondary reviewer on Assistants’ performance appraisal; and ensuring team cover at all times.

• Organise Departmental events: e.g. Team Meetings, Conferences, Presentations, Seminars and Off-sites
• Provide occasional cover for the Banking VP front office.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Qualifications 

Academic Qualifications

• Degree and/or equivalent relevant business experience
• A recognised secretarial qualification ;
• Fluent English and Turkish, with excellent written and oral communications skills

Experience/Knowledge

• Proven experience at working at a senior level within a multi-disciplined and multi-cultural organisation
• Excellent organisational and effective planning skills with a demonstrated ability to prioritise and independently co-ordinate workload to comply with deadlines
• Ability to keep calm under pressure and be flexible; also, be able to anticipate needs/issues, drawing on a high degree of initiative and judgement in reliably executing or coordinating a range of tasks independently
• Excellent interpersonal skills; including tact and diplomacy
• A proactive and can-do attitude, approach and team ethic
• Good level of numeracy and ability to work with numbers
• Internal candidates to have a thorough knowledge of the Bank’s procedures, policies and of institutional working practices
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Turkish
• Good material presentation skills with attention to detail and the ability to judge required accuracy.
• Willingness to take on additional responsibilities
• Excellent timekeeper
• Due to the complex nature of the role the Executive Assistant should be comfortable interacting with staff at a very senior level both within their own department and Vice-Presidency as well as Bank wide
• EBRD experience and/or knowledge of the Bank’s policies and systems desirable (e.g. SAP, Travel, Concur, Project Link, Live-link, Bold-net, BPN, DTM; and Data Warehouse Reports etc).

Technical Skills

• At least 55 wpm typing
• Advanced computer literacy on M365 programmes including Microsoft tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) as well as the ability to format large documents, charts and tables to publication quality is essential
• Knowledge of SAP, Concur desirable.

What is it like to work at the EBRD?

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in. 

The EBRD environment provides you with:

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital  transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.  As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).