We have an exciting opportunity for an exceptional Executive Assistant to support our CEO, based in Christchurch. This is a busy and varied role within a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, suited to someone who thrives on variety, enjoys working at pace and can confidently navigate changing priorities.

If you are highly organised, proactive and resilient, with the ability to think on your feet, anticipate what’s needed and keep things moving when plans change, we would love to hear from you. This is an opportunity to work closely with our CEO and Leadership Team, contributing to the effective running of the business and supporting both operational and strategic priorities.

About the role

As Executive Assistant to our CEO, you will provide high level executive support while playing an important role in coordinating the work of our CEO. This is much more than diary management and administration. You will help bring structure to a fast-moving environment, ensure priorities stay on track, connect people and information, and drive follow-through on key actions and initiatives.

Working closely with the CEO, you will manage competing demands, prepare and coordinate high quality communications and papers, support Board and Executive governance, and help translate business priorities into action. You will need to be comfortable working with evolving information and documents, adapting quickly to feedback and changes, and finding practical solutions without losing sight of the bigger picture.

This role will suit someone who enjoys being across a wide range of activities, builds trusted relationships and takes pride in making life easier for the people they support. You will have the judgement and confidence to manage sensitive information, represent the CEO professionally and ensure the right things happen at the right time.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage the CEO’s diary, correspondence, travel, expenses, timesheets and competing priorities, ensuring their time is focused on the needs of the business.

• Coordinate internal and external meetings, prepare agendas and papers, and produce accurate minutes, action points and follow-ups.

• Prepare, review and coordinate high-quality reports, presentations and communications for the CEO, Board, Committees and Executive Team.

• Support Board and Executive governance, including meeting schedules, workplans, information flow and the timely delivery of actions and decisions.

• Coordinate and drive the CEO and Leadership Team’s strategic agenda, programmes of work and selected business initiatives, ensuring actions progress and commitments are delivered.

• Support the development and implementation of business processes and ways of working that improve efficiency, collaboration and execution.

• Work closely with senior leaders to coordinate business priorities, communications and engagement across the organisation.

• Support fee submissions and bid management, along with research and analysis to inform business and strategic decisions.

• Manage enquiries directed to the CEO, determine appropriate responses and coordinate actions with the relevant people.

• Provide wider administrative and coordination support to the CEO, Leadership Team and National Support Services as required.

We offer

A collaborative team environment within a growing, multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy, competitive remuneration, on-the-job learning and opportunities for ongoing career development. A role where your initiative, judgement and contribution will make a genuine difference.

About you

You will be an experienced Executive Assistant or senior professional support person who enjoys being at the centre of a busy business environment. You will be comfortable working with senior stakeholders, managing confidential information and balancing planned work with the unexpected.

We are particularly interested in people who bring experience from property management, property development, project management or the legal sector, where coordinating complex activities, managing documentation, working with multiple stakeholders and responding to changing demands are part of the day-to-day. These backgrounds are not essential, but the skills and experience they bring could be highly relevant.

You will bring:

• Proven experience providing high-level support to a CEO, senior executive or leadership team, or in a comparable role involving complex coordination and stakeholder management.

• Exceptional organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines without becoming overly reliant on rigid processes.

• The flexibility and resilience to adapt quickly when priorities change, plans shift or documents require further review and refinement.

• A proactive, solutions-focused approach, with the confidence to anticipate needs, exercise sound judgement and take ownership of getting things done.

• Strong written communication skills, with the ability to prepare, review and coordinate professional correspondence, reports, meeting papers and presentations.

• The confidence to manage competing demands, keep the CEO on track, and ability to keep calm under pressure.

• Excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively with senior leaders, Board members, colleagues and external stakeholders.

• A high level of discretion, professionalism and integrity when handling confidential and commercially sensitive information.

• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams, and the ability to work efficiently with documents and information.

• A practical, commercially aware mindset and an interest in understanding how a business operates and what drives its success. 

About us

Kirk Roberts Consulting is a multi-disciplinary consultancy with over 130 employees providing Structural, Geotechnical, Fire, Civil and Environmental Engineering Services, plus Architecture and Engineering Software to a range of clients across New Zealand, from our offices in Christchurch, Queenstown, Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga. 

At Kirk Roberts the heart of our business is innovation and finding a better way is why we exist.  Our company was founded to challenge the norm and push boundaries, so we can bring our clients advanced engineering, project management and software solutions that drive efficiencies.

To apply

Please send us your latest CV and covering letter, and you are welcome to include any other documents you feel relevant to your application. Please note, that all applicants must be domiciled in New Zealand and be eligible for permanent employment in NZ, with either a NZ Passport, residency, or current work visa.