Executive Assistant to Founder

​Job Role: Executive Assistant to Founder​

Reporting to: ME+EM Founder

Location: Head Office, West London

Contract type: Full Time,​ 37.5 hrs per week

Workplace Type: On-site 

Start Date: ASAP

ME+EM Culture

ME+EM is one of the UK’s fastest-growing luxury fashion brands. As a direct-to-consumer business we operate in a truly multi-channel sense with six London stores, as well as concessions in Harrods and Selfridges, supporting a rapidly expanding global digital business. In the past 12 months sales have more than doubled to over £50m, and we now sell in more than 75 countries. 

We are an entrepreneurial, creative, and passionate group of people. We work hard, are enthusiastic to learn and aren't afraid to take risks. Everyone contributes to our success at all levels, and that's precisely what makes being a member of the team so rewarding. 

Our goal is to make ME+EM as diverse and inclusive as we possibly can and so, with that in mind, we have put into place processes and targets to help us achieve that goal. We make sure everyone has a voice with annual engagement surveys, employee-led committees, focus groups and quarterly town hall meetings. We pride ourselves on being approachable, supportive, and welcoming and ensure that everyone’s hard work is rewarded.

​About the role:

ME+EM is a UK-based fashion business launched by Clare Hornby in 2009. You will be a pivotal part of ME+EM, a dynamic and forward-thinking business. At the heart of the company and the Founder's Family, a dependable and entrepreneurial EA is required to support and assist the Principal with all business and personal-related tasks.

This will be a fast-paced role with constantly changing priorities, and you will be required to hit the ground running. Utilising initiative, you should develop a deep understanding of the Founder's needs and ensure their time is used efficiently and effectively. As such, it is a necessity that you have ample prior experience working within a similar role.

Able to work individually and as a team player, you will possess excellent interpersonal skills and comfortably build relationships across the hierarchy, acting as an example of the company's collaborative culture.

You will be happy to put as much energy into organising the Founder's diary, travel plans, briefing notes and email management as you would be with liaising with HNW, VIPs and organising events.

Job Responsibilities:

• Anticipating the Founder's needs.
• Confidently handling personal and sensitive information as necessary.
• Continuous email management - Responding to emails as and when required.
• Pro-active diary management and organisation, carefully considering how the Founder's business and personal life run concurrently (up to speed at all times on the Family's individual schedules and commitments).
• Organising frequent internal and external meetings, handling last-minute changes and adapting arrangements accordingly. Keeping all interested parties updated with any amendments.
• Ensuring the Principal is fully prepared. Creating and collating briefing documents, background research, Q&A, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Management of all travel (domestic and international business and personal trips). Booking all hotels, and transportation (e.g private planes and chauffeurs). Organising the supporting travel documents such as passports and visas and preparing detailed itineraries ahead of time.
• Supporting the Senior Management team to ensure operations run efficiently throughout the business. Ensuring company goals and objectives are accomplished and celebrated. Managing their weekly agenda, deck and minutes. Providing occasionally ad-hoc support when required.
• Working closely with all teams across the business to guarantee critical paths are planned effectively and conflicts are avoided where possible
• Work alongside the Office Coordinator to assist with Office-related responsibilities (e.g. booking and preparing meeting rooms, event set-up, meeting and greeting guests and organising refreshments/lunches).
• Event planning  
  • Work with the Social Committee to coordinate the business events.
  • Organising all personal dinners and social events on behalf of the Family.
• Keep track and collate monthly expenses, maintain accurate records associated with all personal finances and liaise with the family's private accountant accordingly.
• Oversee the residential property portfolio
  • Liaise with the residential property manager regarding payments and repairs.
  • Liaise with all other private household staff.
  • Keep property filing up to date
• All gifting, personal and business, ensuring the master gifting file is updated (including logging and detailing accurate records of gifts sent, both personally and commercially)
• Personal shopping for the Founder and family when necessary
• Maintaining all key information relating to the Founder, to include but not be limited to the following: Contacts, prefered travel and restaurant options, and information relating to friends and family.
• Ad-hoc errands

About you:

• Extensive, similar experience
• Highly professional
• Discreet and diplomatic
• Exercises discretion and practices strict confidentiality
• A confident written and verbal communicator
• Resilient with a positive, proactive and collaborative approach
• Superb attention to detail
• Strong business and commercial acumen
• Confident working independently
• A problem-solver
• IT proficient Occasional flexibility to attend out-of-hours meetings Knowledge of luxury (restaurants, hotels, brands) would be beneficial.

Employee Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays and a day off to celebrate your birthday
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Generous Staff Discount of up to 70% off
• Various Health and Wellbeing insurances
• Cycle to Work and Tech Scheme
• Length of Service Award
• Refer a friend incentive scheme
• Monthly social and wellbeing events, annual summer, and Christmas parties
• Mental Health Awareness and First Aid training
• Sample sales
• Real Living Wage Employer

Please note, due to the large number of applications we receive, we can only reply to those that are successful to the next stage.