Executive Support Manager

Participants at the Degrees Global Forum 2025. Credit:
Degrees Initiative/SRM
360/Saskia Wegner

Deadline: 06.12.2026 Permanent Remote within the United Kingdom £45,000 p.a

The Degrees Initiative seeks an Executive Support Manager who will focus on supporting the CEO and Board of Trustees, with the option of taking on responsibility for the People Operations of the charity. The role is offered either as 0.6

FTE focusing on executive support and governance, or 1

FTE additionally incorporating the People Operations part of the role. Degrees is still a relatively small team; the successful candidate will be flexible, motivated and comfortable working in a growing organisation where roles are evolving and initiative is valued.

Salary
: £45,000 per annum for 1

FTE (pro rata for 0.6

FTE)

Duration
: 0.6

FTE or 1

FTE

Contract: Permanent

Location
:
Remote, within the UK

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Preferred start date: As soon as possible

The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that builds the capacity of the Global South to evaluate solar radiation modification (SRM) geoengineering, a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that the Global South should be empowered to conduct their own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions.

The initiative has been working in different forms for over a decade, and our work receives worldwide coverage and widespread acclaim.

The Executive Support Manager provides high-level, confidential and proactive executive support to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board of Trustees. As the CEO’s trusted executive support professional, the postholder protects the CEO’s time, manages information flow and priorities, improves preparation and follow-up, reduces administrative load, and strengthens coordination across the organisation, enabling the CEO to focus on leadership, strategy and external engagement.

The role supports the Board of Trustees within agreed operational priorities and capacity. It requires excellent attention to detail, discretion, organisational skill, and confidence working with senior stakeholders, trustees and external partners in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. This work constitutes 0.6

FTE.

The full-time role additionally includes responsibility for People Operations. The Executive Support Manager will help ensure that our passionate and motivated colleagues feel supported, connected and able to do their best work making Degrees a great place to work. In a dynamic and fully remote organisation working on an exciting and fast-evolving global issue, you will help us build thoughtful people practices and a positive, inclusive culture as the team continues to grow.

The Executive Support Manager will be managed by the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and work closely with the CEO, Chief of Staff (CoS), chair of the Board of Trustees, and colleagues responsible for finance, operations and fundraising. The COO will agree the postholder’s workplan in consultation with the CEO, CoS and regarding governance, the Chair of the Board

• Manage the CEO’s diary by scheduling, prioritising, and ensuring that meetings are purposeful and well-briefed;
• Provide the first point of contact for most approaches to the CEO, independently triaging, redirecting, or escalating requests as appropriate;
• Maintain organised systems for correspondence, documents, and records relevant to the CEO’s work to improve efficiency and sustainability;
• Coordinate travel arrangements, accommodation, visas, and itineraries for the CEO, working…