Sarah Paterson

Providing support to Chief Finance Officer, Director of Commercial Life Sciences & Innovation, and Head of Development Management post-TUPE acquisition from Urban&Civic. Key responsibilities include:

• Facilitating communication among senior leadership to enhance operational efficiency.
• Assisting strategic planning initiatives to drive organisational goals forward.
• Managing executive diaries for optimised scheduling and time management.
• Liaising with internal departments, improving cross-functional collaboration.
• Organising strategic events and campus visits.
• Scheduling meetings, conferences and appointments.
• Arranging supplies, documents and spaces for meetings.
• Booking flights and hotels for domestic and international meetings.
• Processing contracts and purchase orders for development team.

Delivered exceptional secretarial and administrative support to Development Director, ensuring efficient project office operations.

• Executed comprehensive diary management, coordinating meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Managed travel logistics, including itineraries and accommodation for domestic and international trips.
• Facilitated 1:1 meetings and performance reviews for Development Director with direct reports.
• Compiled and submitted credit card and cash expense reports in timely manner.
• Liaised with PA colleagues to organise larger stakeholder meetings involving senior executives.
• Oversaw daily office tasks, ensuring smooth operations and effective communication.
• Coordinated facility maintenance to provide safe work environment.

Providing high level support to Headmaster and Deputy Head, as well as administrative assistance to senior leadership team and governors to school. Key responsibilities included:

• Managing professional calendars, supplying timely reminders of upcoming meetings and events.
• Taking detailed and accurate meeting minutes for key governor, SLT and staff meetings, collating and promptly distributing to staff, and following up on actions requiring attention.
• Working closely with Headmaster and Deputy Head to organise key school events including Centenary celebrations and tracking budget expenditure.
• Tracking and ensuring statutory school policies are updated and uploaded to school system, website and inspectorate portal.
• Ensuring assessments, timetables, key data and termly pupil reports are input into MIS and reported on schedule.
• Collating information for recruitments packs and advertising new vacancies, requesting references, organising interview schedules, collating packs for panel and corresponding with candidates as applicable.

Provided support to School Secretary and office staff during initial six-week contract. Transitioned to Admin Assistant role post-contract, followed by promotion to School Secretary within one year. Key responsibilities included:

• Maintained accurate MIS database containing confidential information and updated timetables.
• Collaborated with Assessment Manager to submit Key Stage Data to Department of Education.
• Supported staff with new assessment programme and produced end-of-term pupil reports.
• Organised residential educational visits and sporting fixtures, including transport arrangements.
• Monitored and followed up on undeclared pupil absences to ensure compliance.
• Managed extra-curricular activities and tracked information for billing purposes.
• Oversaw school diary to coordinate events and appointments efficiently.
• Performed reception duties, including answering phone calls and managing site entry points.

Whilst taking career break to raise three children, sat on two PTA Committees, acting as Secretary to both & undertook role of Chair for one over a six-year term. Also worked as invigilator for local Grammar school and reading volunteer.

After completing temporary contract, was offered permanent position working for both Director of Manufacturing and Director of Quality. Responsibilities included:

• Produced presentations and reports on production output, costs, and effectiveness for directors.
• Assisted Director of Quality in updating quality assurance report before publication.
• Managed submission of directors' expenses to ensure timely processing.
• Typed correspondence, including meeting minutes, letters, and memorandums from various formats.
• Maintained diaries for directors and arranged departmental meetings efficiently.
• Organised hotel accommodations for clients, along with travel arrangements for directors and staff.

Gained diverse work skills through temporary positions in multiple industries. Contributed to IT recruitment, shipbuilding, motor agency, printing, and property management sectors. Held roles including branch administrator and personal assistant to Managing Director.