Executive Assistant

Description

At Meridian, our aspiration is to integrate our purpose into everything we do for people, the planet, and communities. Our vision is to be recognized as an inclusive, transparent and people focused financial partner. We believe that our greatest opportunity is to create opportunity.

About This Opportunity

The Executive Assistant role reporting to the Chief People & Culture Officer (CPCO) at Meridian is a unique opportunity for an organized and professional candidate with strong administrative, organizational and relationship building skills. If you enjoy being the glue that helps hold together a high performing, engaged team, this role is for you. In this pivotal role you will support the execution of the Meridian for Good strategy and the enabling People and Culture (P&C) strategy.

Is this role right for you? In this role, you will:

This position provides executive level administrative support to the Chief People & Culture Officer and the P & C team to support delivery of an ambitious plan. As the Executive Assistant you will accomplish this by building strong relationships, taking the initiative to track and follow-up on critical, time sensitive work deliverables, and bring an energetic and positive, let’s make it happen style. Guided by the mission and vision of Meridian, you will leverage your advanced administrative skills, technology savviness, diplomacy, and organizational skills to shape your success in this role.

Responsibilities typically include calendar and expense management, preparing and coordinating team meetings, minutes, and agendas, as well as helping with executive presentations, reports and internal communications. You will work independently with limited supervision, partnering across the enterprise with the MCU executive team, executive assistants, and the P & C team to coordinate meetings, plan agendas, townhalls, leadership retreats, meetings, initiatives, and projects. Timelines are often tight and problems sometimes complex requiring business and political acuity, and the ability to multi-task in a fast paced, demanding environment.

Key Accountabilities:

• As an initiative-taking member of the team, provides efficient administrative and technical support to the CPCO including professional support associated with Board, CEO, executive leadership team interactions in a fast-paced hybrid work environment.
• Maintains e-mail system, calendar, web based (SharePoint) filing system, and schedules appointments, coordinates travel and meeting arrangements as required. Prioritizes daily, weekly, monthly schedules and agenda of activities in conjunction with the CPCO playing a gatekeeper role for direct access to Executive.
• Leverages technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the People and Culture team and the CPCO including providing first level IT and systems support and guidance.
• Assists with preparation of high-quality Board and executive materials and reports ensuring deadlines and standards are met; maintains subject matter knowledge and awareness on business issues, projects and activities requiring the executive’s involvement.
• Represents the CPCO in a professional manner in all internal and external interactions and relationships including with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors.
• Exemplifies service excellence in supporting the CPCO and P & C team by preparing materials, organizing filing systems, coordinating Board Committee material preparation, and proactively resolving conflicts in schedule/commitments.
• Provide backup assistance to other Executive Assistants when required as a member of the team, continually exhibiting a team approach, pitching in to assist when deadlines for other Assistants are pressing.

 We’d love to work with you if you have the following skills and abilities:

 Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• A minimum of 7-10 years’ experience as a professional executive assistant or senior administrative assistant, having supported senior level executives, in a medium/large corporate environment or similar related experience.
• Demonstrated organizational skills and the ability to quickly prioritize and resolve critical issues or conflicting timelines as they arise.
• Advanced proficiency in the use of Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint, NetSuite, UKG and other office automation software applications. You are a go-to technological savvy resource for others.
• Demonstrate professional written and verbal communication skills and proven effective organizational and time-management skills working in a Hybrid environment.
• Highly professional demeanor, poise, confidence, maturity, and exceptional interpersonal relationship skills with the ability to communicate effectively with Chief Executives, Directors, and internal & external partners & contacts.
• Effective in multi-tasking in a high-pressure environment, with the foresight to plan, anticipate changes, evaluate, interpret, use sound judgment, and respond in a proactive manner.
• Possesses the ability to think strategically and to take initiative to maintain the executive’s office at a superior level of efficiency and competency.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision and with ambiguity, within a team environment; not waiting to take necessary action or to be asked to assist others.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and deal with sensitive materials and situations; the ability to exercise excellent judgment and to always act with discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
• Able to adapt and respond to a changing environment using creativity and innovation; takes ownership for own performance and development.
• Challenges the status quo and generally accepted practices of the office of the Executive.
• Team player, positive attitude and solution/service oriented with a “can-do” attitude.
• Conscientious, flexible, adaptable, resourceful, committed, trustworthy, loyal, insightful, calm, and assertive.
• Demonstrates leadership, discipline, and professionalism with internal and external clients, role model in service excellence. Ability to be part of a team that is equally committed to offering high standards of service.
• Demonstrates personal Leadership attributes, including strong interpersonal and service orientation, tactical problem solving, and program coordination skills.
• Will take responsibility for self-development and continuous learning to achieve required knowledge for the job, demonstrating a willingness and eagerness to continue to grow personally and professionally.

Office Location:  Toronto Corporate Office with the ability to travel to our St. Catharines office as needed. This is a hybrid work opportunity.

Meridian has a remote work policy that allows flexibility for employees to work remotely but also requires a minimum of semi-monthly regular time in the office for purposeful meetings to collaborate, innovate and build effective relationships with your team, your colleagues and your leader which is important to us.

What's in it for you?

• We have an inclusive and collaborative working environment that encourages teamwork, creativity, curiosity, and celebrates success
• We provide you with the tools and technology needed to delight your candidates and clients
• You will get to work with and learn from diverse industry leaders and colleagues, who have hailed from top organizations.
• Hybrid work arrangements with in-person office time to collaborate, innovate and build relationships with your colleagues.
• This is not your typical "corporate" job. We work hard and we have fun

Who we are:

Meridian is Ontario’s largest credit union, and second largest in Canada, helping to grow the lives of our more than 380,000 Members. Meridian has more than 80 years of banking history and is 100% owned by its members. With 87 retail branches and 15 Business Banking Centers across Ontario and $ 32B in assets under management, Meridian offers a full range of financial products and services to its retail, business banking and wealth members. With over 2200 employees and corporate offices located in Toronto and St. Catharines, Meridian has a track record of creating and delivering innovative new offerings and is committed to investing in the communities that we serve.  Our plan is to build on our momentum as we deliver on our purpose - helping our members achieve their best life. 

Find our story here: