Executive Assistant (Intern)
Location: Lagos, Sub Saharan Africa, NG
Company: British Council
Company Overview
The British Council supports peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding, and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We work directly with individuals to help them gain the skills, confidence, and connections to transform their lives and shape a better world in partnership with the UK. We support them to build networks and explore creative ideas, learn English, get a high-quality education, and gain internationally recognized qualifications. Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2021–22, we reached 650 million people.
Position Overview: Executive Assistant (Intern) – Legal
Background/Role Purpose
The British Council offers students/graduates an experiential learning opportunity through an internship program. This practical experience is expected to complement the theoretical knowledge gained during their studies. Interns are expected to both learn from and contribute to the workplace, thereby increasing their employability skills. The outcome is that students and graduates become more employable and successful due to the skills they acquire.
Role Context
The British Council in Nigeria works in three strategic business areas: Arts and Culture, English, and Education. We are looking to recruit an intern to join our Business Support Services (BSS) Unit. The intern will be based in Lagos and will provide operational and administrative support primarily to the General Counsel & Company Secretary (a member of the Nigeria Senior Leadership Team). The intern will also support Leadership Team projects and initiatives under the supervision of the General Counsel & Company Secretary.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the General Counsel & Company Secretary, the intern’s duties will include:
- Providing support to the General Counsel & Company Secretary to facilitate the effective discharge of the office’s responsibilities, including transcribing and proofreading legal documents.
- Assisting the General Counsel & Company Secretary with maintaining and updating the SharePoint site for the legal unit and the Senior Leadership Team (an e-platform for the storage, organization, and sharing of information).
- Assisting with Senior Leadership Team project and programme implementation and providing updates to SLT as required for effective monitoring purposes. This includes organizing internal meetings and workshops, including logistics planning as delegated by the General Counsel & Company Secretary.
- Scheduling meetings as directed by the General Counsel & Company Secretary.
- Attending to selected high-level visitors to the country directorate, providing advice and support to teams on processes and priorities.
- Responding to emails and letters on requests for British Council engagement, sponsorship, partnerships, attendance at events, and meetings. Managing correspondence in this regard.
Learning and Development Opportunities for the Intern
- General understanding of the work and mission of the British Council (an international, not-for-profit organization) and its contribution to Nigeria’s prosperity and stability.
- Insight and hands-on experience in legal, operational, and administrative functions, programme management, and stakeholder management in a formal setting.
- Familiarity with working in an International Organization and a multicultural environment.
Profile of Intern
Essential:
- Recent graduate (within the last 3 years) with excellent organizational skills and the ability to multitask.
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English.
- Computer literate with proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.
- Good organization, time management, and scheduling skills.
- Confident in communicating with senior stakeholders.
Desirable:
- Proven work experience as a Legal Assistant, Personal Assistant, Office Administrator, or Executive Assistant.
- A legal background (e.g., a degree in Law) or an interest in legal work. Note: applicants without a legal background will be considered.
- An interest in international relations.
- Project management skills.
Management and Support for the Role
The intern will report to the General Counsel & Company Secretary based in Lagos. They will also support projects and initiatives on behalf of the Nigeria Country Leadership Team (SLT) under the supervision of the General Counsel & Company Secretary.
Qualifications:
- Maximum of 3 years post-NYSC in any field of study.
Contract Duration: 1 year
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English
Closing Date: 7 August 2024 (Applications will close at 23:59 GMT)