Executive Assistant

Avantor•Radnor, PA

About The Position

The Executive Assistant serves as a trusted business partner to the President, VWR Distribution & Services, and the Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer. The role provides high-level executive support, drives operational excellence, and enables strategic priorities across the organization. It extends beyond traditional administrative duties, involving proactive coordination, project management, and technology-enabled problem solving to anticipate business needs, remove barriers, and enhance executive effectiveness. The ideal candidate has exceptional organizational skills, business acumen, project management expertise, and the ability to exercise confidentiality, discretion, and independent judgment in a fast-paced, highly matrixed environment. Responsibilities include managing executive calendars and travel, preparing meeting materials, coordinating projects and leadership events, optimizing processes with technology, supporting governance routines, and managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 5 years of experience supporting senior executives, preferably VP, SVP, CHRO, COO, or C-suite leaders.
Demonstrated experience managing complex executive calendars and competing priorities.
Proven project management experience coordinating multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 applications.
Experience with executive-level presentations, data reporting, and business communications.
Strong organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail.
Ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
Ability to anticipate needs, identify issues, develop solutions independently, and take ownership of outcomes.
Business acumen to understand organizational priorities and connect daily activities to broader business goals.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders, drive execution, and deliver results under tight timelines.
Professionalism, credibility, confidence, diplomacy, discretion, and effective communication with senior leaders and external partners.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting HR, Commercial, Corporate Functions, or Global Business Services leaders.
Exposure to organizational change, transformation initiatives, or mergers and acquisitions environments.
Experience working in a global, matrixed organization.

Responsibilities

Manage complex executive calendars, prioritize competing demands, identify scheduling conflicts, and optimize executives’ time against critical business objectives.
Prepare executives for meetings, business reviews, leadership forums, and customer interactions with briefing materials, agendas, and follow-up actions.
Serve as a primary contact for internal and external stakeholders, representing executives with professionalism and sound judgment.
Coordinate domestic and international travel in accordance with company policies and executives’ preferences.
Lead and coordinate cross-functional projects, including leadership team presentations and team slide contributions; establish project plans, monitor milestones, facilitate follow-up, and escalate risks when appropriate.
Track commitments, action items, and outcomes to drive accountability across stakeholders.
Partner with HR, Finance, Commercial, and Corporate Functions teams on organizational initiatives and leadership priorities.
Coordinate leadership meetings, operating reviews, team offsites, and strategic planning sessions.
Use technology and automation tools to streamline administrative and business processes, including executing Workday business processes for executives, such as expense reports and job requisition approvals.
Identify opportunities to improve workflows through automation, AI-enabled capabilities, and process redesign.
Maintain and organize digital files, shared resources, meeting documentation, and project repositories.
Support virtual, hybrid, and in-person leadership events using technology solutions.
Plan executive leadership meetings and prepare agendas, materials, and logistics; capture outcomes, decisions, and action items and ensure timely follow-up.
Support governance processes, leadership routines, and operational cadences.
Coordinate confidential leadership discussions and sensitive personnel matters with discretion.
Build working relationships across organizational levels and interface with senior leaders, board-level stakeholders, customers, and external partners.
Anticipate stakeholder needs and proactively resolve issues before escalation.