Executive Assistant to General Manager EMEA – maternity leave cover

Patagonia is an outdoor apparel company founded in 1973. At a time when all life on earth is under threat of extinction, we aim to use the resources we have—our business, our investments, our voice, and our imagination—to influence changes needed to protect our planet. A registered B Corporation and founding member of 1% for the Planet, Patagonia is recognized internationally for its commitment to product quality and environmental activism, contributing over $145 million in grants and in-kind donations to thousands of grassroots environmental groups around the world.

Your Role

We’re in business to save our home planet. As Executive Assistant to the GM EMEA, you contribute to this by providing executive support to help manage and organize the GM’s workflow in a manner which is efficient, effective, and customer service-oriented. You act as the primary point of contact between the GM EMEA and internal/external stakeholders.

Main Tasks

Leadership Support:

• Ensure well-organized Leadership team meetings through agenda management and coordination and supporting the facilitation of meetings and follow-up on actions including reminders.
• Support the GM and the Executive Leadership Team EMEA and extended leadership group with leadership communication and organization of key meetings.
• Supporting internal communication and office manager in planning and facilitating town halls and other employee gatherings.
• Capturing minutes of meetings as designated by the GM and follow up on actions and tasks.
• Assist GM with annual strategic planning process coordination and follow-up and other strategically important work.
• Assist the GM in planning offsites – finding suitable dates, booking work locations, accommodations, travels, etc., as necessary, as well as putting together the agenda.
• Assist GM with preparing monthly board reports and other reports or updates to the US Headquarters.
• Prepare presentations and other communication tools in support of key meetings.
• Support individual EMEA leadership team members on preparation for EMEA leadership offsites or all company team meetings.
• Occasionally take on projects to support the GM and the Patagonia EMEA organization.

Administration:

• Support the GM EMEA in managing day-to-day workflow, agenda, and help to keep organized and on track and prioritize sensitive matters.
• Plan, manage, and coordinate travel logistics and the GM’s travel calendar, from harmonizing modes of transport to visa applications.
• Process expenses for GM EMEA.
• Responsible for reading, researching, and routing correspondence; collecting and analyzing all incoming information; drafting emails and letters, presentations, and reports, e.g., media requests, internal and external presentations.
• Assist GM with coordinating initiatives, processes, and communication both internally and externally.
• Set up, coordinate, and communicate multi-party conference and video calls.

What We’re Looking For

• An inclusive mindset.
• At least 3-5 years’ experience supporting senior leadership teams to C-suite executives.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect the ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail and time management.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including senior management, other employees, and external partners, with a service-oriented mindset.
• High-level written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Experience and interest in internal and external communications.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel), Adobe Acrobat, and social media web platforms.
• Strong PowerPoint skills, including understanding of how to build presentations to communicate effectively.
• Ability to synthesize and summarize information to provide simple and clear messages.
• Ability in assembling, compiling, analyzing, and summarizing data.
• Forward-thinking and proactive approaches to problem-solving with decision-making capability.
• Highly resourceful team-player, with the ability to also be effective independently.
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion, adaptable to various competing demands, and demonstrate the highest level of service and response.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
• A love of the outdoors.
• An interest in saving our home planet and making a positive impact through your work.

Other Important Details

This is a temporary full-time position based in Amsterdam, intended to support our team till approximately mid-June 2025.

We have a hybrid work model, working from home for a maximum of 3 days per week.

We strive to make unbiased decisions and to offer a great experience to every person who applies for a role at Patagonia. Our interviews include standardized questions that focus on the aspects that are important for success in the role.

At Patagonia, we commit to becoming an anti-racist company that leads by example. This means doing the work to be inclusive and equitable, across all aspects of our business.

Every person who applies to join Patagonia receives equal employment opportunities, and we value a welcoming environment where each member of our EMEA team feels included, respected, and empowered, regardless of their race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, civil status, national origin, disability, or age.

At Patagonia, we strive to have inclusive representation within our organization and embrace a diverse mix of talent to contribute to our culture. We actively seek applications from Black and People of Colour (BPOC) and other underrepresented groups.

As we are in business to save our home planet, we can only do this together.

Please make sure that your CV and cover letter are in English.