Executive Assistant to Chief People Officer

Overview

This is a fixed-term contract position for 12 months, providing parental leave cover at Canva in Sydney. The role supports the Chief People Officer (CPO) by designing and managing the operational systems that enable effective leadership. The position offers a hybrid working model combining remote flexibility with collaboration on the Sydney campus.

About Canva's People Team

The People Org at Canva supports employee success through divisions like Talent Acquisition, People Partnering, People Experience, Rewards & Performance, Vibe, Internal Communications, and Operations Partnering. The Operations Partnering Speciality where this role is based functions as a triad alongside the Chief of Staff and Operations Business Partner, reporting to the CPO.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the CPO's dynamic calendar and inbox, exercising discerning judgment to prioritize matters appropriately.
• Navigate complex relationships with senior leadership support teams, maintaining discretion and protocol.
• Coordinate the CPO's travel arrangements, expense processing, and personal logistics seamlessly.
• Prepare and maintain People leadership meeting cadence, ensuring readiness and information alignment.
• Support major organizational events, offsites, and launches with coordination and operational support.
• Represent the CPO’s preferences in communication, scheduling, and other organizational decisions.
• Create and optimize scalable workflows for recurring processes including approvals and planning.
• Continuously identify operational inefficiencies and develop improved processes to enhance team effectiveness.
• Maintain strong coordination across stakeholders to ensure project timelines and milestones are met.
• Foster team culture by managing recognition, planning social events, and handling personal touches such as organizing gifts and notes.
• Handle sensitive personnel matters with discretion, recognizing the high-stakes nature of work crossing this desk.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience supporting senior leaders with proven ability to protect their time at scale.
• Strategic thinker who seeks broader context, connects information, and anticipates upcoming priorities.
• Excellent written communication skills capable of drafting messages, presentations, and briefings with minimal edits required.
• Strong network-building ability with senior leaders and peers, knowing when to leverage collaboration for solutions.
• Proactive problem-solver with a can-do attitude, willing to manage any task regardless of size.
• Highly skilled in creating visually compelling and on-brand presentations swiftly to communicate key messages.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and performing effectively under pressure without losing vital details.
• Embraces AI tools to augment productivity while applying personal judgment and refinement.

Benefits and Culture

Canva encourages a vibrant and connected work environment with opportunities for growth, fun, and meaningful contribution to ambitious goals. Detailed benefits and workplace culture highlights are available on the company website.

Additional Information

Hiring decisions are based on experience, skills, and cultural fit. Applicants are encouraged to share their pronouns and any accessibility requirements for the interview process. The company values diversity in skills and backgrounds and welcomes applications even if not all listed criteria are met. Interviews will be conducted virtually.