Senior Executive Assistant

Overview

The Senior Executive Assistant to the SVP, Global Head of Human Resources is a highly trusted, senior-level role that provides proactive, strategic, and confidential support to the SVP, Human Resources. This position acts as a force multiplier-enabling the SVP to focus on enterprise and people priorities by anticipating needs, shaping agendas, protecting time, and ensuring disciplined execution across the HR leadership agenda.

The ideal candidate brings exceptional judgment, executive presence, and operational rigor, with the ability to operate seamlessly across administrative excellence, strategic coordination, and sensitive people-related matters. This role requires absolute discretion and a deep understanding of HR operating rhythms, talent cycles, and senior-leader decision-making.

This role is based out of our Milford HQ and is a hybrid work pattern - 3+ days per week on site.

Responsibilities

Executive & Strategic Support

• Serve as a trusted partner to the SVP, Human Resources, anticipating needs and proactively managing priorities, schedules, and information flow to maximize executive effectiveness.
• Design and manage a complex, high-volume calendar aligned to HR priorities, enterprise milestones, and leadership rhythms.
• Act as a thoughtful gatekeeper for incoming requests, exercising sound judgment to protect focus and time.

HR Leadership, Talent Cycle & Event Coordination

• Own preparation and logistics for HR Leadership Team meetings, strategic HR reviews, enterprise talent processes, and leadership-level HR forums.
• Develop agendas, manage pre-reads, coordinate presenters, and ensure materials are accurate, timely, and decision-ready.
• Track actions, follow-ups, and commitments to ensure disciplined execution and closure across HR priorities.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary liaison for the SVP, Human Resources' office, interacting with senior HR leaders, functional leaders, and key internal and external stakeholders with professionalism and clarity.
• Draft, edit, and coordinate sensitive communications on behalf of the SVP, including leadership messages, talent-related communications, and time-sensitive updates.

Confidential Information & Data Stewardship

• Manage highly confidential materials including talent assessments, succession plans, organizational designs, workforce planning materials, and executive correspondence.
• Exercise impeccable discretion, judgment, and integrity in handling sensitive employee and leadership data.

Operational & Administrative Excellence

• Oversee executive travel (domestic and international), expense reporting, purchase orders, and administrative workflows with accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintain structured planning calendars for annual HR cycles, including talent reviews, succession planning, performance processes, and strategic planning.
• Continuously improve processes, templates, and operating rhythms to increase efficiency, clarity, and effectiveness within the SVP's office.

External Partner & Search Coordination

• Coordinate with executive search firms, consultants, and external advisors supporting senior-level hiring, leadership development, and transformation initiatives within HR.
• Manage scheduling, documentation flow, preparation materials, and follow-ups for external engagements.

Qualifications

Experience:

• 8+ years of experience supporting senior executives, ideally within HR, Legal, or another function handling sensitive, enterprise-level work.
• Demonstrated experience supporting a C-suite or SVP-level leader in a complex, matrixed global organization.
• Exceptional organizational, written, and verbal communication skills with strong executive presence.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Excel) and collaboration tools.
• Proven ability to operate with discretion, sound judgment, and composure in a fast-paced environment.

Core Competencies:

• Executive judgment and discretion
• Strategic anticipation and prioritization
• Operational rigor and follow-through
• Relationship management and influence
• Confidentiality and trust
• Proactive problem solving

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) is a global leader in life sciences and diagnostics, dedicated to accelerating the benefits of pioneering science through analytical technologies, informatics, and service. With a focus on regulated, high-volume testing environments, our innovative portfolio harnesses deep scientific expertise across chemistry, physics, and biology. We collaborate with customers around the world to advance the release of effective, high-quality medicines, ensure the safety of food and water, and drive better patient outcomes by detecting diseases earlier, managing routine infections, and combating antibiotic resistance. Through a shared culture of relentless innovation, our passionate team of ~16,000 colleagues turn scientific challenges into breakthroughs that improve lives worldwide.


Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Key Words

#LI-Hybrid
#Executive Assistant