Definition

1. Noun:
   • A secretary with administrative duties and responsibilities: An "executive secretary" is a senior administrative professional who supports high-level executives by managing schedules, handling communications, organizing meetings, and often overseeing office operations. This role involves greater responsibility and decision-making authority than a standard secretarial position.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The CEO's executive secretary manages her calendar and filters all incoming correspondence.
  • He was promoted from administrative assistant to executive secretary, gaining oversight of the department's budget.

Advanced Usage

• The term can imply a gatekeeper role, controlling access to the executive.
  • All requests must go through the executive secretary.
• In some organizations, the role may be synonymous with "chief of staff" for a specific executive, involving strategic planning.
  • As the executive secretary, her duties extended to preparing briefing materials for board meetings.

Variants and Related Words

• Secretary (n): A person employed to handle correspondence, keep records, and perform routine administrative tasks.
• Administrative Assistant (n): A person who provides administrative support, often with less seniority than an executive secretary.
• Personal Assistant (PA) (n): A person who assists a specific individual with business and personal tasks.

Synonyms

• Administrative Secretary
• Senior Secretary
• Executive Assistant (Note: This is a very close synonym, though sometimes "executive assistant" may imply an even broader strategic role.)

Related Phrases

• To act as executive secretary: To perform the duties of this role, often temporarily or for a specific project.
  • She will act as executive secretary for the duration of the merger talks.

Noun

1. a secretary having administrative duties and responsibilities