Santus Consulting is an indigenous Human Resources Consulting brand renowned for superior services delivered by an enviable team of qualified experts and a highly experienced HR Team.
We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Director, Private Office of the MD
Location: CBD, Abuja (FCT) Employment Type: Full-time Industry: Group of Companies (Agriculture, Energy, Tech, Mining, Real Estate, Finance etc)
Role Overview
The Director, Private Office of the Managing Director, is responsible for managing the Managing Director's professional office and coordinating aspects of his private affairs.
The primary objective is to protect and maximise the Managing Director's time, manage access to him, ensure his commitments are fulfilled, maintain important relationships and represent him when necessary.
This is a senior strategic and operational position requiring sound judgement, discretion, exceptional communication skills, resourcefulness and the ability to operate independently.
Key Responsibilities Diary Management and Access Control:
Own and manage the Managing Director's professional and personal diary through one confidential calendar.
Determine meeting schedules, priorities, access and the allocation of the Managing Director's time.
Protect the Managing Director's thinking and strategic time.
Manage requests for meetings from senior executives, business partners, family members and other stakeholders.
Correspondence, Briefings and Information Management:
Manage and prioritise correspondence, recommending appropriate responses rather than simply forwarding communications.
Prepare the Managing Director's daily brief by 8:00 a.m.
Ensure meeting papers and pre-reads are available at least 60 minutes before engagements.
Review documents for accuracy, completeness and necessary approvals before submission.
Prepare an end-of-day summary by 6:00 p.m.
Ensure all information presented to the Managing Director is accurate, relevant and decision-ready.
Representation and Stakeholder Management:
Represent the Managing Director at meetings and engagements when required.
Communicate and write on his behalf, maintaining a high standard of professional correspondence.
Manage relationships with government officials, regulators, banks, development finance institutions, diplomatic offices and other senior stakeholders.
Handle protocol arrangements for guests and maintain records of external engagements.
Exercise delegated authority within the limits provided by the Managing Director.
Commitment and Office Management:
Record every commitment made by the Managing Director and follow through to completion.
Ensure meetings produce records and action points within 24 hours.
Maintain an organised and accessible filing and documentation system.
Coordinate travel, engagement logistics, office suppliers and meeting-room readiness.
Use available AI tools to support correspondence, scheduling, meeting records and commitment tracking, while retaining responsibility for accuracy and quality.
Management of Private Affairs Approximately 15% of the role involves coordinating the Managing Director's personal and family affairs, including:
Managing personal and family travel arrangements.
Coordinating residence and household matters, vendors and maintenance.
Managing family logistics and personal appointments.
Handling personal correspondence, invitations, greetings, gifts and related arrangements.
Coordinating personal errands and purchases using funds provided specifically for those purposes.
The role does not extend to managing the Managing Director's personal finances, investments, legal or estate matters, or supervising household employees. Personal expenses must never be paid from the organisation's funds.
Professional Candour and Confidentiality:
Advise the Managing Director early, honestly and privately when a decision, action or situation requires reconsideration.
Recommend alternative courses of action where necessary.
Maintain strict confidentiality over professional, personal and family matters.
Respect the Managing Director's decisions while escalating matters that are unlawful or contrary to institutional rules.
Working Relationship and Role Boundaries:
The Director works closely with the Chief of Staff but has a distinct responsibility.
The Chief of Staff handles institutional matters, governance, board processes, portfolio oversight and institutional authority. The Director, Private Office, focuses on the Managing Director, his commitments, relationships, diary and representation.
The position does not assume responsibility for institutional governance, administration, facilities, recruitment, investment operations or corporate communications.
The Director reports directly to the Managing Director, while the Chief of Staff co-reviews performance.
Requirements The ideal candidate should possess:
At least 10 years of professional experience, including a minimum of four years at senior level running, deputising in or acting for a principal's office.
Experience as a Private Secretary, Principal Private Secretary, Chief of Staff, Special Adviser or Head of Office to a Chief Executive, Managing Director, Chairman, Partner, Country Head, Ambassador, Minister, Governor or Central Bank Executive.
Demonstrated ability to personally manage a principal's diary, correspondence and briefing.
Experience representing a principal, handling sensitive matters independently and communicating decisions on their behalf.
Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to produce correspondence that can be issued in the principal's name with minimal corrections.
Strong judgement, discretion, confidentiality and resourcefulness.
Ability to engage effectively with senior government officials, business leaders, executives, family members and other stakeholders.
Residence in Abuja or a confirmed and funded intention to relocate before resumption.
A valid driving licence.
Additional advantages:
Private-office experience in both the public and private sectors.
Exposure to board and committee meetings, capital events, government relations and development finance institutions.
Experience representing a principal in negotiations and being trusted with similar responsibilities.
The organisation seeks someone who is comfortable handling both strategic responsibilities and administrative details, can make independent decisions and is willing to be assessed based on actual delivery.
Salary N1,000,000 - N2,000,000 per month.