We live in a world that runs on physical industries like energy, logistics, manufacturing. These sectors are essential to our economy and daily lives, yet they are held back by inefficiencies, fragile legacy systems, and decades-old ways of working. This is not just a business problem; it is a societal one. When grids fail, supply chains stall, or factories falter, entire economies are disrupted.
These companies face unique, complex challenges that typical software was never designed to solve. Cogna was founded to change this. Our mission is to give critical industries their own AI-powered Software Factory: a way to build and deploy bespoke digital tools that solve pressing operational challenges.
Since our launch in May 2023, we’ve seen incredible customer traction and revenue growth. We’re backed by leading VCs, including Notion Capital and Hoxton Ventures, and we’re building a world-class team to take on one of the most important challenges of our time.
Tackling challenges at this scale takes people who are curious, adaptable, and motivated by impact. If our mission resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn’t match every requirement. We are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the industries and societies we serve.
We are looking for an exceptional Executive Assistant to work directly with our CEO, ensuring they are focused exclusively on the highest-leverage work and that Cogna operates with the professionalism and pace of the ambitious company we are building. Your primary focus will be on assisting the CEO: managing their time, anticipating their needs, and removing every piece of transactional or operational friction from their day. You will also serve as a trusted point of contact for the wider executive team and a professional face of the company for clients, investors, and partners.
We need someone with the experience, judgement, and initiative to operate with genuine autonomy. You will think ahead, spot problems before they arise, and act decisively without waiting to be asked. If you can see the CEO has back-to-back meetings with no break, you order lunch without being told. If a client visit is approaching, you ensure every detail is handled.
This role is essential to helping us professionalise our operations and run like the high-performing, well-organised company our mission demands. You will report to the Chief of Staff and work closely with the CEO and executive team. You will be expected to be in our Chancery Lane office whenever our CEO is, which is three days a week on average.
CEO diary and time management:
Own the CEO’s calendar end-to-end. You will schedule, reschedule, and protect their time ruthlessly, ensuring meetings are purposeful, appropriately spaced, and that they always have time for deep work and strategic thinking. You will manage competing priorities, resolve scheduling conflicts with sound judgement, and ensure they are fully briefed and prepared for every engagement.
Travel and logistics:
Plan and book all travel for the CEO, including flights, hotels, ground transport, and itineraries. You will handle visas, ensure travel plans are seamless, and adapt quickly when plans change at short notice.
Professional representation:
Be the first point of contact for anyone reaching the CEO’s office—clients, investors, board members, and partners. You will manage communications on their behalf with discretion and professionalism, ensuring every interaction reflects the calibre of the company.
Proactive problem-solving:
Anticipate upcoming issues and resolve them before they reach the CEO. Whether it’s identifying a gap in a meeting schedule, flagging a preparation that’s been missed, or spotting a conflict in commitments, you will think several steps ahead and act with initiative. You will ensure the CEO is never doing anything they shouldn’t be doing.
Meeting and event preparation:
Ensure meeting rooms are set up and presentable in advance of all CEO meetings. Coordinate logistics for leadership offsites, board meetings, client visits, and investor events, ensuring every detail—from materials to catering to AV setup—is handled to a high standard.
Guest experience:
Greet and host the CEO’s guests, ensuring they are welcomed professionally and looked after until their meeting begins. You will create a polished, confident first impression of Cogna for every visitor.
Executive team support:
Provide administrative support to the wider executive team as required. This may include diary management, travel coordination, or logistics support for key initiatives. You will use your judgement to prioritise effectively across competing demands.
Coordination with internal teams:
Work closely with business operations, finance, and other support functions to ensure smooth day-to-day operations. You will be a reliable, collaborative partner who helps the wider team deliver effectively. This may include receiving and storing office supplies and ensuring the office is presentable.
Overlooked and unaddressed inefficiencies are slowing down our most vital industries. Whether in utilities, construction, facilities management, logistics, or beyond - complex infrastructure and siloed legacy systems are hampering productivity.
Traditional off-the-shelf software can’t address these unique challenges—and few organisations have the resources for custom-built solutions.
Cogna is a precision solutions provider that uses AI to automate the IT consultancy process to identify the trickiest business pain points and create simple, usable solutions to remedy them.
We put software creation into our customers' hands, letting them describe their own challenges and delivering AI-powered custom software in days, not months or years, at a fraction of typical costs.
