Inbox Management & Automation Assistant (Short-Term Contract)

We are looking for a reliable and detail-oriented assistant to support a short-term project focused on bringing a busy Outlook inbox under control. This is a remote contract role, ideally suited to someone based in the Philippines with strong English communication skills and prior experience working with Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft 365 tools. This engagement will involve working closely with the business owner to review, organise, and systemise inbox workflows. There is no fixed process in place, so the work will be guided step-by-step initially. Over time, you will be expected to recognise patterns, suggest improvements, and help implement a clear structure that makes the inbox easier to manage going forward. The role requires someone who is comfortable following direction while also contributing ideas and documenting decisions as they are made. A key part of this role is working collaboratively in real time. You will be expected to proactively communicate your availability, and when schedules align, we will work together directly on the inbox during those periods. The goal is to have the business owner available to provide guidance, answer questions, and make decisions as the work progresses. This is not a fully asynchronous task — it is a guided working session approach, particularly in the early stages. Your responsibilities will include reviewing and triaging emails by category and urgency, creating and applying a logical folder structure, and setting up Outlook rules to automatically organise incoming messages. You will also assist with inbox clean-up, including unsubscribing from unnecessary mailing lists and organising historical messages. As part of the process, you may draft email responses for review, following tone guidance provided. Where appropriate, you will help set up simple automations using Outlook and Microsoft Power Automate to improve ongoing efficiency. Throughout the project, you will maintain clear documentation of the systems and rules implemented so they can be easily understood and maintained. The ideal candidate will have strong experience with Outlook, a high level of attention to detail, and the ability to handle information with care and discretion. You should be organised, methodical, and comfortable working with incomplete structures, as part of your role will be helping to build those structures. Experience with Microsoft 365 tools such as Teams, SharePoint, or Power Automate will be highly regarded, as will any background in process documentation or supporting small business owners. This is a short-term engagement expected to run for approximately 30 to 45 hours over a two to three week period, with flexible working hours driven by mutual availability. Due to the nature of the work, you will be handling business communications that may include sensitive information. Access will be provided securely through Microsoft 365, and no passwords will be shared. A confidentiality agreement will be required, and strict adherence to data privacy expectations is essential. To apply, please provide a brief introduction outlining your experience with inbox management and Outlook, any examples of similar work you have completed, your hourly rate, and your availability over the next few weeks.