Executive Assistant, Office of the CEO

Reading Partners is changing the education landscape. We are a leader in working to solve the literacy crisis in our country by leveraging community volunteers in under-resourced schools. Our diverse and expansive volunteer base provides one-on-one tutoring to students twice weekly, and our program is proven to help children master the reading fundamentals they need to unlock their potential as successful, happy and confident readers in school and in life. Our people are our heartbeat and our greatest resource; we are all passionately rallied around our mission to help children become lifelong learners by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that works. Join our stellar team leading the charge to deepen our impact and expand our service. Watch this video to learn more about Reading Partners.

The High Level

The Executive Assistant (EA) is a vital role at Reading Partners. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, this position provides excellent support, works collaboratively with the executive team, and serves as a primary point of contact for internal and external constituencies. The ideal candidate will be excited by the opportunity to experience and influence the daily operations of a dynamic nonprofit organization. The Executive Assistant role is a great opportunity for an energetic, highly organized, and innovative professional with strong communication and project management skills.

What you’ll do:

Provide day-to-day administrative support to the CEO (projected to be 60% of time):

• Apply strong organizational skills to anticipate CEO needs and deliver consistently outstanding administrative support.
• Manage the complex calendar of the CEO, including arranging extensive travel and frequent meetings (post-COVID-19).

• Provide operational support to the Office of the CEO, as needed.

• Complete monthly expense reports for the Office of the CEO.
• Assist with other administrative and coordination projects, as needed.

Produce internal and external communications on behalf of the CEO to increase brand awareness (projected to be 20% of time):

• Communicate directly, and on behalf of the CEO, with Board members, donors, staff, external partners, and others to manage all of the CEO’s scheduling efforts
• In partnership with the Chief of Staff and the Marketing & Communications department, contribute to written executive communications by drafting, editing and proofreading materials that add to the enhancement of CEO communications through multiple channels (e.g. drafting copy for monthly newsletters, press releases, publications, social media presence and content, Op Eds, Twitter posts, Instagram posts, etc.)  
• Assist with preparing the CEO for speaking engagements by creating talking points, drafting speeches, and preparing any supporting documents/materials. 
• Keep current on recent trends in education, youth and literacy and craft responses for CEO, as appropriate.

Assist with management of the board of directors on behalf of the office of the CEO (projected to be 20% of time):

• Act as the primary logistical manager for the Reading Partners national board of directors and its committees. This includes scheduling meetings, securing meeting space and handling A/V support, as needed
• Lead preparation of the agenda and materials for monthly Executive Committee and project management of the deliverables for the quarterly national board meetings
• Provide support for nominations and governance activities for the national board, including research and creation of new member prospect profiles
• Attend quarterly national board meetings (as requested) and draft meeting minutes for the CEO

How you’ll do it:

Relationship Development: 

• Quickly develop positive relationships with CEO, Chief of Staff, XT, and Executive Directors of regions. 

• Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate with a variety of personalities and manage a portfolio of relationships across functional areas as well. This requires the ability to remain flexible, patient and goal-oriented in the face of competition for time and resources. 

Communication:

• Work closely with the CEO, Chief of Staff, and members of the communications team to produce spoken and written internal, external and media communications for and on behalf of the CEO.

• Develop and maintain the CEO’s brand and presence through web, print and social media channels.

Project Management & Problem solving: 

• Demonstrate a strong ability to balance multiple competing priorities daily that include high-level / tactical communication, coordination, and administrative activities. 

• Demonstrate a strong ability to identify problems, solve them quickly, and appropriately message all shifts.

• Demonstrate an ability to prioritize, make decisions that consider all stakeholders and take action accordingly. 

• Consider all stakeholders and implications in projects that are cross-functional.  Demonstrate an ability to rally a variety of folks together to meet a goal.

Innovative Thinking & Flexibility:

• Demonstrate an ability to create processes and systems to streamline internal operations for the Office of the CEO. 
• Display a high level of comfort with ambiguity and an ability to generate high quality deliverables in a fluid environment. Show an aptitude for framing problems as opportunities, and always pushing to further streamline processes. 

About you!

You’ll be successful in this role if you:

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Have significant experience in project management, communications, operations or supporting C-Level Executives in a similar role, preferably in a fast-paced, non-profit environment.
• Display incredible passion and skill in communications, both verbal and written. Preferably with 1+ year of experience creating external communications. 
• Demonstrate maturity and poise under pressure, ability to balance competing priorities, and show a high degree of professionalism when interacting with C-Level staff.
• Have strong project management abilities and a high degree of organizational skill with meticulous attention to detail. 
• Highly resourceful team player with ability to be effective independently.  
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint), Google apps, Salesforce, etc.
• Possess an entrepreneurial spirit. 
• Boast a deep belief in our mission.
• Root your work in our core values.
• Prove eligibility to work legally in the U.S.

Bonus Points if you:

• Have experience in internal and external communications, specifically in web, print and social media outlets.
• Have experience working in launch or growth phases of organizations.
• Are an AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or other national service alum/alumna.

What we offer

Reading Partners offers the full package – great benefits, a great place to work, and the opportunity to have a glowing and growing career. 

• We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience. This is a full-time, non-exempt (paid hourly) position. 
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, generous paid time off, commuter benefits, referral bonuses, 403(b) option, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 
• We offer an exciting and dynamic culture, and we commit to investing in and supporting our amazing people to grow their careers with us. As such, we provide ongoing professional development opportunities.

The other stuff you need to know

• Location & Travel: This position is ideally based in the East Coast. It is possible some travel may be required.
• Typical Physical & Mental Demands: Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping and stretching, and eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator and other office equipment.  Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with volunteers and staff. Also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.

What’s Next?

If you’re interested in joining our Reading Partners team, please submit the following application materials to our online job posting: 

• A cover letter describing your interest in Reading Partners and how your past experience has prepared you for this role. Please include your compensation needs.
• Resume