Special Assistant, Program

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, this role will work closely with the CPO and the vice presidents in their department. The special assistant provides a range of comprehensive, confidential, and highly responsible administrative services in support of the programs team. As a key member of the StriveTogether team, the Special Assistant is a self-motivated individual with a high level of attention to detail, and an ability to prioritize, multi-task and strengthen internal and external relationships.

Special Assistant, Program

About StriveTogether 

StriveTogether is a national movement with a clear purpose: helping every child succeed in school and in life from cradle to career, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. Our Cradle to Career Network is made up of 70 communities across the country, together reaching 14 million youth. StriveTogether provides coaching, resources and rigorous approaches to transform the systems of opportunity in these communities. Our current strategic plan has a bold vision: to put 4 million more young people on a path to economic mobility by 2030.

The StriveTogether team is passionate, talented and dedicated to achieving our mission. We seek and value all kinds of diversity and work hard to eliminate inequities in ourselves, our organization and our communities. We support each other to try new things, have tough conversations and push for change. As we work, we share learning and progress, use data to make decisions and celebrate our wins.

About you

You are a champion of equity in opportunity and are committed to ensuring all children succeed, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. As Special Assistant, you’ll play an important role providing support and coordination for the Chief Program Officer and their team. You are highly organized and enjoy owning and orchestrating administrative details. You are highly comfortable communicating with executives and senior leadership. You can maintain confidentiality with sensitive information both internally and externally. You are a self-starter who can handle high-pressure situations with ease, tact and good judgment. Change and adaptability intrigue you and you feel comfortable managing multiple tasks at a time. 

About the position

Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, this role will work closely with the CPO and the vice presidents in their department. The special assistant provides a range of comprehensive, confidential, and highly responsible administrative services in support of the programs team. As a key member of the StriveTogether team, the Special Assistant is a self-motivated individual with a high level of attention to detail, and an ability to prioritize, multi-task and strengthen internal and external relationships. Commitment to the organization’s mission is critical for success. StriveTogether is dedicated to eliminating racial inequities. Successful candidates will have the ability to develop and maintain working relationships with diverse co-workers, Network members and guests.

Responsibilities and duties 

Executive support

• Provide sophisticated calendar management for the CPO. Prioritize inquiries and requests while troubleshooting conflicts; make judgements and recommendations to ensure smooth day-to-day engagements.
• Complete a broad variety of administrative tasks that facilitate the CPO’s ability to effectively lead the team, including assisting with and project management of special projects; designing and producing complex documents, reports, and presentations; collecting and preparing information for meetings with staff and outside parties; composing and preparing correspondence; maintaining contact lists; making travel arrangements; and completing expense and mileage reports.
• Work closely with the CPO to keep them well informed of upcoming commitments and responsibilities, following up appropriately. Act as a "barometer," having a sense for the issues taking place in the environment and keeping the CPO updated.
• Meet and coordinate with the administrative team on a regular basis to maintain alignment.

Team Support

• Provide administrative assistance to the vice presidents on the Program team. Calendar and scheduling assistance, making travel arrangements; and completing expense and mileage reports.

Qualifications and skills 

• 2-4 years of progressive office experience as a senior-level administrative professional
• Demonstrated ability to write and prepare documents, reports, presentations and correspondence, in a concise, logical and grammatically appropriate format
• Experience with managing multiple high-volume calendars
• Strong Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills (as well as their Google equivalents) and a working familiarity with other tools as needed (e.g. Canva)
• Results-oriented; demonstrated experience in the successful execution of projects
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and tact 
• Poised oral and written communicator
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships
• Possess high-level of professionalism when faced with stressful situations
• Ability to work independently with limited guidance and exercise independent judgment
• Flexibility in job schedule to meet the demands of the office setting
• Experience with communicating and managing upward

Position details

This is an exempt position with a salary range of $62,000 - $92,000 (min-max). StriveTogether offers competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience and skills. This position will be a remote or hybrid role.

Benefits, perks and flexibility

Time Away

• Sick, vacation, personal, floating holiday/wellness day, bereavement, jury duty

• 11 paid company holidays and a paid winter break the last week of December

• Paid parental leave

• Paid sabbatical after seven years of employment

• Paid time off to vote 

• Caregiver time off

Benefits

• Medical and dental plans

• 100% paid vision, short-term and long-term disability and basic life insurance.

• $2,500 annual HSA contribution for users of high-deductible health care plans

• Cellphone and internet stipend

• Competitive retirement plan with automatic employer contribution and match

• Professional development

• Employee Assistance Program 

Perks

• Remote work opportunities available

• Birthday gift card

• DeskPass access (community desk and meeting room options for remote team members)

• Company credit card for internal expenses

• Home office stipend (up to $250 per year).

Perks at our Cincinnati headquarters

• Employer paid parking

• Hybrid work model with two work-from-home days each week

• Rooftop deck

• Snacks and beverages

• Dog-friendly office

StriveTogether provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, domestic partnership status, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.