Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Chief Financial Officer

Department: Executive

Position classification: Exempt, Full-Time

Summary

American Progress is seeking candidates for the position of Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Chief Financial Officer. This position calls for a highly organized individual with unusual attention to detail. The job involves providing both administrative and research support to senior executives who rely heavily on a Special Assistant for setting priorities, exercising judgment, managing important relationships, providing timely and concise information, and ensuring they are well prepared for speeches, events, and meetings.

The Special Assistant will assist the COS and CFO with administrative procedures and coordination with other teams at the Center for American Progress; will organize meetings and manage schedules; will research, draft, and edit materials; will help organize events or meetings; and will perform other tasks.

Responsibilities:

• Organize the COS and CFO so they can accomplish daily tasks and long-term responsibilities.
• Exercise judgment on priority of tasks, meetings, incoming materials for review, pending decisions, and messages; provide research support and occasional drafting of messages, letters, or reports for COS of CFO.
• Prepare briefing books or other materials as needed.
• Communicate with the COS and CFO’s direct reports on their responsibilities and tasks.
• Communicate effectively on the COS and CFO’s behalf to senior management, donors, and others.
• Handle confidential and nonroutine information/matters.
• Draft letters, emails, memos, and speeches or talking points.
• Manage schedule, calendar, contact list, phone, and email.
• Make travel arrangements and organize meetings and group events.
• Draft, edit, and proofread documents.
• Take on special projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements and qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Prior work experience. Summer jobs, internships, or part-time work may be sufficient.
• Thorough knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong writing skills.
• Self-starter who takes initiative and seeks direction when needed, but does not wait for the next instruction to complete a project.
• Ability to plan ahead, set priorities, and organize.
• Ability to efficiently design and implement consistent systems for keeping track of overwhelming information flow.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Willingness and ability to take a leadership role among peers in the organization.

Additional Information

American Progress operates two separate nonprofit organizations to maximize our progressive agenda: The Center for American Progress and the Center for American Progress Action Fund. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “American Progress.” The Center for American Progress is a non-partisan 501(c)(3) tax-exempt research and educational institute. It undertakes research, public education and a limited amount of lobbying. The Center for American Progress Action Fund is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization dedicated to achieving progress through action. It works to transform progressive ideas into policy through rapid response communications, legislative action, grassroots organizing, political advocacy and partnerships with other progressive leaders. The organizations share office space and employees.

American Progress is an equal opportunity employer; women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

For more information on the Center for American Progress, please go to www.americanprogress.org.

For more information on the Center for American Progress Action Fund, please go to www.americanprogressaaction.org.

To apply, simply e-mail your Word resume and cover letter attachments to: jobs@americanprogress.org.

Or you may write to:
Center for American Progress
1333 H Street, NW, 10th Floor – Executive Search
Washington, DC 20005

In your correspondence, please reference the exact title of the job you are applying for in the subject line. This announcement will remain posted until the position is filled. No phone calls please.

Please note that only those individuals whose qualifications match the current needs of this position will be considered applicants and will receive responses from American Progress.

Thank you for your interest in American Progress.