Special Projects Associate

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Governors Action Alliance (GovAct) is a fiscally sponsored nonprofit nonpartisan initiative that helps Governors work across state lines to champion fundamental freedoms and improve people's lives. GovAct serves as a centralized platform for collaboration across Governors’ Offices—incubating, launching, and supporting alliances of Governors. These alliances share cutting-edge policy and legal approaches to some of the most challenging and critical issues we face, from reproductive freedom, democracy, public safety, and public health.

Currently, GovAct supports the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, Governors Safeguarding Democracy, the Governors Public Health Alliance, and other Governor-led initiatives and collaborations. Specifically, GovAct helps:

• Build capacity and expertise by connecting experts across Governors' Offices and organizations, tailoring best practices, model policies, and legislation, and advancing other legal and policy innovations for Governors to advance bold policies;
• Develop innovative ideas for collaboration by breaking out of silos and advancing creative initiatives;
• Advance affirmative agendas for Governors to maximize their powers to protect fundamental freedoms and counteract federal overreach; and
• Partner with other nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders.

More information about GovAct can be found at www.GovActAlliance.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

GovAct seeks a sharp, highly motivated, well-organized individual who loves details, thrives in fast-paced environments, and is a consummate team player to serve as a GovAct Special Projects Associate in the Office of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This individual will play a key role in advancing the CEO’s strategic priorities and organizational vision. Reporting to the Special Projects Manager to the CEO, this individual will support non-routine projects, drive execution across teams, and will help solve complex, evolving challenges that require strategy, coordination, and a nimble approach. The ideal candidate will believe deeply in GovAct’s mission to support governors in protecting fundamental freedoms – and be eager to help execute on that mission in a rapidly evolving and dynamic environment.

This role will require some travel to attend in-person meetings and functions and might require after-hours/weekend work. The role is remote, but with an opportunity for hybrid if working in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Special Projects Manager with scheduling, the preparation of meeting materials, booking travel, and other day-to-day needs in the Office of the CEO.
• Help design and develop meeting structures, cadences, and agendas that foster alignment and cohesion across the organization.
• Organize briefings and meetings with Governors’ Offices on democracy, reproductive freedom, public health, and other initiatives and alliances.
• Plan, develop, and manage the coordination of a range of special projects and strategic initiatives, in close coordination with the leadership team in the Office of the CEO, including the Chief of Staff and Special Projects Manager.
• Partner with the Special Projects Manager to drive team priority setting, key decision-making processes, and effective resource allocation across GovAct and its alliances.
• Lead and support rapid-response projects, quickly synthesizing ideas and priorities to deliver high-quality deliverables under tight timelines.
• Identify and implement effective opportunities for increased collaboration and problem-solving to ensure effective operations.
• Bring strong attention to detail in drafting and reviewing materials and proactively identify opportunities to strengthen deliverables and support the team.
• At the request of the CEO, support other GovAct teams or undertake new projects and initiatives to meet critical needs and deadlines across the organization.
• Travel to support the CEO at events and meetings, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Success in this role will require an experienced professional who possesses many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

Experience

• 2-4 years working in a fast-paced executive support or project management role.
• Proven track record working effectively to provide direction across teams and departments, managing multiple fast-moving projects, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, as well as experience and comfort with being a strategic thought partner with senior leaders.

Skills

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and a high level of discretion around sensitive matters.
• Fast learner who can seamlessly move between projects and adapt quickly to shifting priorities.
• Demonstrates strong initiative and persistence, continually seeking solutions and following through until challenges have been met or are resolved.
• The ability to bring creative solutions and ideas to challenges and problems both internally and externally.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across a matrixed organization.
• Meticulous attention to detail and can-do attitude.
• Passion for working with and across teams, with a commitment to excellence on matters big and small, with the overall performance of the team as the key metric of success.
• Clear verbal and written communicator.

Knowledge

• Understanding of public policy, state government and gubernatorial operations, ideally paired with a broad understanding of issues related to fundamental freedoms and democracy.
• Proficiency with MS Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Sharepoint).

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in government, communications, policy, or related fields strongly preferred.

VALUES AND LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

To effectively meet this critical startup moment, successful candidates will also bring relevant and diverse lived and professional experiences to the build of the organization and will align with key founding values of GovAct including:

• Belief in the power of government and governors’ offices in particular to advance bold, affirmative agendas that protect fundamental rights and defend the Constitution.
• Strong, hands-on work ethic needed to support fast-paced start-up growth and development of a sustainable organization.
• Political adeptness, sound judgment, and experience handling sensitive information needed to gain trust and work effectively across governors’ offices.
• Collaboration, communication, and relationship skills needed to operate effectively across a complex and matrixed network of stakeholders and teams.
• Resiliency, optimism, and solutions orientation needed to advance a joyful approach to the work, remain responsive rather than reactive, and support progress when meeting difficult challenges.
• Commitment and demonstrated ability to work effectively and build alignment across lines of difference.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000, annually based on experience. GovAct provides all employees 12 paid holidays and 30 paid days off. GovAct provides an excellent benefits plan, including parental leave, medical, dental, vision, short-term, and long-term disability; wellness, technology, and professional development stipend; and a robust 401K program.

The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000, annually based on experience. GovAct provides all employees 12 paid holidays and 30 paid days off. GovAct provides an excellent benefits plan, including parental leave, medical, dental, vision, short-term, and long-term disability; wellness, technology, and professional development stipend; and a robust 401K program.