Special Assistant to the President and Project Administrator (Executive Office)

Who we are:

At the nonprofit Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities.  Our employees are empowered to open minds, shape decisions and offer solutions.  We encourage intellectual honesty, innovation, diversity, and mutual respect, and our analysis elevates the debate, wherever it takes place.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people. We strive to attract and cultivate a vibrant, creative, and diverse community.  Our employees drive Urban’s mission through entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, effective communication, results-orientation, and relationship cultivation.  Our success depends on engaging individuals who possess and value these attributes.

The Urban Institute is exploring promising solutions to advance equity and upward mobility in the decades ahead. As such, Urban is preparing an institutional strategy and campaign to elevate the debate for this period: building knowledge and bringing reliable evidence to improve public policy and practice, strengthening communities, and transforming people’s lives for the better.

How you’ll contribute:

The Urban Institute’s Executive Office seeks a policy-curious staffer to work with the president and executive team to support the advancement of Urban’s mission, new programs, and management and operations.

The ideal candidate will have at least 2-3 years of experience providing executive support in a fast-paced office environment and a strong curiosity in all areas of policy. The candidate will also be an adept and detail-oriented assistant to the president and experience working collaboratively with staff across all divisions to accomplish Institute priorities.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the president’s daily business by scheduling internal and external meetings, and proactively ensuring that meetings and appointments stay on time; compiling the president’s daily briefing book of meeting materials, and prompting materials, as needed; tracking priorities and to dos; and preparing and filing expense reports.
• Represent the president by screening and reviewing correspondence and addressing questions and meeting requests directed to the president.
• Track and manage correspondence for the president by prioritizing and appropriately flagging for action.
• Draft correspondence and support the execution of communications and engagement including emails, briefing memos, and various other communications from the president to internal and external stakeholders.
• Track relevant social media pertaining to the president’s portfolio and draft daily social media posts.
• Arrange travel and meetings; develop itineraries, meeting logistics and agendas.
• Complete discrete special assignments by establishing objectives; determining priorities; managing time; gaining cooperation of others; monitoring progress; problem-solving; adjusting plans.

What you’ll bring:

The successful candidate will:

• Possess a Bachelor’s degree and 2-3 years of progressively responsible executive support experience ideally working with c-level executives and board members in a fast-paced office setting
• Express an insatiable appetite for public policy questions and curiosity about research
• Take initiative and possess excellent communications skills to ensure solutions and interactions are consistent with organization objectives
• Manage numerous requests/deliverables simultaneously with the expectation of multiple and changing priorities
• Display excellent and versatile writing skills including the ability to compose superior formal business correspondence and other professional documents
• Maintain strong customer service skills; exhibit exceptional interpersonal skills and judgment under stress and deadlines
• Demonstrate commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Exercise a high level of confidentiality as well as strict level of confidentiality and use professional judgment and discretion
• Demonstrate proficiency in performing a variety of complex administrative work.

Please note all applications must include a cover letter to be considered.

Please apply online at https://urban.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Urban-Careers/job/The-Urban-Institute-DC/Special-Assistant-to-the-President-and-Project-Administrator--Executive-Office-_R-800867

What you’ll experience:

Working in the Nation’s Capital, the epicenter of public policy among a network of policy experts, you can expect to have an impact on policy areas you care about and work with great colleagues who are smart, mission-driven, and collaborative.  You will blend academic rigor with on-the-ground collaboration, be encouraged and supported to fulfill your potential through meaningful work that matters and, enjoy a welcoming workplace free from harassment, discrimination and intolerance.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, disability, and life insurance coverage.  Competitive paid time off allowance, and eligibility to participate in a generous retirement savings plan plus elect a pretax benefit for commuting expenses.

The Urban Institute is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity without regard for race, ethnicity, gender, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other protected status under applicable law.

The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minorities/Women/Disabilities/Veterans.