Special Assistant to the Executive Director

Who We Are

Partnership Schools is accepting applications for a newly-formed role of a Special Assistant to the Executive Director. The ideal candidate brings positivity, passion, and proactivity, and is ready to dive into a fast-paced and exciting entrepreneurial work environment.

The Partnership is a pioneering school management organization started in 2013 that is shaping the next generation of urban Catholic education. Granted operational management of seven long-standing Pre-K to 8th-grade schools in the South Bronx and Harlem and an additional four schools in the heart of Cleveland beginning in 2020, the Partnership is committed to providing students in historically underserved neighborhoods with the academic preparation, values, and skills they need to excel. The Partnership currently serves over 3,400 students across the network—99% students of color.

The historic success of urban Catholic schools stems not only from a rigorous tradition of academic excellence but also from an emphasis on developing self-worth, moral character, a love of learning, and a sense of civic responsibility—all part of our long-standing commitment to educating the whole child. Partnership Schools is unique in knitting this tradition together with lessons from high-achieving public, charter, and independent schools, in the service of our students.

At the Partnership, we believe all children can achieve at the highest levels. If you are interested in serving as a pioneer in education and share an unwavering commitment to raising student achievement and an appreciation and respect for Catholic culture, identity, and values, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Do

Partnership Schools is accepting applications for the role of a Special Assistant. This role reports directly to and provides executive support for the Executive Director and serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external constituencies on all matters pertaining to Partnership Schools. The Special Assistant also serves as a liaison to the board of directors and senior management teams, and organizes and coordinates executive outreach and external relations efforts. The Special Assistant also is also responsible for managing the office and keeping it running efficiently, while contributing in a positive way to the office culture. And beyond a traditional Executive Assistant role, this Special Assistant will take on special projects related to the strategy and vision of the organization, and have a hand in shaping communications and cultivation plans for our largest donors.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, with strong written and verbal communication, administrative, and organizational skills, and the ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities. The Special Assistant will have the ability to work independently on projects, from conception to completion, and must be able to work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities and confidential matters with discretion.

Key responsibilities:

Executive Support

●     Responsible for a broad variety of administrative tasks for the Executive Director including: managing an extremely active calendar of appointments; completing expense reports; composing and preparing correspondence that is sometimes confidential; arranging travel plans, itineraries, and agendas; and compiling documents for all meetings

●     Plans, coordinates and ensures the Executive Director’s schedule is followed and respected; provides "gatekeeper" and "gateway" role, creating win-win situations for direct access to the ED’s time and office

●     Communicates directly, and on behalf of the Executive Director, with Board members, donors, Foundation staff, and others, on matters related to Executive Director's priorities

●     Prioritizes conflicting needs, handles matters expeditiously and proactively, and follows through on projects to successful completion—often with deadline pressures

Special Project Support

●     Provides support for development projects such as school donor visits, school events, and company-wide events, both internal and external

●     Supports key communication projects, including drafting acknowledgement letters and personal correspondence, creating draft Power Point presentations, and other tasks that facilitate the Executive Director's ability to effectively lead the organization

●     Participates in key meetings, often involving the Senior Leadership Team, to take notes, identify next steps, and see those next steps through to completion on behalf of the Executive director

●     Owns special research projects, ranging from identifying new ways to infuse culture into the organization, to identifying powerful partnerships we can pursue in order to best support our students and their families

●     Creates a positive working environment by planning team meetings, celebrations, recognition of employees, and reinforcing of our values

Office Support

●     Maintains inventory and office supplies, while constantly evaluating new suppliers and products to create a high-functioning office environment

●     Ensures operation of office equipment, ordering maintenance when necessary and coordinating with IT on repairs

●     Provides general administrative support for the office, including the answering of calls and taking messages, greeting and directing visitors, opening, sorting and distributing correspondence, and consolidating expense reports

●     Oversees office and administrative policies within Partnership Schools, recommending changes as appropriate

●     Partners with HR to process new hire paperwork, and supporting onboarding and offboarding efforts as appropriate

What You’ll Bring

●     A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years of executive assistant or office management experience

●     Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google suite

●     Experience with Adobe Acrobat, Social Media platforms, and Salesforce is a plus

●     Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail

●     Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, external partners and donors

●     Expert level written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write in a clear and concise voice with the end customer in mind

●     Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion, be adaptable to various competing demands, and demonstrate the highest level of customer/client service and response

●     A resourceful approach, with the ability to work independently and exhibit strong decision-making capability

●     Experience and interest in internal and external communications, relationship development, and fundraising

Why You’ll Be a Fit

●   You are deeply committed to the mission of Partnership Schools and to the education of students in underserved communities

●   You are interested in learning about K-8 education, Catholic education, school choice, and/or social justice

●   You naturally bring a positive, high-energy, and collaborative approach to your work

●   You welcome the chance to find new ways to do old things, and are continuously looking for ways to improve processes and approaches

●   You are open-minded, intellectually curious, and eager to learn something new each day!

What We Offer

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The Partnership offers a competitive benefits package and is an equal opportunity organization that values diversity.

Compensation for this role will range from $60,000 to $85,000.