Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff: The Institute for Sustained Attention

The Institute for Sustained Attention (ISA), a leading non-profit initiative at the vanguard of ATTENTION ACTIVISM via its Friends of Attention, Strother School of Radical Attention, and other initiatives, is accepting applications for the new position of Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff.

Position Summary

The Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff will serve as a force multiplier for the Director, managing high-level administrative operations while ensuring organizational effectiveness across ISA’s nonprofit programs. This role combines traditional executive support—complex calendar management, correspondence, meeting coordination, and travel arrangements—with strategic chief of staff responsibilities including human resource management, board liaison, and stewarding key partnerships. The ideal candidate brings exceptional organizational and communications skills, discretion with confidential information, and excellent judgement. We seek an individual who thrives in a mission-driven, team-centered work environment. The position is based in Brooklyn, NY.

Key Responsibilities: Executive Assistant (40%)

• Calendar management and meeting coordination.
• Track and prioritize invitations for public appearances.
• Negotiate, review, and execute contracts, release forms, and other documentation for public appearances.
• Plan, support, and organize travel logistics.
• Provide executive support for correspondence, drafting texts for communications and publication, and slide decks.
• Coordinate synchronization of Director’s public appearances with ISA communications channels.

Key Responsibilities: Chief of Staff (60%)

Strategic Leadership & Board Liaison

• Plan and support board meetings, planning sessions, and other strategic initiatives.
• Assist with board communications between meetings.
• Manage liaison with legal counsel on HR and other matters as needed.

Human Resources

• Coordinate job postings and track applications; with senior leadership, schedule and conduct interviews.
• Draft engagement letters and maintain documentation of employee and contractor engagements.
• Schedule, conduct, and document periodic reviews.
• Develop and communicate new policies as needed.
• Liaison with ISA Financial Administrator.

Partnerships: Strother School of Radical Attention

• Steward potential partners from initial contact with the Director to SoRA staff (schedule and attend meetings with potential partners, move forward partner correspondence).
• With the Program Director, host visits to SoRA by potential partners.
• Work with the Program Director and Education Coordinator to draft proposals for partner engagements.
• Produce contracts and invoices for external engagements.

Program Support: Friends of Attention

• Monitor Friends of Attention inbox and maintain mailing list.
• Support communications for monthly First Friday Zoom gatherings.
• Provide ad hoc administration for other Friends of Attention activities including the annual Politics of Attention workshop.

Skills and Competencies

5+ years’ previous experience as a personal or executive assistant, or in a related role.

Excellent communication capacities, error-free fluency in writing and editing texts, and intellectual engagement with ISA’s mission.

Nimble and sensitive intelligence as an organizational connector, able to foster relationships and committed to creating a supportive environment.

Able to work effectively — receiving instructions, participating in meetings, and delivering key information — by phone.

Understanding of, and appreciation for, the distinctive character of an excellence-oriented, mission-driven, social-change-vision, non-profit organization working to extend its reach and impact.

High-level proficiency in Google Workspace (Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides) and Zoom. Airtable, Squarespace/Wordpress, Adobe Acrobat and/or social media platforms a plus.

Excellent time management and organizational skills, proven ability to prioritize effectively.

Exceptional standards of accuracy, timeliness, and attention to detail.

Can-do attitude, generous/collaborative spirit, and an appetite for growth.

Work Schedule

This is a full-time, salaried position. The role requires occasional evening and weekend availability according to calendar requirements. It is expected that the successful candidate will work 1-2 days per week in person at the Strother School of Radical Attention in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Rapid-response availability to the Director is a key element of the job.

Salary

The salary range for this position is $55K-70K (with some benefits), commensurate with experience.

To Apply

We seek to make an appointment by December 22, to begin no later than Monday, January 12. We will be accepting applications (1-page cover letter, CV, three references) until midnight on Thursday, December 11: please email a single PDF to employment@sustainedattention.net.