Global Development Matters
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Job Opportunity: Assistant to the President

June 30, 2008

The Center for Global Development (CGD) is currently accepting applications and nominations for a dynamic Assistant to support CGD’s President.

Overview
The Assistant to the President works at the highest levels of the organization, interfacing regularly with the Center’s staff, management, Board of Directors, and external constituencies on a broad variety of confidential and complex issues. He/she must be able to exercise discretion, good judgment and significant initiative. The incumbent will operate with little supervision and must have a clearly defined sense of what needs to be done without waiting for direction. He/she should expect to be “on call” outside of regular business hours. The President relies significantly on the person in this position.

This position would be an excellent opportunity for an individual with strong administrative experience looking for a challenging, rewarding next step, or for an individual seeking to develop knowledge of and exposure to the issues and players in the international development policy field.

Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

  • Providing confidential and high level administrative support to the President
  • Facilitating the President’s accessibility and acting as a liaison between the President and all CGD staff to keep colleagues informed and maintain open lines of communication
  • Working as a close team with the Special Assistant to the President to ensure the President’s busy research and management work program stays on track, including taking cues from the Special Assistant to arrange meetings, appointments, and followup
  • Working closely with other members of the Executive Office and senior management (Vice Presidents, Director of Communications, and their teams) on team efforts including work with CGD Board of Directors, Advisory Group, and outreach with policymakers and the Center’s donors
  • Managing and maintaining President’s busy professional and personal calendar in Outlook, including assisting the President with personal matters at her discretion (e.g. doctor and other appointments, personal travel, health insurance and other forms)
  • Assisting the President in managing her time, tracking and reminding her of pending responsibilities, deadlines and emails requiring responses
  • Digesting and summarizing information needed by the President in order to respond to requests for the President’s attention
  • Scheduling and coordinating appointments, meetings and conference calls, preparing materials for meetings (agendas, bios, and background materials) and tracking notes and followup
  • Answering, screening and directing all incoming calls, visitors, and correspondence, managing busy call back list, and responding to messages on the President’s behalf, including requests to attend meetings or give speeches
  • Preparing complex domestic and international travel arrangements and creating detailed itineraries and managing preparation for President’s travel
  • Preparing, proofreading, editing and formatting documents and emails using Word and Outlook; drafting the President’s notes (written and verbal) into professional correspondence
  • Coordinating with President’s co-authors on materials, maintaining and updating manuscript files
  • Preparing, reviewing, submitting and tracking President’s expense reports
  • Maintaining electronic and hard copy files and records of the President’s activities, including confidential files
  • Performing other duties as assigned

Qualifications

  • Work experience demonstrating success in managing multiple and changing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
  • Outstanding organization and time management skills
  • Poise, confidence, professional attitude and excellent judgment
  • Commitment, dedication and initiative
  • Superb interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent English usage, grammar and punctuation skills
  • Friendly team player with tact, flexibility and sense of humor
  • Familiarity with / interest in international development and global issues
  • Geographical knowledge of developing country settings for arranging extensive international travel; knowledge of a second language is desirable
  • High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office software, especially Outlook and Word

Salary
Commensurate with experience

How to Apply
Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, professional references, and salary history / requirements to hrjobs@cgdev.org. The cover letter should explain the reasons for candidate’s interest in the position and how the candidate’s experience and skill set prepare him/her for the responsibilities described. Please use “Assistant to the President” in the subject line of ALL email correspondence.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE