Job No. 155994
- Job Title:
- Executive and Special Assistant to the President
- Employer:
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James Madison University
- Location:
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Harrisonburg , VA
- Posting Date:
- 28-Jul-2025
- Description:
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General Information:
Are you a proactive, detail-oriented professional with a passion for excellence and executive-level support? We’re looking for a dynamic Executive and Special Assistant to the President to join our team and play a pivotal role in driving organizational success from the top.
About the Role
The Executive and Special Assistant to the President provides high-level administrative and strategic support, ensuring the President’s time, communications, and priorities are managed with precision and discretion. This role requires exceptional judgment, the ability to communicate on behalf of the President with clarity and authenticity, and the foresight to anticipate needs and coordinate complex schedules and engagements. Serving as a trusted advisor and liaison, the Executive and Special Assistant to the President plays a critical role in advancing the President’s initiatives and maintaining operational excellence across the organization.
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Communicate verbally and in writing on behalf of the President with accuracy and authenticity—crafting emails, memos, talking points, and presentations that reflect the President’s voice, tone, and strategic intent.
• Proactively manage the President’s calendar, using sound judgment to decline, reschedule, or reorganize appointments based on shifting priorities—often anticipating needs before they are expressed.
• Filter and prioritize communications to and from the President, ensuring that critical issues are addressed promptly and appropriately.
• Gather relevant data, reports, and insights ahead of strategic planning sessions—ensuring the President has the right information at the right time.
• Coordinate and execute high-level meetings so the President can walk in fully prepared—presentations are ready to view, materials are distributed in advance, and all logistics are handled seamlessly. Ensure agendas are clear, action items are assigned in real time, and follow-ups are tracked to completion.
• Offer insights, asking thoughtful questions, and help the President think through challenges—serving not just as a support role, but as a trusted advisor who understands the broader organizational context.
• Serve as a strategic liaison between the President and internal teams, board members, donors, and external partners—ensuring clear, timely, and professional communication and the ability to connect ideas, people, and resources to fulfil the president’s strategic intent.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, demonstrating diplomacy, discretion, and a high degree of emotional intelligence.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration, ensuring alignment and follow-through on executive directives and organizational priorities.
• Represent the President’s office with professionalism and tact in all interactions, both written and verbal.
• Take initiative to solve problems independently, move projects forward, and bring solutions to the decision-making process.
Qualifications:
• Proven experience supporting executives or senior leaders in a fast-paced environment.
• Superior organizational skills with the ability to manage complex calendars, competing priorities, and multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience planning and executing high-level meetings, including agenda setting, materials preparation, and follow-up tracking.
• Ability to work independently, make decisions under pressure, and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Understanding of executive functions and office functions to best serve the university and the Office of the President. Experience in a higher education environment is preferred.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to write clearly, concisely.
• Experience drafting high-level correspondence, speeches, presentations, and strategic documents.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and thoroughness in all aspects of work.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of an organization and with external stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• High degree of emotional intelligence, diplomacy, and professionalism.
• Strong judgment and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, anticipate needs and act with initiative.
• Comfortable navigating complex organizational dynamics and facilitating cross-functional collaboration.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, MS Teams).
- Contact information:
- James Madison University
- Harrisonburg, VA 22807
- United States
- Employer's Website:
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