Executive Assistant

Reports to:	Executive Director
Post Date:	April 5, 2023
Location:	Our offices are located in Alexandria, VA. All of our positions are currently remote. We will continue to assess our operations as the pandemic evolves into an endemic.
FLSA Status:	Exempt

THE OPPORTUNITY

The opportunity to succeed in school and in life, regardless of circumstances at birth, is a core American value. For the past six decades, the Head Start community has embraced the challenge of delivering on that value and changing life trajectories for the nation’s most vulnerable children and families. A strong and sustainable future for Head Start will mean the success of generations of children who may otherwise struggle throughout their lives. Their future success rests on the knowledge, commitment, and collaboration of families, programs, researchers, and policymakers.

NHSA is a unique organization looking to grow intentionally and to find the right person for the right opportunity on our team. If you are looking to be part of an organization that is static, where things are predictable, and challenges are hard to come by, you should not work with us. If you are interested in being a responsible contributor while flexing your curiosities and creativity, keep reading.

The Executive Assistant helps the executive director with tasks such as scheduling; reviewing, prioritizing, and responding to emails; answering and returning phone calls; organizing documents; maintaining records; taking notes at meetings, and any other administrative tasks that help the executive perform their job. They will work with oversight and guidance from the executive director and other team members. As such, they should also be able to work independently on assignments but know when to consult.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage an extremely active, nationwide schedule of appointments; research, prioritize, and follow up on requests for the Executive Director, including those of a sensitive or confidential nature; and be able to recommend an appropriate course of action, referral, or response.
• Assist with meeting preparation, research, and briefing materials,
• Respond to requests promptly, flag and prioritize phone calls, and prepare presentations or obtain information from appropriate staff.
• Draft, review, and send communications on behalf of the Executive Director when required.
• Prioritize emails and respond on behalf of the Executive when necessary.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate records on behalf of the Executive.
• Assist the Executive Director with Board relations activities as needed, including attending Board and Board Committee meetings to provide administrative support.
• Other relevant duties to accomplishing our mission as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Passion for Head Start’s commitment to ensure every vulnerable child has the opportunity to succeed and deep respect for the Head Start model and its impact.
• Commitment to understand the unique and broad range of the audiences NHSA communicates with.
• Strong project management skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to work independently and proactively while being a dependable team-player.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated written communication skills.

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ABOUT THE NATIONAL HEAD START ASSOCIATION

NHSA is a nonprofit organization committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in life. NHSA is the voice for more than 1 million children, 275,000 staff, and over 1,600 Head Start grantees in the United States. Since 1974, NHSA has worked diligently for policy changes that ensure all at-risk children have access to the Head Start model of support for the whole child, the family, and the community.

OUR MISSION AND VISION

NHSA’s vision is for Head Start to lead—to be the untiring voice that will not be quiet until every vulnerable child is served with the Head Start model of support for the whole child, the family, and the community—and to advocate—to work diligently for policy and institutional changes that ensure all vulnerable children and families have what they need to succeed. NHSA’s mission is to coalesce, inspire, and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education.

OUR CORE VALUES

• We are determined to play a valued and visible national leadership role in this country’s efforts to educate and serve its most vulnerable children and families.
• We recognize change is constant and are building a flexible, nimble organization that values innovation and can respond effectively to change.
• We are actively committed to being a high-impact organization that evaluates effort and measures outcomes; our commitment extends to helping the Head Start field value and uses measurements effectively.
• We value partnerships and collaboration and at our core, we are relationship-based.
• We celebrate Head Start alumni, both graduates and parents, and the lasting impact that they are having in this country.
• We are accountable to our members and funders, seeking high standards of governance, carefully stewarding resources, operating transparently, and living up to the highest standards of quality.

OUR CULTURE

NHSA is proud of our inclusive, collaborative, and professional culture. We value and reward teamwork, initiative, creativity, and intellectual and professional growth. We seek those qualities when considering people to join our team.

• Collaboration: NHSA works in teams—we share ideas, brainstorm endlessly, and constantly seek innovative ideas that advance NHSA’s and Head Start’s missions.

• Vision: NHSA values colleagues who see and seize opportunities, take risks, learn from failure, and bring a relentless passion for our mission.

• Creativity: NHSA team members use data to form original insights. We find ways to incorporate innovative ideas and approaches that exist in the rich and vital Head Start community.
• Mindfulness: NHSA has an organization-wide commitment to strive for excellence; we set clear objectives, achieve ambitious goals, ensure accountability for results, and focus on our impact.
• Curiosity: NHSA values those who are curious and hungry for knowledge. Reflecting Head Start’s 55 years of commitment to continuous improvement, our staff is committed to personal and professional growth, understanding, and commitment to our mission.

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THE PROCESS

Please submit your cover letter, résumé, and a writing sample (see below) in one PDF document to jobs@nhsa.org with Executive Assistant in the subject line.

For your writing sample: Share something you are you proud of. This can be something you recently did in your work or something you really enjoyed completing years back. It’s up to you; there are no parameters other than it has to be something you are proud of.

NHSA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, marital status, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, personal appearance, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or enrollment in a college, university, technical school, or adult education.