Senior Executive Assistant

Works Days in Office: 5 days

Travel: Up to 10%

Position Type: Full-time

FLSA Status: Exempt

About Spirit of America:

Spirit of America is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Our mission is to engage citizens in preserving the promise of a free and better life. We do this by working alongside US troops and diplomats and providing private assistance to defend freedom, strengthen America’s national security, and save and improve lives.

Spirit of America leverages an unprecedented partnership with the U.S. military based on a groundbreaking agreement with the Department of Defense. Our agreement allows the military to collaborate with us, identify needs, receive and distribute our assistance, and provide us with logistical support. No other nonprofit has such an agreement. Thus, every dollar invested in Spirit of America builds on and leverages investments made by the U.S. government and military. That leverage — combined with our entrepreneurial, venture capital capability — provides philanthropic investments in Spirit of America with asymmetric impact and return on investment.

Our work saves and improves lives, prevents conflict, and strengthens America’s security. In the world’s toughest places, people experience the best of who Americans are and what we stand for.

About the Role:

Spirit of America is seeking a highly experienced and trusted Senior Executive Assistant to support the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. This role requires a seasoned professional who operates with exceptional discretion, anticipates needs, manages complex priorities, and ensures the smooth coordination of executive activities.

The Senior Executive Assistant serves as a key operational partner to the Chief Executive Officer, managing complex scheduling, coordinating communications, preparing briefing materials, conducting research, and supporting special projects and leadership priorities. The role also serves as an important coordination point with Spirit of America’s leadership team, helping ensure effective information flow across the organization.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, technologically savvy, and comfortable managing a high volume of activity without losing track of critical details. This individual will exercise sound judgment, maintain strict confidentiality, and bring a solutions-oriented mindset to executive support.

The successful candidate also brings a forward-leaning approach to executive support and leverages modern tools and technology to improve efficiency and decision support, including the use of AI-enabled research and productivity tools to assist with executive preparation, information gathering, and planning.

This position occasionally requires evening or weekend work to support program activities, travel schedules, or operational priorities.

Reports to: Director, Office of the CEO

Direct Reports: None

Key Responsibilities:

Executive Support

• Manage complex calendars for the Chief Executive Officer, ensuring effective prioritization of executive time.
• Coordinate internal and external meetings with senior leaders, board members, donors, and external partners.
• Prepare meeting materials, briefing documents, background research, and agendas.
• Draft and edit correspondence, communications, and follow-up notes on behalf of the executive.
• Track action items and ensure follow-through on key commitments and deadlines.

Research & Special Projects

• Conduct background research and prepare briefing materials on strategic topics and upcoming engagements.
• Support special projects and organizational initiatives led by the Chief Executive Officer.
• Assist with preparation for board meetings, leadership meetings, and key external engagements.
• Coordinate logistics for executive events, visits, and leadership activities.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

• Maintain clear systems to manage executive priorities, commitments, and follow-ups so that nothing falls through the cracks.
• Ensure the Chief Executive Officer is consistently well prepared for meetings, travel, and external engagements.
• Serve as a reliable coordination point with the leadership team, helping ensure information flows effectively across the organization.
• Demonstrate strong judgment and anticipate needs before they arise, improving executive workflow and planning.
• Provide clear, organized briefing materials and research that strengthen executive decision-making and preparation.
• Maintain the highest standards of professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality.

Key Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 7+ year of experience supporting senior executives, preferably at the C-suite level
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex schedules and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to details
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to draft professional correspondence and executive communications
• Proven ability to handle highly sensitive information with strict confidentiality and discretion
• Strong judgment and ability to anticipate needs and solve problems independently
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) and collaboration tools
• Experience in supporting board-level or donor-facing leadership is a plus

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Professional maturity and sound judgment
• Absolute discretion and confidentiality
• Proactive problem-solving
• Strong organizational discipline
• Ability to anticipate executive needs
• Ability to manage high volumes of activity without losing track of details
• Calm effectiveness under pressure

Compensation:

Salary ranges from $102,000 to $120,000 based on experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, and 403(b) contribution match to 4%.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Spirit of America is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, or other protected characteristics in accordance with applicable laws.