Executive Assistant - Rapid Progression

Title: Executive Assistant

Location: Duke Farms, Hillsborough, NJ

Reports to: Executive Director

Status: Full time, exempt (in-person required)

Located in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, Duke Farms is a leader in environmental stewardship and inspires visitors to become informed stewards of the land. It is a place of education, enjoyment and research that enhances the environmental health of the region. Through the beauty of its natural setting, the diversity of its wildlife, and the scope and quality of its educational programs, demonstrations and research, Duke Farms inspires people to transform their approach to conservation and to start building a more sustainable future.

As a center of the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF), Duke Farms advances the foundation’s mission to build a more creative, equitable and sustainable future by investing in artists and the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, child well-being and greater mutual understanding among diverse communities. In addition to Duke Farms, DDF operates five national grantmaking programs as well as Shangri La, a center for engagement with Islamic arts and cultures. DDF’s activities are guided by the will of Doris Duke, who endowed the foundation with financial assets that currently total over $2 billion. (To learn more about the foundation, visit dorisduke.org.)

Duke Farms restores nature and ecosystems, demonstrates equitable climate transition strategies, and engages leaders and visitors with the wonder of nature and the power to spark change. Our wide-ranging sustainability efforts include the operation of a 1,000-acre park and associated infrastructure supporting over 200,000 public visitors a year.

POSITION

The executive assistant ensures that Duke Farms’ executive director, deputy executive directors and other members of leadership are optimally positioned to advance the center’s strategic goals. This role requires meticulous planning, coordination and execution of administrative projects and tasks, demonstrating a high degree of acumen and organizational skill. The role encompasses managing time-sensitive responsibilities essential to the functioning of the executive team, and streamlining, managing and prioritizing details of diverse initiatives, meetings and events to align with mission-driven objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Scheduling and planning: Enable executive staff to be internally responsive and actively engaged externally through proactive and agile management of complex calendars. Optimize schedules and manage travel to align with organizational goals.

• Project management: Work closely with staff to advance strategic projects and priorities, including tracking progress and identifying and advancing next steps.

• Internal coordination and management: Enable effective coordination and management of the center by facilitating internal communication and collaboration as guided by executive staff, including ensuring that meetings have a clear purpose, present relevant and necessary information, and include key individuals.

• Stakeholder engagement: Facilitate smooth, diplomatic communication and coordination of efforts between the executive/organization staffs and internal/external stakeholders, as needed and directed across time zones, to support Duke Farms’ key initiatives.

• Administrative Process enhancement: Improve Duke Farms’ administrative operations by identifying opportunities and solutions, and implement process improvements, including and especially through the use of contemporary technology.

• External engagement: Enable executive staff to represent the foundation effectively to external audiences through diligent preparation and staffing for external meetings and engagements, including compiling relevant background and other information as directed.

• Special projects: Advance organizational priorities by taking on special tasks and assignments from other members of Duke Farms team, as needed.

• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated drive. Proactive, communicative.

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail. Fluent in handling confidential matters.

• A capable writer, including email correspondence and drafting/editing work on behalf of the executive team.

• Resourceful and adaptive, able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

• Eager to learn and grow. Resilient and open in the face of feedback.

• Thrives in a dynamic environment and is driven to maximize impact.

• Facility with and interest in technology, especially for productivity.

• Desire to proactively contribute to the leadership of a multifaceted, mission-driven enterprise.

• Exhibits excellent judgment, high integrity and discretion at all times.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Anticipated starting salary is $55,200-$69,000, and the final offer will depend on experience.

• Industry-leading benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

Please click here. Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

OUR VALUES

The following values underpin everything we do in pursuit of our mission across the Doris Duke Foundation:

Integrity: We must be honest and ethical in all that we undertake. As a private foundation, we are accountable to the many stakeholders affected by our work.

Excellence: We will insist on the highest standards of performance in fulfilling our mission, will ground our work in best practices and will make decisions based on the best available information.

Openness and Imagination: We will be listening and learning organizations that are responsive to ideas and opinions from a variety of sources. We value imagination and creativity, the ability to think in new ways about the work we do and how we do it.

Collaboration: We value a collaborative and supportive environment in which to advance our mission and objectives. Creating a working environment that promotes trust, honesty and respect within our organizations is as important as earning the trust and respect of our colleagues and peers in the fields in which we work.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We believe in the essential value that a diverse set of perspectives, experiences and abilities brings to the table. Our commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice is an ongoing, active engagement reflected in our funding areas, grantees, museums, centers, board and staff. At the core of our work is a dedication to serving and learning from organizations and individuals addressing inequities and working toward a more just, healthy and inclusive society. (Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and how we incorporate this value into our work.)

The Doris Duke Foundation is committed to inclusive hiring and equal employment opportunity. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations and communities to apply. Our recruiting and employment practices adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. We provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation in the job application process is needed, please contact us here.