Special Assistant to the President

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The Special Assistant to the President & CEO strengthens the effectiveness of the President’s office by helping the President focus on the high-level priorities, stay prepared for meetings and engagements, and ensure that decisions and commitments are strategic, well informed, and well-coordinated. Serving as a trusted partner, the Special Assistant reports directly to the President and provides high-level executive and administrative support, coordinates priorities across internal and external stakeholders, and ensures consistent follow-through with discretion, sound judgment, and exceptional attention to detail. There are no supervisory responsibilities, but significant cross organization collaboration and cooperation responsibilities. This is a new position, offering a unique opportunity to work collaboratively with the President/CEO to customize the full scope of the partnership.

Julie Morita, MD, is The Joyce Foundation President & CEO and board member.  In her role, Julie oversees the charitable distribution of more than $60 million annually from assets of approximately $1.3 billion. The Foundation works to ensure that more people can prosper in the Great Lakes region. We accomplish this by championing the public policy and civic partnerships needed to advance racial equity and economic mobility, and ensure a vibrant civic life across the region. The Foundation’s values (equity, inclusion, accountability, trust, and courage) guide how we make decisions and deploy resources, how we steward relationships, and how we stay accountable to its mission. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES 

PRESIDENTIAL READINESS & EXECUTIVE OFFICE OPERATIONS (50%)

• Manage the President’s calendar, scheduling priorities, travel, correspondence, and administrative systems to ensure the President is focused on the highest-value work. 


• Prepare the President for meetings, decisions, and engagements by organizing materials, anticipating needs, and ensuring timely follow-up. 


• Serve as a primary point of coordination for requests to the President’s office, exercising judgment about urgency, sequencing, and appropriate delegation.
  
  

STRATEGIC COORDINATION & PRESIDENTIAL FOLLOW-THROUGH (35%)

• Track and coordinate follow-through on strategic priorities, cross-functional initiatives, and commitments that require presidential attention or visibility. 


• Prepare concise briefing materials, background research, and analyses to support decision-making and help the President stay ahead of emerging opportunities, issues, and risks. 


• Coordinate with internal leaders and external stakeholders to ensure clarity, alignment, and progress on projects connected to the President’s agenda.

BOARD, STAKEHOLDER & EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT PREPARATION (15%)

• Working with the Board Secretary and relevant staff, oversee preparation for board meetings, board-related sessions, and external engagements, including agendas, briefings, speaker research, and logistics. 


• Identify relevant speakers, partners, convenings, and thought-leadership opportunities aligned with the Foundation’s priorities and the President’s role. 


• Ensure timely follow-up from board, stakeholder, and external meetings so relationships and commitments are managed with care and continuity.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.


• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience providing high-level support to a senior executive, executive office or comparable leadership function, including experience managing priorities, coordinating across stakeholders, and supporting executive-level decision-making and follow-through.


• Experience supporting a senior leader in a fast-paced, complex environment with multiple internal and external priorities and stakeholders to advance priorities and ensure timely follow-through.


• Experience supporting Board-related activities, senior-level meetings, external engagements, or other high-profile convenings.

SKILLS 

ORGANIZATION, PLANNING & COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

• Excellent written & oral communication skills, including experience preparing briefing materials, meeting summaries, executive correspondence, and concise background research, with accuracy under varying timelines.


• Strong project coordination skills, including the ability to track commitments, manage timelines, coordinate across teams, and ensure consistent follow-through.


• Demonstrated ability to anticipate executive needs and independently resolve issues or determine when matters require escalation.


• Demonstrated ability to manage complex calendars, priorities, travel, correspondence, and executive workflows with accuracy and sound judgment.


• Demonstrated ability to exercise influence without formal authority and to build trust across colleagues, board members, partners, and external stakeholders.  


• Proven ability to handle sensitive information and confidential relationships with professionalism, discretion, and care.


• Ability to take direction well and organize one’s own work while also planning and organizing the work of the President. . 


• Ability to work independently as well as in a team setting.


• Strong commitment to excellence in work products delivered by self and others.

COMPUTER & TECHNICAL SKILLS 

• High proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, especially Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. 


• Proven competence in deploying technology to support efficiency, organizational flow and problem solving and confidence  and experience learning new technology quickly and competently.


• Experience with board portal software is highly valued. .

REASONING ABILITY SKILLS

• Proven ability to understand general information and identify solutions to routine, semi-routine and semi-complex problems.


• Proven ability to proactively solve problems in a fast-paced work environment using critical thinking and creativity.


• Highly developed emotional Intelligence that results in the proven ability to develop and maintain productive and trusted relationships within an organization and externally. 


• Known to be curious, adaptable and enjoys learning, welcomes feedback, adapts quickly to shifting priorities, and brings alignment and commitment to an organization's mission, vision and values. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Work is performed in a hybrid office environment in accordance with the Foundation’s flexible work schedule and hybrid work policy. Employees may select from the Foundation’s established work schedules of 40 hours per week - 8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m., 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m., or 10:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. The Special Assistant’s work hours would ideally mirror those of the President and may include occasional early morning and evening work hours. Under the Foundation’s hybrid work policy, employees are required to work in the office three days each week and may work remotely on designated days. Employees must maintain adequate internet access to effectively perform their responsibilities while working remotely. Flexible and hybrid work arrangements are subject to the Foundation’s policies and may be modified based on organizational or business needs. There are no travel requirements for this position.

BENEFITS

This is a full time, non-exempt position. The Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of the team. Benefits include high-quality medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans, Employer Matching Program with a generous 2-to-1 match; and robust paid time off policies. Employees also have access to pre-tax savings accounts for FSA health, dependent care, transit, and parking, as well as employer-paid life and disability insurance. Additional offerings include a Healthy Lifestyle Reimbursement Program, access to an on-site fitness center, and an Employee Assistance Program. The Foundation is committed to continuous learning and professional development opportunities.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications accepted at: https://joycefoundation.bamboohr.com/careers

Deadline for applications 6:00PM CT on October 30

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interested parties are encouraged to apply early to ensure a thoughtful review.  Sheila Leahy of SAL Consulting, Inc. has been engaged to support this search process. Applications must include a current resume and a cover letter that addresses the following question: Please list the executive leadership you have supported over the last 7 years and what distinguished you as a valued partner.

The Foundation is committed to building a strong and inclusive workforce that is able to reach the communities we serve. The Foundation strongly encourages applications from individuals who have a proven record of effectiveness with and commitment to the communities we serve.

We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting employment discrimination. It is our policy to take all employment actions and make all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, disability, military status, status as a disabled or other protected veteran or any other protected status under applicable law. Consistent with our obligations under applicable laws, we will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.