Special Assistant to the President

The Joyce Foundation

. Strengthen the effectiveness of the President’s office by helping the President focus on high-level priorities .

Posted 9/22/2026full-timeChicago • Illinois • United StatesSeniorLead💰 $110,000 - $120,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates strong project coordination and executive support capabilities, with a focus on managing complex calendars, preparing briefing materials, and facilitating high-level decision-making. Exhibits excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders while handling sensitive information with discretion.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Executive Support ExperienceProject Coordination SkillsCalendar ManagementExcellent Written And Oral CommunicationBoard-Related Activities Support

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Calendar ManagementBriefing Material PreparationMeeting Summary PreparationExecutive CorrespondenceBackground ResearchDecision-Making SupportProblem SolvingStakeholder CoordinationHigh-Level PrioritizationConfidential Information Handling

Soft Skills

Emotional IntelligenceAdaptabilityCuriosityTrust BuildingIndependence

Tools & Technologies

Microsoft OfficeOutlookWordPowerPointExcelBoard Portal Software

Industry Keywords

Executive OfficeSenior Executive SupportHigh-Profile ConveningsCross-Functional InitiativesStrategic Priorities

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Strengthen the effectiveness of the President’s office by helping the President focus on high-level priorities
Manage the President’s calendar, scheduling priorities, travel, correspondence, and administrative systems
Prepare the President for meetings, decisions, and engagements by organizing materials, anticipating needs, and ensuring timely follow-up
Coordinate requests to the President’s office, exercising judgment about urgency, sequencing, and delegation
Track and coordinate follow-through on strategic priorities, cross-functional initiatives, and commitments requiring presidential attention
Prepare briefing materials, background research, and analyses to support decision-making and identify opportunities, issues, and risks
Coordinate with internal leaders and external stakeholders on projects connected to the President’s agenda
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
Report directly to the President
Collaborate across the organization without supervisory responsibilities

Requirements

What you’ll need

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
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
Experience supporting Board-related activities, senior-level meetings, external engagements, or other high-profile convenings
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Experience preparing briefing materials, meeting summaries, executive correspondence, and concise background research
Strong project coordination skills
Ability to anticipate executive needs and independently resolve issues or determine when matters require escalation
Ability to manage complex calendars, priorities, travel, correspondence, and executive workflows
Ability to exercise influence without formal authority and build trust across colleagues, board members, partners, and external stakeholders
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 planning and organizing the work of the President
Ability to work independently and in a team setting
Strong commitment to excellence in work products
High proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, especially Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
Competence deploying technology to support efficiency, organizational flow, and problem solving
Confidence and experience learning new technology quickly and competently
Experience with board portal software is highly valued
Ability to understand general information and identify solutions to routine, semi-routine, and semi-complex problems
Ability to proactively solve problems in a fast-paced work environment using critical thinking and creativity
Highly developed emotional intelligence
Curiosity, adaptability, openness to feedback, and ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities
Commitment to the organization’s mission, vision, and values

Benefits

Comp & perks

High-quality medical, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans
Employer Matching Program with a generous 2-to-1 match
Robust paid time off policies
Pre-tax FSA health savings accounts
Pre-tax dependent care savings accounts
Pre-tax transit and parking savings accounts
Employer-paid life and disability insurance
Healthy Lifestyle Reimbursement Program
Access to an on-site fitness center
Employee Assistance Program
Continuous learning and professional development opportunities
Flexible and hybrid work arrangements
Foundation’s established work schedules of 40 hours per week
No travel requirements