The National Association of Counties (NACo), representing America’s 3,069 county governments with 40,000 elected officials, 3.6 million county employees and more than $660 billion in annual investments, seeks a Special Assistant to the CEO for policy advocacy, strategic partnerships and executive support.
Under the direction of the Special Assistant to the CEO and Liaison to the Board, this position performs a wide range of support duties for the CEO and the Executive Department. This position is a blend of both strategic thinking and preparation for the CEO’s travels, speeches and meetings (including internal and external) as well as administrative coordination and support).
Three Key Traits desired
- Self-starter who takes initiative, understands the political landscape and communicates effectively,
- Thrives in a fast-paced environment while juggling multiple priorities and
- Attention to detail and commitment to managing projects to completion.
Position Responsibilities and Activities
- Assist the Special Assistant to the CEO and Liaison to the Board with daily organizational tasks that support and advance the work of the CEO and Chief of Staff (COS)
- Coordinate and support the preparation, execution and follow up of the CEO’s schedule and activities
- Event planning and coordination for executive level meetings with public, private & nonprofit leaders
- Arrange and schedule travel, meetings & appointments for the CEO, including assist with policy presentations
- Assist with drafting and implementation of executive-level meeting agendas to assist the CEO and COS, including Executive Committee, Board of Directors, executive leadership team and all staff meetings
- Maintain and regularly update various contact lists and databases
- Prepare executive-level communications, such as emails, memos, reports and other correspondence
- Coordinate with vendors and process invoices for Executive Department
- Review and optimize office policies and procedures such as documentation & filing systems
- Maintain electronic and hard copy filing system
- Book travel arrangements and maintain travel calendars
- Submit and reconcile expense reports
- Assist with external and internal communications and outreach, including on-site and off-site events & meetings
- Coordinate with NACo’s general services, IT and other support services for the CEO and Executive Department
- Other duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Bachelor’s degree is preferred, with additional educational and professional experience a plus
- Ability to work well under pressure with high-level public, private and nonprofit sector officials
- Skillful in Microsoft Office including MS Teams, Power Point, Excel, Word and Outlook
- Strong organizational and communication skills, and attention to detail required
- Knowledge of administrative and operational procedures and systems
- Additional software experience is a plus with D365, Microsoft BI, Concur and/or Mineral Tree
- Strong interpersonal and overall communications skills
- Excellence in planning and organizing support for CEO-level activities with concierge-level support
- High level of discretion and judgment including proper handling of sensitive/confidential information
- Comfortable with more than one person assigning work
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy, with ability to problem solve and act independently
- Operate and adapt in a fast paced and complex environment
Working Conditions
- In office work schedule is required, with some hybrid work flexibility
- Travel required at least three times per year
Application Procedures
NACo is committed to providing excellent customer service and creating quality experiences for our stakeholders. If you are creative, energetic and passionate, please send a cover letter, resume and salary expectations to resumes@naco.org.
Why Work at NACo
Our vision is healthy, safe, and vibrant counties across America. Counties play an integral part of the intergovernmental responsibilities among federal, state, local and tribal government officials. We are guided by the belief that stronger counties result in a stronger America.
NACo is committed to fostering a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Our jobs are open to all applications regardless of race, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, disability, military status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We embrace and respect our diversity of experience, heritage, and thought and strive to cultivate an equitable workplace. As outlined in our Values and NACo Norms, we pursue our mission through a ONE NACo mindset of genuine care, empathy, and respect for each other, our partners, and our members.
Teammates of NACo enjoy a fun and challenging environment with a wide range of competitive benefits, including comprehensive medical, vision and dental insurance; generous paid leave and federal holidays; transportation subsidy; tuition assistance; 401(k) match, pension plans, group life insurance, voluntary payroll deduction for pet insurance and credit union membership, and short/long term disability coverage including applicable parental leave and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
We are passionate about advancing excellence in public service to help people and places thrive across America.
Join us as we advance excellence in public service to help our local communities thrive.