Special Assistant & Project Manager

Thomas College; Benton (ME); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

403(b) matching

Paid vacation

Paid sick leave

Holidays

On-site gym

Meal discounts

Tuition for employees

Job summary

Thomas College, located in Waterville, Maine, seeks a highly organized Special Assistant and Project Manager to the President. This full-time role centers on coordinating complex priorities, supporting the President and Board of Trustees, and advancing major strategic initiatives shaping the College’s future.

The ideal candidate will be a trusted advisor, skilled project manager, and polished communicator who thrives in a fast-paced environment with professionalism and sound judgment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative or executive support experience.
• Experience supporting senior leadership strongly preferred.
• Higher education or nonprofit experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level executive and administrative support to the President, managing a complex calendar, correspondence, travel, and confidential materials.
• Serve as a key liaison for internal and external stakeholders, ensuring the Office of the President operates efficiently and professionally.
• Support institutional strategic planning, master planning, capital initiatives, and major presidential projects.
• Coordinate cross-departmental projects, track milestones, manage workflows, and anticipate risks and resource needs.
• Support Board of Trustees governance, serving as Assistant Secretary to the Board, including planning meetings, preparing materials, and maintaining compliance with bylaws.
• Assist with major institutional events such as Commencement, Convocation, presidential retreats, and high-profile campus visits.

Skills

Executive support

Project management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Discretion

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Thomas College, located in beautiful Waterville, Maine, is definingwhat it means to be the College of the Future. With a strongcommitment to innovation, career readiness, and communitypartnerships, Thomas College is consistently ranked by U.S.News & World Report as one of Maine’s top colleges forsocial mobility. Our distinctive Guaranteed Job Program™,accelerated undergraduate degrees, and flexible graduate programsempower students to advance faster in business, entrepreneurship,education, technology, applied STEM, and arts & science fields.At Thomas, belonging isn't a buzzword; it's a promise. We create asupportive, welcoming environment where every student is seen,valued, and prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Thomas College is seeking a highly organized, strategic, anddiscreet professional to serve as the full-time Special Assistantand Project Manager to the President. This is a unique opportunityto work at the center of institutional leadership, supporting thePresident and Board of Trustees while helping advance majorstrategic initiatives that shape the future of the College.

The ideal candidate is a trusted advisor, skilled project manager,and polished communicator who thrives in a fast-paced environmentand enjoys coordinating complex priorities with professionalism andsound judgment.

In this high-impact role, you will:

• Provide high-level executive and administrative support to thePresident, managing a complex calendar, correspondence, travel, andconfidential materials.
• Serve as a key liaison for internal and external stakeholders,ensuring the Office of the President operates efficiently andprofessionally.
• Support institutional strategic planning, master planning,capital initiatives, and major presidential projects.
• Coordinate cross-departmental projects, track milestones,manage workflows, and anticipate risks and resource needs.
• Support Board of Trustees governance, serving as AssistantSecretary to the Board, including planning meetings, preparingmaterials, and maintaining compliance with bylaws.
• Assist with major institutional events such as Commencement,Convocation, presidential retreats, and high-profile campusvisits.

We’re looking for a candidate who brings:

• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong project management and coordination experience
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• High emotional intelligence, political acumen, and professionalpresence
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential matterswith discretion
• The ability to manage multiple priorities independently in adynamic environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat; experiencewith collaboration or project-tracking tools is a plus

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s degree in ProjectManagement preferred)
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsibleadministrative or executive support experience preferred
• Experience supporting senior leadership strongly preferred
• Higher education or nonprofit experience desirable

Benefits

Thomas offers a competitive benefits package to include: Medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, disabilityinsurance, 6% 403(b) matching plan, paid vacation, paid sick leave,thirteen paid holidays, on-site gym, meal discounts and freetuition for employees, spouse and dependent children.

Application

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and names of three professional references.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Thomas College is an equal opportunity employer.

Thomas College's mission is to prepare students for success intheir personal and professional lives, and for leadership andservice in their communities.

Salary Description

$60,000 - $70,000