Special Assistant to CEO (FJS)

Foundation for a Just Society (FJS); New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Excellent benefits

Generous vacation

Collegial working environment

Job summary

Foundation for a Just Society (FJS) in the United States seeks a Special Assistant to support its CEO. The role blends high-level administrative duties with Board engagement, internal communications, and knowledge management.

You will coordinate cross-functional projects, draft correspondence, prepare briefings, and help shape strategy while upholding confidentiality and equity values. This is a values-driven position with travel when needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a professional setting.
• Strong knowledge of philanthropy and women’s human rights and social justice movements.
• Demonstrated commitment to feminism and alignment with the Foundation’s values.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including drafting and editing.
• Ability to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Discretion and ability to handle confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Support the CEO and Board through high-level administrative tasks.
• Coordinate board learning, engagement, and meeting logistics.
• Maintain Board Effect, manage communications, and document actions.
• Prepare briefings and presentations for meetings and travel.
• Develop processes to streamline information sharing within the leadership team.

Skills

Executive support

Board coordination

Project management

Written communication

Research analysis

Confidentiality

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Foundation for a Just Society (FJS) supports innovative, intersectional, grassroots strategies that meet immediate needs while igniting long-term, structural change in communities and regions that have been overlooked by philanthropy. We support the entire ecosystem of transformative movements - across issues and regions - by following the lead of marginalized women, girls, and LGBTQI people who catalyze change every day in their communities and countries. FJS shares resources to strengthen the movements that create a world where all people are valued and lead self-determined lives. Through direct grantmaking, capacity building, strategic communications, and leadership in philanthropy, we advance the human rights of marginalized women, girls, and LGBTQI people globally. While FJS works internationally, our geographic focus areas are: Central America, Francophone West Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and the US Southeast.

POSITION SUMMARY

The newly created Special Assistant position will support the CEO of a growing, values-driven, private foundation in ways that enable her to focus on the most important aspects of her leadership. It combines high-level administrative duties with tasks related to Board engagement, internal communications and knowledge management, and special initiatives. The role coordinates a wide range of important, cross-functional projects to achieve organizational goals by supporting the CEO, Board of Directors and, to a lesser degree, the Leadership Team (Chief Financial Officer and Director of Programs). The ideal candidate is ambitious, highly analytical, a natural collaborator, and approaches the position with enthusiasm and positivity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Administrative (20%)

• Manage the CEO’s calendar for meetings, appointments, and scheduling
• Make travel arrangements for CEO and Board members
• Maintain contact lists and other filing systems (online and offline)
• Reconcile expenses for CEO and Director of Programs

Board Engagement (40%)

• Support the CEO in tasks related to Board learning and engagement, such as researching and coordinating speakers, curating relevant reports and news articles, and preparing activity and strategy updates
• Assist in the planning and implementation of Board meetings, including logistics, taking minutes, prioritizing action items, and collecting information to facilitate decision making
• Maintain Board Effect, an online tool that enables communications, document sharing, and approval processes
• Arrange site visits and organize Board meetings

Internal Communications/Knowledge Management (30%)

• Draft correspondence on behalf of CEO
• Proofread documents and presentation materials
• Conduct research and analysis
• Prepare briefings and presentations for meetings and travel
• Document internal and external meetings
• Identify opportunities to streamline information flows among CEO, Board, and Leadership Team
• Create processes and systems to support information exchange

Special Initiatives (10%)

• Oversee the planning and logistics for the Foundation's meetings, activities, and events, including strategy meetings, funder briefings, presentations, and conferences
• Assess requests and invitations

Perform any other duties or tasks as assigned or required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience
• Strong knowledge of philanthropy and women’s human rights and social justice movements
• Demonstrated commitment to feminism and alignment with the Foundation’s values
• Skilled project manager: meticulous, exceptionally organized, cooperative, ability to think ahead and anticipate needs
• Superior written and verbal communication skills, including composition, proofreading and editing
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and deadlines; ability to prioritize
• Personable yet professional with a strong customer service orientation
• Self-motivated and independent, takes initiative, and willingness to patiently and proactively work through challenges that arise
• Possesses sound judgment, critical thinking skills, and maintains confidentiality at all times
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Google’s G Suite
• Ability to occasionally work flexible hours (weekends/evenings) and travel occasionally domestically and internationally
• Eligibility to work in the United States

BENEFITS

FJS offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits, generous vacation, and a collegial working environment. We are dedicated to promoting an environment of collaboration and work-life balance.

FJS deeply values equity and inclusion and is committed to the recruitment and retention of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, including gender identity and expression, race, religion, and sexual orientation.

LEVEL OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Fluency in Spanish and/or French preferred