Strategic Initiatives Specialist

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University is seeking a Strategic Initiatives Specialist to assist with high-priority research, event preparation, and executive communications. You will translate priorities for stakeholders and support major External Affairs initiatives.

A fast-paced, collaborative environment and strong writing and editing skills are essential. In-person presence five days a week is required, with occasional evenings or weekends. Experience with AI tools is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with 3-5 years of relevant experience.
• Excellent communication, including strong writing, research, and editing ability.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills and ability to synthesize information and develop solutions.
• Mature professional who can manage an intense workload with discretion.
• Proactive, resourceful problem-solving mindset.
• Proficiency with MS Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• In-person presence five days a week; some evenings/weekends may be required.

Responsibilities

• Project and Content Management: assist in research and preparation for major university events.
• Assist in research and preparation for presidential and executive priorities.
• Collaborate on university messaging while exercising sound judgment for division priorities.
• Assist with planning and creating content for high-priority meetings and summaries.
• Proactively assist with developing strategic opportunities related to relevant projects.
• Evaluate and provide feedback for submissions from division departments.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Excellent communication

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Discretion

Proactive problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

About the Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Executive and Strategic Initiatives, the Strategic Initiatives Specialist will assist with the management and execution of high-priority research, meeting content preparation, presentations, reports, and high visibility projects in support of key priorities for the External Affairs division. The ideal candidate has experience in a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly collaborative environment, and is adept at working with leadership to translate priorities and accomplish goals efficiently. This person will also be a well-equipped communicator, able to clearly identify and translate information for stakeholders at varying levels of seniority. Skills in using AI tools to productively and efficiently deliver quality work are a plus. A never-ending curiosity and solutions focused attitude are important qualities in the right candidate.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required with 3-5 years of relevant experience.


• Excellent communication skills, including strong writing, research, and editing ability.


• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills and ability to synthesize information and develop creative, detail oriented, and impactful solutions.


• Mature professional who can manage and facilitate an intense workload, produce quality results in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrate discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.


• Must be proactive, anticipate problems, and be resourceful to find workable solutions.


• Proficiency with MS Office products, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, is required.


• Experience in higher education is not needed, nor is it desired.


• This role requires in-person presence five days a week. Some evening and weekend hours may be required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Project and Content Management Assist in research and preparation for major university events, including Commencement.


• Assist in research and preparation for presidential and executive priorities.


• Collaborate on university-wide messaging while exercising sound judgment for progress and direction on behalf of the division.


• Assist with planning and creating content for high-priority meetings and events, including presentations and summaries.


• Proactively assist with developing strategic opportunities as related to relevant projects.


• Evaluate and provide feedback for submissions from the departments in the division. This could involve editing documents, maintaining a current knowledge of division priorities, providing relevant responses, etc.


• Other duties as assigned.

Position Type

Marketing and Communications

Additional Information

• Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.


• Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation.


• Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.


• All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.


• Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 107S Expected Hiring Range: $53,615.00 - $75,728.75 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

About Northeastern University

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact.

Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—including 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions.

The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses.

Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.