Temporary Executive Assistant

Berklee College of Music; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Berklee College of Music in Boston seeks an experienced Executive Assistant to support the Interim Executive Director and Dean of the Performance Division. You will manage calendars, prepare materials, coordinate travel, and oversee cross-functional projects with a high degree of discretion.

The role emphasizes organization, initiative, and the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7–10 years of executive-level support in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Proven calendar, travel, and meeting-material coordination at an executive level.
• Strong written and verbal communication, editing, and interpersonal skills.
• Organizational skills with high discretion and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex, fast-moving calendar across college-wide executive responsibilities.
• Prepare meeting materials, summaries, and action items for leadership reviews.
• Coordinate communications and travel, and track follow-ups with owners.
• Provide cross-functional project coordination and documentation.

Skills

Executive support

Calendar management

Travel coordination

Communications

Budget tracking

Google Workspace

Microsoft 365

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Google Workspace

Microsoft 365

Adobe Acrobat

Job description

Job Description

Berklee is the premier destination for the study of contemporary music and the performing arts. Our global community brings together artists, educators, and professionals who care deeply about excellence, creativity, collaboration, and the future of arts education. Working at Berklee means joining a vibrant, mission-driven environment where thoughtful administration directly supports students, faculty, and the work of creative leaders across the institution.

The Opportunity

The Executive Assistant provides high-level administrative, organizational, and project-coordination support to the Interim Executive Director of Berklee College of Music Boston and Dean of the Performance Division. The role helps organize and expedite the work of the executive by managing schedules, communications, meeting materials, travel, office systems, and follow-through across College-wide and Performance Division responsibilities. This position requires strong organization, initiative, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate will anticipate routine needs, keep assignments and selected projects organized, flag issues that require attention, and work collaboratively with colleagues across Berklee.

What You Will Do

Schedule Planning and Executive Support

Manage a complex, fast-moving calendar across College-wide executive responsibilities and Performance Division leadership, allowing appropriate time for preparation, travel, recurring commitments, and urgent needs. Review and route meeting requests, invitations, and scheduling inquiries; identify conflicts, gather needed information, and flag priority decisions for the executive. Coordinate engagements with senior leaders, deans, faculty, staff, students, partners, donors, and other internal and external constituents. Prepare clear daily schedules and maintain a practical look-ahead for meetings, deadlines, events, approvals, travel, and deliverables. Arrange travel, lodging, transportation, itineraries, and supporting materials with accuracy and appropriate contingency planning.

Meeting Preparation and Follow-Through

Gather and organize agendas, background information, prior materials, participant information, presentations, and other documents needed for the executive’s meetings. Coordinate executive and leadership meetings, including scheduling, invitations, rooms or virtual access, agendas, pre-reads, technology, and hospitality when appropriate. Maintain a practical tracker for assignments, approvals, commitments, and pending issues; provide timely reminders and status updates. Take notes as requested and capture decisions, action items, owners, and due dates; follow up with participants to help keep commitments on track. Compile information and prepare draft summaries, talking points, reports, or presentation materials as directed by the executive.

Communications and Stakeholder Coordination

Serve as a trusted and welcoming point of contact for the Office of the Executive Director, exercising diplomacy, responsiveness, and judgment with a wide range of stakeholders. Manage and triage incoming email, calls, invitations, and requests; identify required action, route matters to the appropriate person or office, and elevate sensitive or time-critical items promptly. Draft, edit, proofread, and format correspondence, presentations, talking points, reports, and other executive materials in a clear, accurate, and professional voice. Coordinate accurate, timely communication across offices and leadership teams, including reminders, requests for materials, and follow-through on commitments. Partner with Communications and Marketing on approved external communications, events, and social media support as requested. Use sound judgment and discretion, act within clearly delegated authority, and know when a matter requires the executive’s attention or referral to another office.

Project Coordination and Cross-Functional Support

Provide project coordination for selected executive initiatives, academic operations, events, and time-sensitive assignments from planning through completion. Create and update practical work plans, timelines, milestone lists, action logs, and shared project materials based on established goals and direction. Schedule working sessions, coordinate materials, collect updates, and help participants understand assignments, dependencies, and deadlines. Monitor progress, flag delays or unresolved issues, prepare concise status updates, and elevate matters that require direction or a decision. Maintain organized project documentation, follow up with owners, and confirm that assigned deliverables are completed and communicated. Collaborate effectively with Academic Affairs, Student Enrollment and Engagement, Finance, Human Resources, Institutional Advancement, Communications and Marketing, and other partners as the work requires.

Office Operations, Financial Administration, and Records

Manage and improve executive-office procedures, contact information, shared resources, and routine workflows to strengthen consistency, responsiveness, and efficiency. Track office spending, invoices, purchasing-card activity, reimbursements, and expense documentation in accordance with Berklee procedures. Maintain organized, secure, and accessible electronic records, meeting materials, and executive files; safeguard personnel-related, student-related, financial, legal, and strategic information with exceptional discretion and appropriate access controls.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Seven to ten years of experience supporting executive-level individuals in a complex, fast-paced professional environment. Demonstrated success managing a demanding executive calendar, preparing meeting materials, coordinating communications and travel, and maintaining reliable follow-through. Experience coordinating projects using work plans, timelines, milestones, action tracking, status updates, and organized documentation. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to gather information, identify missing details, and prepare clear summaries or materials for executive review. Exceptional written, verbal, editing, proofreading, and interpersonal communication skills. Outstanding organization, prioritization, accuracy, and attention to detail, with the judgment to manage multiple time-sensitive responsibilities and sensitive information. Ability to build trust and work effectively with senior leaders, faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders across different roles, perspectives, and communication styles. Strong financial administration skills, including budget tracking, invoice processing, purchasing-card reconciliation, and expense reporting. Advanced proficiency with modern productivity and AI-assisted tools, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, Apple/Mac environments, and generative AI platforms (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini) to streamline workflows, draft communications, and organize executive deliverables. Demonstrated commitment to a respectful, inclusive workplace that values difference and welcomes multiple perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in higher education, the arts, a nonprofit organization, or another mission-driven, relationship-centered environment. Experience supporting an academic executive or working in an environment involving faculty, students, senior administrators, donors, or external partners. Experience using project-management, task-management, or enterprise systems to track assignments, timelines, and follow-through.

Hiring Range: $33/hr - $44/hr

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Berklee welcomes and actively seeks a diverse faculty and staff. Employment decisions are based on equal opportunity and fair, equitable consideration without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. Applicants who need a reasonable accommodation may contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or 617-747-2375. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee: We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance. Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at [e-mail] or call 617-747-2375. *Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.* Employee Type: Temporary (Fixed Term) As the premier destination for the study of contemporary music and the performing arts, Berklee stands as the culmination of two pioneering institutions—Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music—each recognized for its global reach and cultural impact. Berklee is a place where artists come together to innovate, and where artistic and cultural diversity is embraced and celebrated. We strive to reflect these values in our inclusive hiring practices, creating a welcoming and equitable process that embraces diverse perspectives and fosters equity and opportunity for all. Guided by our fundamental values, our unified mission and vision define Berklee’s core purpose and help us envision the positive influence we can have on each other, our students, our communities, and the broader world. Berklee is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits program to help our employees achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals. Learn more.