Executive Associate (Assistant) to the CEO

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW

Launched in 2007, the Partnership is a nonprofit organization that serves 14,200 students across 19 campuses in Watts, Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles, California. The Partnership is one of the largest, in-district public school transformation organizations in the U.S., and is not a charter organization. Our priorities are supporting great school leadership, developing highly effective teaching, and engaging families and community partners, all while advocating for broader system-level change. Over the past decade, our high schools have seen their graduation rate more than double from 36% to 80% and college acceptances have risen by 17 percentage points in the last four years from 32% in 2015 to 49% in 2019. Suspension rates across the network are at less than 1%, compared with 21% when we

started our work. Learn more about us at https://partnershipla.org/.

OPPORTUNITY

The Partnership is seeking a dynamic individual as the Executive Associate (Assistant) to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joan Sullivan. Joan Sullivan previously served as Deputy Mayor of Education for the City of Los Angeles, where she worked to support the nation’s second largest school district. Joan arrived in Los Angeles after spending more than a decade in the South Bronx as the founding principal of a high-poverty, high-performing public secondary school and as a high school social studies teacher. Before entering the classroom, she worked on U.S. Senator Bill Bradley’s 2000 presidential campaign, document-ing her experiences in a memoir entitled An American Voter, published in 2002. Joan holds a M.S. in School Leadership and graduated with a B.A. in American Studies from Yale College. Joan has three daughters and is a proud LA Unified parent.

The Executive Associate is responsible for providing the highest level of support to the CEO, ensuring that the key needs of the Partnership and its schools are fulfilled. In addition to administrative duties, this individual plays a critical role in assisting with internal and external communications, preparing for key meetings and events, and managing the Partnership’s Board of Directors. 

The Partnership is committed to continuously building an anti-racist culture that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in classrooms and in our home office. The Executive Associate to the CEO will be someone who is excited to keep these values in mind when executing day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Associate to the CEO’s responsibilities include:

Administration & Scheduling (35%)

• Manage calendar for the CEO 
• Plan and schedule meetings, phone conferences, and travel 
• Maximize the CEO’s time by updating contacts, tracking mileage, and reporting expenses

Communications & Fundraising (15%)

• Serve as a primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including school sites, LA Unified, civic and community leaders, foundations, and philanthropists
• Draft communications on behalf of the CEO, including letters and correspondence
• Develop presentation materials and talking points for key meetings and events including school site presentations, funder meetings/school visits, public affairs meetings, and meetings with partner organizations 

Board of Directors (30%)

• Assist the CEO in crafting Board of Directors strategy
• Plan and schedule Board and committee meetings
• Manage Board communications and the development of meeting materials 
• Oversee the budget for all spending related to the Board of Directors

Special Projects (20%)

• Summarize thoughts, ideas, and notes from leadership and project meetings and distribute follow-up action items to appropriate stakeholders in a timely fashion
• Report the progress of initiatives back to the CEO; gather information, organize and present ideas, materials and recommendations clearly
• Prioritize multiple assignments and execute strategies within limited timeframes to meet deadlines, ensuring project deliverables are met

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have:

Shared Beliefs:

• Deep belief in the power of our communities, and respect and love for our families in Boyle Heights, South LA and Watts.
• Belief in the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values and a commitment to improving academic achievement for Partnership students
• A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment for all team members
• Humility and respect for the hard work of school leaders, teachers, parents, and students
• Reflective and a life-long learner
• Unmatched work ethic
• Highest level of integrity

Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• 1-3 years of experience in an educational or professional setting
• Experience working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities
• Experience cultivating relationships to ensure outcomes, to meet and exceed project goals, and to include the perspectives of multiple stakeholders
• Proven ability to execute strategy and exceed goals
• Knowledge of the educational landscape in LA Unified is preferred but not required

Skills

• Exceptional organizational skills
• Ability to work under pressure and perform tasks with limited direction 
• Ease with managing competing demands and determining top priorities 
• Impeccable attention to detail
• Ability to communicate effectively and without error with varied audiences, including funders, Board of Directors, LA Unified personnel, school leaders, teachers, and parents
• Strong computer and technology skills (proficiency in Microsoft suite required, knowledge of Adobe Suite preferred)
• Proficient in Spanish preferred 
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COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The Partnership has recently completed a thorough study of market-competitive salaries, and has applied the learning from that study to salary offers for all home office positions. Our goal is to ensure that pay is fair for all staff members, both considering the market and considering pay equity among staff in similar roles in the organization. The Partnership offers a robust benefits package including employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance and a 403(b) retirement program. This is a full time, year-round position.

TO APPLY

For technical assistance or questions, please email melanieliu@partnershipla.org.