Executive Assistant for Progressive Strategies LLC

Job description

Executive Assistant to the CEO

Progressive Strategies LLC

Founded in 2001, Progressive Strategies is a full-service progressive political consulting firm founded and headed by Mike Lux. Its mission is to build a more progressive America by (a) enacting policies that achieve economic social justice, racial, sexual and LGBT equality, and a more peaceful world (b) building progressive infrastructure that can both respond to conservative movement efforts as well as grow support for and enact progressive policies. The firm is located in downtown Washington, DC.

Progressive Strategies is seeking a strong candidate for the position of Executive Assistant to the CEO, Mike Lux, who will start in January 2011.

Position summary:

The Executive Assistant to the CEO will be an experienced organizer/project manager responsible for independent project management and support of the CEO. The CEO has a network of political relationships and clients from all walks of life in the progressive movement, including but not limited to the White House, members of Congress, foundations, advocacy organizations, think tanks, the netroots, traditional media, and other organizations that serve as key cogs in the progressive movement. He is also a past or present board member of over a dozen advocacy organizations and foundations. The Executive Assistant directly assists the CEO in managing both the CEO’s “political life” and fulfilling client responsibilities. This position is a first point of contact with the CEO for those seeking meetings and for all external Progressive Strategies business.

The candidate will have at least a basic understanding of the progressive movement landscape, but a strong “live-and-breath” mentality when it comes to politics and political organizing. The candidate will also have a basic understanding of online political organizing, an interest in learning new skills, excellent communication skills, political smarts, a “jack of all trades” ability to take on new roles, and a keen sense of discretion.

Roles and responsibilities:

-Manage the CEO’s travel and schedule;

-Manage all political research;

-Manage the online presence of the firm and President, including blogs, social media, and the firm’s website content;

-Hire and direct a team of interns;

-Manage administrative and IT matters, and be able to analyze and present solutions to administrative problems with minimal supervision;

-Be the point of contact for external organizations wishing to do business with the CEO or Progressive Strategies.

Skills and abilities:

-Minimum of 2 years’ experience organizing in politics, whether as an online or offline political organizer, or in a similar executive assistant role.

-Ability and interest in continually improving self and firm performance, whether it’s a better website, better way of organizing a client project, finding the lowest possible airfare, better organizational techniques for the CEO, etc.

-Excellent computer skills including proficiency with PC’s, MS Office products, and presentation software.

-Experience with online political organizing is a strong bonus. This can include one or more of the following: netroots outreach, blogs, HTML, social networking, website design, CMS and e-mail delivery.

-Excellent written and verbal communications abilities.

-“Get it done” attitude, along with excellent organizational and time management skills and the ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines

-At least a basic understanding of, and willingness to learn about, the following: online and offline political organizing techniques, campaigns and elections, progressive netroots, the landscape of the progressive movement, lobbying and building political pressure campaigns, and community organizing.

-As the point of contact for multiple relationships outside the firm, the Executive Assistant to the CEO will need to have strong interpersonal skills, including patience and the ability to represent the firm and CEO in a professional manner.

Salary and benefits

Progressive Strategies offers competitive salaries and benefits along with a casual work environment. Salary is commensurate with experience. Some highlights of Progressive Strategies’ benefits include:

-100% payment of the employee's health insurance premium

-Full major medical coverage along with dental and vision coverage

-Health insurance coverage for a spouse or partner

-A relaxed, per request paid vacation policy

-Paid sick leave

-SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with matching employer contribution

We are located in downtown Washington DC, one block from both the Farragut North and Farragut West metro stations as well as multiple major bus lines.

How to Apply

Send a (1) a resume (b) a cover letter and (c) a list of references to abink@progressivestrategies.net. Either paste all three documents in one e-mail, one after another, just below your cover note and signature (preferred); or include all three as three separate attachments in .doc, .docx or .pdf format. Include “Executive Assistant to the CEO” in the subject line. Please include details on where you heard about this job. No phone calls.

For more information about Progressive Strategies, including a sampling of the kind of clients we have, visit www.progressivestrategies.net.

Progressive Strategies is an equal opportunity employer. Progressive Strategies does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, height and weight, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, partnership status, genetic predisposition, HIV status, arrest record and any other characteristic protected by law.