Senior Executive Assistant to President

Senior Executive Assistant to the President

The Senior Executive Assistant to the President is a senior-level strategic and administrative partner who serves as the operational backbone to the Office of the President. This role combines high-level executive support with proactive strategic partnerships, ensuring the President's time, communications, and priorities are managed with precision and purpose. Reporting directly to the University President, and functioning as a trusted liaison to executive leadership, the Board of Trustees/Cabinet, senior administrators, donors, alumni, and external stakeholders, this position demands an exceptional standard of discretion, professionalism, and institutional alignment.

This is a dual-function role encompassing both executive administration and strategic support. On the administrative side, the position manages the full scope of office operations, including complex calendaring, international and domestic travel logistics, correspondence, board/cabinet coordination, and records management. On the strategic side, the Senior Executive Assistant actively supports the President in advancing institutional priorities, contributing to project management, executive communications, stakeholder engagement, and the coordination of high-visibility initiatives.

I. Gatekeeper & Executive Communications

• Serve as the primary gatekeeper and first point of contact for the President's Office, managing and filtering all incoming requests, calls, correspondence, and visitors from faculty, students, staff, board members, donors, alumni, and external stakeholders.
• Exercise sound, independent judgment in triaging, routing, and prioritizing communications to protect the President's time and ensure alignment with institutional priorities.
• Draft, review, and manage outgoing communications on behalf of the President, including confidential correspondence, formal letters, emails, talking points, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Build and maintain trusted, professional relationships across all constituent groups while maintaining the highest level of discretion.
• Monitor and manage multiple inboxes and communication channels; ensure timely, accurate, and professional follow-through on all inquiries and commitments.

II. Complex Calendar & Schedule Management

• Manage an exceptionally complex, multi-layered calendar for the University President, balancing institutional commitments, strategic priorities, governance obligations, donor/alumni engagement, and external representations.
• Proactively anticipate scheduling conflicts, coordinate across multiple stakeholders, and time zones, and ensure the President's schedule is consistently aligned with strategic goals.
• Prepare comprehensive briefing documents, agendas, presentations, talking points, and background materials for every scheduled engagement.
• Coordinate scheduling for Cabinet-level and cross-divisional meetings; manage follow-up, action tracking, and ensure commitments are fulfilled.
• Monitor and adjust scheduling in real time in response to urgent needs, shifting priorities, or unforeseen circumstances.

III. Domestic & International Travel Coordination

• Arrange comprehensive domestic and international travel for the President and as needed, executive leadership, including flights, ground transportation, accommodations, visas/entry documentation, itineraries, and related logistics.
• Research and anticipate travel requirements for international destinations, including cultural protocols, time zone management, and country-specific logistical considerations.
• Develop detailed, accurate travel itineraries with relevant briefing materials, contact information, and contingency plans.
• Manage travel budget oversight, expense reporting, and reconciliation in compliance with university travel policies.
• Coordinate with counterparts at host institutions, embassies, government offices, or partner organizations for international engagements.

IV. Board of Trustees & Cabinet Support

• Serve as the primary administrative coordinator for all Board of Trustees meetings, committee meetings, retreats, and related governance activities.
• Prepare,…