Senior Executive Assistant

SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
REPORTS TO: 1. CEO & Founder, and 2. Incoming President DEPARTMENT: Executive FLSA STATUS: Full-time, Exempt EFFECTIVE DATE: January 12, 2026 ABOUT LA COCINA

La Cocina is a nationally recognized nonprofit incubator and multilingual community mental health institute that leads with healing-centered care and integrates evidence-based practices, community organizing, and social justice values. We are a “teaching clinic” where multilingual clinicians, advocates, and community-based organization (CBO) leaders grow alongside community partners. Through our co-design incubator, La Cocina develops original, culturally affirming interventions that respond directly to the lived realities of the families we serve.

Every program, supervision structure, and service offered at La Cocina is designed to meet urgent community needs and to prepare the next generation of community-based providers, advocates, and leaders to practice with cultural humility, compassion, and liberatory intent.

La Cocina is seeking a highly skilled Senior Executive Assistant to join our Executive Office and support the CEO & Founder and the incoming President during a pivotal period of organizational growth and transition. This is a rare opportunity for a seasoned administrative professional who thrives at the intersection of executive operations, relationship stewardship, and mission-driven work.

La Cocina’s Senior Executive Assistant plays a vital role in ensuring that the agency’s executives are able to lead strategically—with clarity, presence, and heart. As the first point of coordination for the Executive Office, this role requires exceptional judgment, strong communication skills, and the ability to anticipate needs within a fast-paced, multilayered environment. The ideal candidate is grounded, proactive, technologically adept, and deeply aligned with La Cocina’s mission and values.

This role is both operational and relational: managing complex calendars, coordinating communications across multiple internal and external stakeholders, supporting Board of Directors–related processes, and strengthening the administrative systems that uphold the Executive Office. For the right candidate, this position offers the chance to support visionary leadership, contribute to organizational excellence, and help steward a thriving, culturally affirming innovation incubator for social and emotional support.

• Minimum of 6+ years of experience in a senior administrative or Executive Assistant role supporting high-level executives within a fast-paced, mission-driven, or complex organizational environment.
• Demonstrated excellence in executive-level administrative management, including calendar oversight, communications coordination, and task/project tracking and execution, with a proven ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities without dropped details.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft professional correspondence, prepare polished materials, and represent the Executive Office with professionalism, warmth, and seamless attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including Board members, funders, community partners, administrative staff, and program teams.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and digital organizational tools, with the ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and executive systems. Expertise with  preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate needs, exercise sound judgment, maintain strict confidentiality, and engage in proactive problem-solving within a dynamic, multilayered environment.
• Experience supporting externally facing leaders—preferably in Development, fundraising, community engagement, philanthropy, or public-facing roles.
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams, including with the Communications & Development Manager, the Office Manager, and administrative staff without duplicating operational responsibilities.
• Strong alignment with La Cocina’s mission, values, and community-centered approach to social and emotional…