Executive Assistant

The Opportunity

Essie Justice Group (Essie) is building grassroots power to dismantle the US incarceration system, the most egregious creator of racial and gender injustice of our time. We are a loving and powerful community of women with incarcerated loved ones. Our community includes cisgender women, transgender women, formerly incarcerated women, gender expansive people, elders, and young people.

After eleven years of building an active membership across California and beyond, Essie is deepening its base‑building and leadership development strategies with the 1 in 4 women with incarcerated loved ones to propel bold decarceration agendas across the nation. We seek to transform the criminal legal system and create a Black feminist future rooted in care, equity, community safety, and liberation.

In a period of continued organizational growth, Essie seeks a mission‑driven, conscientious, highly organized, and values‑aligned Executive Assistant & Office Coordinator to support our Deputy Director while ensuring smooth office operations, events, and special projects. This role is ideal for someone who finds meaning in behind‑the‑scenes work, excels at logistics and relationship care, and understands how strong systems and welcoming spaces support powerful organizing.

Strategic Administrative Support – Provide a range of administrative support tasks to enable and enhance the ability of the Deputy Director to utilize their time and focus on leadership and strategic tasks.

• Provide high‑level administrative support to senior leadership, enabling focus on strategic and leadership priorities.
• Manage complex calendars, scheduling, meeting coordination, and real‑time adjustments.
• Coordinate travel, logistics, and expense documentation.
• Draft and manage correspondence; prepare materials for meetings and speaking engagements.
• Support Board of Directors and key staff meetings, including logistics and note‑taking.
• Organize and manage external meetings, coordinating logistics, agendas, and stakeholder communications while ensuring all details are handled efficiently for a successful outcome.
• Provide project coordination by managing timelines, tracking deliverables, and ensuring all tasks are completed on schedule with attention to detail.

• Ensure a well‑functioning, welcoming office environment that supports staff wellbeing and productivity.
• Manage office systems, supplies, mail, inventory, and basic technology troubleshooting.
• Coordinate logistics for internal and external events, including venues, vendors, timelines, and materials.
• Support staff culture through celebrations, appreciation efforts, and hospitality‑centered practices.
• Serve as a welcoming first point of contact for partners, donors, consultants, and visitors.
• Foster peer learning and establish the office as a well‑connected movement hub in Oakland, serving as a key point of contact for individuals within the Essie and movement ecosystem.
• Facilitate and manage event hosting opportunities by reaching out to individuals within the community, encouraging them to host their own events in the office space, while also coordinating all logistics to ensure successful execution.

• Support and coordinate priority projects led by Directors across operations, organizing, campaigns, and institution‑building.
• Lead logistics, communication, and coordination for cross‑team initiatives and events as needed.
• Contribute to improving systems, processes, and workflows that support organizational growth.

• 3–4+ years of experience in administrative support, office coordination, logistics, or similar roles.
• Experience supporting senior leaders in fast‑paced, mission‑driven environments strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Impeccable attention to detail and strong organizational habits.
• Proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Zoom, and general office technology.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with discretion, adaptability, and follow‑through.
• Deep alignment with Essie’s values and a demonstrated commitment to…