Overview of the position:

Reporting to the Director, the Assistant to the Director serves as the primary point of contact for internal and external constituencies on all Office of the Director matters. The Assistant also serves as a liaison to the Board of Trustees and supports the Assistant Director and LREI’s administrative leadership team. The Assistant organizes and coordinates outreach and external relations efforts and oversees special projects. The director’s assistant must be creative, flexible, and enjoy working in a fast-paced, mission-, results-driven, and community-oriented environment. 

Responsible for all matters related to the Director’s Office, the Assistant works closely with the senior administrators and support staff to ensure the smooth operation of the school. The assistant works closely with the Chair of the Board of Trustees and Board Committee Chairs for all Board-related matters and supports LREI’s Trustees.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Daily tasks include: 

• managing the Director's daily calendar, scheduling meetings, preparing materials, managing logistics; 

• handling all communications for the director/director’s office, including drafting letters, policies, guidelines, emails, and other correspondence;

• organizing all senior-level administrative meetings, attending as required;

• facilitating the resolution of faculty/staff matters as needed;

• offering basic support, including photocopying, filing, updating email lists and contact information, running school-related errands, etc.; 

• working with the Business Office Associate to manage the overall school calendar, and anticipate calendar needs several months or more in advance to ensure that ongoing scheduling of annual administrative tasks is proactive and effective;

• making travel arrangements.

Manage and/or accomplish tasks and projects as assigned by the Director that include but are not limited to: 

• working closely with the Director and Assistant Director to coordinate recruiting and hiring  processes; 

• working closely with all divisions/departments and the Parents Association, offering support, and being the liaison with the director’s office; 

• managing logistics for all school events, as needed; 

• supporting the high school administrative team to coordinate Graduation;

• creating and revising annual documents, including all handbooks;

• work closely with the Director and the school’s leadership team on creating and revising the academic calendar; 

• organizing, attending, and documenting staff meetings, administration meetings, principals meetings, and Board of Trustees meetings, as requested; 

• assisting with the planning and execution of school events and activities;

• corresponding with NYSAIS, NAIS, the Guild, and other schools as needed in support of the Director’s and the School’s memberships and participation;

• participating with the emergency response team, as necessary.
   

As the Recording Secretary for the Board of Trustees, manage and coordinate all Board-related meetings and communications and handle tasks as requested by the Board Chair, including:

• organizing and attending Board meetings; handling all logistics and related communications; coordinating the agenda, distributing materials, noting attendance, and taking minutes;

• drafting and distributing official Board meeting minutes;

• creating and managing the Board of Trustees calendar, sending out meeting notices for all Board committee and other Board-related meetings, and coordinating with various Committee Chairs, as needed;

• creating and updating Board documents; 

• arranging meetings for the Director and trustees; 

• drafting and distributing communications/emails to the Board as required or directed by the Director and/or Board Chair;

• managing communications and correspondence for the Director and Board of Trustees

• coordinating various Board initiatives, working closely with Board Chair and other trustees

• updating information on Board committees, including meeting schedules, agenda, minutes and member contact lists, etc. 

And other responsibilities as assigned by the Director. 
 

Qualifications and skills sought - successful LREI employees are lifelong learners who:

• become active members of the LREI community;

• promote the school’s mission, making it the center of all decisions and actions;

• are reflective about their practice and avail themselves of professional development and leadership opportunities;

• demonstrate professionalism and a positive attitude;

• are inspired by our mission; 

• demonstrate a commitment to social justice and equity, cultural competence, and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse people;

• demonstrate the ability to exercise sound judgment in various situations, with strong written and verbal communication skills, administrative and organizational skills, and the perspective needed to prioritize the day’s work;

• demonstrate the ability to work independently on projects from conception to completion, work under pressure at times, and effectively handle various activities with diplomacy and efficiency;

 

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience 

• Experience in an executive assistant role, preferably at a non-profit or an educational institution

• Communicate fluently in written and spoken English 

• Excellent organizational and time management skills 

• Excellent interpersonal skills and diplomatic savvy to enable effective interactions with individuals at all levels of LREI and to appropriately represent the Director positively.

• Strong computer skills are required, including proficiency in Gmail, Gmail calendar, Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Media apps, ApplicantStack, SchoolDude

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion

• Ability to work effectively under pressure and with frequent interruptions

• Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively

• Knowledge of school policies and procedures

Salary: $75,000-$100,000

 

Overview of School

Founded in 1921 by Elisabeth Irwin (a contemporary and colleague of John Dewey, Caroline Pratt, and Lucy Sprague Mitchell), The Little Red School House has been at the vanguard of pedagogical innovation since its founding. LREI’s goal is to educate students to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners and to pursue academic excellence and individual achievement, in a context of respect for others and service to the community. We believe that learning should be active and experiential, with the school providing abundant opportunities for students to excel. We accept students with a range of abilities and talents who can take full advantage of a rich and demanding academic program in which each student is both challenged and supported. We seek to create within the school a community built on understanding and respecting others. Thus, our student body traditionally reflects the racial and cultural diversity of our city, and our curriculum is built on interdisciplinary studies to promote understanding of many cultures. While individual achievement is encouraged and rewarded, our program underscores the value of shared goals, friendship, and cooperation in mastering difficult tasks. The progressive ideals that in 1921 gave life and inspiration to the school — academic excellence and creativity, active learning and innovative teaching, respect for the individual and responsibility to the community - continue to guide the school today. LREI is located in vibrant Greenwich Village and classes venture forth often to use the neighborhood and the city to provide rich learning experiences.

All candidates, internal and external, should visit our employment page at https://www.lrei.org/careers to apply.