The Pay, Perks, & Benefits
• Salary is competitive and will be determined based on relevant experience, skills, market benchmarks, and internal equity.
• Retirement benefits through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) with employer match
• Generous time off, including vacation, paid sick leave, and paid family leave after one year
• Paid holidays, including a two week paid winter break
• Anthem PPO and HSA health plans, with excellent dental options
• Employer paid life insurance
How You Will Help the Team
The Executive Assistant provides high-level administrative and operational support to the Executive Director and the Economic Development team. This role serves as a central coordinator for communications, scheduling, projects, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring the effectiveness, professionalism, and responsiveness of the organization. The ideal candidate is proactive, highly organized, and able to anticipate needs, solve problems, and implement solutions in a fast-paced, high profile environment requiring discretion and sound judgment.
You will play a critical role in enabling the Executive Director and Economic Development team to operate effectively by managing priorities, coordinating communications, and ensuring seamless execution of daily operations and strategic initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Executive & Team Support
• Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Executive Director and Economic Development team
• Manage calendars, schedules, and priorities to ensure effective use of time
• Anticipate needs, identify gaps, and implement solutions to improve efficiency
• Serve as a liaison between leadership, staff, board members, and external stakeholders
Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
• Manage and coordinate internal and external communications on behalf of leadership
• Interface professionally with government officials, business leaders, and partners
• Prepare correspondence, briefing materials, presentations, and reports
• Maintain and update stakeholder contact databases and engagement records
Meetings, Boards & Events
• Coordinate and support board and committee meetings, including agendas, materials, logistics, and minutes
• Plan and execute meetings, site visits, and events, including technology and follow-up
• Capture key takeaways and action items and ensure timely follow-through
Project & Operational Support
• Support departmental projects, data tracking, and reporting
• Assist with procurement, expense tracking, and compliance with organizational policies
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts and support process improvements
Travel & Logistics
• Arrange travel for staff, including itineraries, accommodations, registrations, and reimbursements
• Ensure all logistics align with schedules, priorities, and organizational policies
Qualifications
Your Knowledge & Expertise
Education & Experience
• Associate’s degree and three or more years of relevant experience required; Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Experience supporting executive level leadership required
• Experience in economic development, nonprofit management, government, higher education, or a related environment preferred
Core Competencies
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with excellent interpersonal judgment
• Proactive problem solver who anticipates needs and implements solutions
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Sound judgment and ability to work independently
• Adaptable and effective in a fast paced, evolving environment
Technical Skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience with collaboration and CRM tools such as Teams, SharePoint, or Salesforce preferred
What Makes This Role Different
This is not a traditional administrative support role. The Executive Assistant is a trusted partner to senior leadership and a key contributor to the effectiveness of the Economic Development team. This role operates at the center of high visibility initiatives, external partnerships, and strategic priorities that directly impact the region.
The ideal candidate will have a seat at the table, insight into decision making, and the opportunity to influence how work gets done by anticipating needs, improving processes, and ensuring seamless execution. Success in this role requires discretion, confidence, sound judgment, and the ability to engage professionally with executives, board members, government officials, and community leaders.
This position is well suited for someone who enjoys ownership, variety, and impact, and who takes pride in being a reliable, proactive force behind a mission driven organization.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Skills Required
- Associate's degree
- Three or more years of relevant experience
- Experience supporting executive level leadership
- Bachelor's degree preferred
- Experience in economic development or a related environment preferred
What We Do
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves as a regional catalyst for economic transformation through applied research, advanced learning, economic development, manufacturing advancement, and conference services.
