About the Opportunity
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Director of Executive and Strategic Initiatives, the Strategic Initiatives Specialist will assist with the management and execution of high-priority research, meeting content preparation, presentations, reports, and high visibility projects in support of key priorities for the External Affairs division. The ideal candidate has experience in a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly collaborative environment, and is adept at working with leadership to translate priorities and accomplish goals efficiently. This person will also be a well-equipped communicator, able to clearly identify and translate information for stakeholders at varying levels of seniority. Skills in using AI tools to productively and efficiently deliver quality work are a plus. A never-ending curiosity and solutions focused attitude are important qualities in the right candidate.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree required with 3-5 years of relevant experience.
- Excellent communication skills, including strong writing, research, and editing ability.
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills and ability to synthesize information and develop creative, detail oriented, and impactful solutions.
- Mature professional who can manage and facilitate an intense workload, produce quality results in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrate discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information.
- Must be proactive, anticipate problems, and be resourceful to find workable solutions.
- Proficiency with MS Office products, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, is required.
- Experience in higher education is not needed, nor is it desired.
- This role requires in-person presence five days a week. Some evening and weekend hours may be required.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES
Project and Content Management
- Assist in research and preparation for major university events, including Commencement.
- Assist in research and preparation for presidential and executive priorities.
- Collaborate on university-wide messaging while exercising sound judgment for progress and direction on behalf of the division.
- Assist with planning and creating content for high-priority meetings and events, including presentations and summaries.
- Proactively assist with developing strategic opportunities as related to relevant projects.
- Evaluate and provide feedback for submissions from the departments in the division. This could involve editing documents, maintaining a current knowledge of division priorities, providing relevant responses, etc.
- Other duties as assigned.
Position Type
Marketing and CommunicationsAdditional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compensation Grade/Pay Type:
107SExpected Hiring Range:
$53,615.00 - $75,728.75With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree
- 3–5 years of relevant experience
- Excellent communication skills, including strong writing, research, and editing ability
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills
- Ability to synthesize information and develop creative, detail-oriented, impactful solutions
- Ability to manage an intense workload and produce quality results in a fast-paced environment
- Discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information
- Proactive, resourceful approach with the ability to anticipate problems and find workable solutions
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
- In-person presence five days per week
- Availability for some evening and weekend hours
Northeastern University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northeastern University and has not been reviewed or approved by Northeastern University.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off is described as extensive, including 22–26 vacation days, 12 sick days, 13 holidays, and paid parental leave for birth/adoption. Additional paid leave is also outlined, including up to 26 weeks of paid medical leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for eligible employees.
-
Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with an employer contribution described as 10% when an employee contributes 5%, alongside immediate vesting once eligible. This is presented as unusually generous relative to typical employer retirement offerings.
-
Parental & Family Support — Family-oriented benefits are emphasized through tuition assistance for employees and dependents and access to backup childcare and family-care resources. Tuition remission/discount structures are highlighted as a major value driver, especially for employees with children and for long-tenured staff.
Northeastern University Insights
What We Do
Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university with a distinctive, experience-driven approach to education and discovery. The university is a leader in experiential learning, powered by the world’s most far-reaching cooperative education program. We integrate classroom study with opportunities for professional work, research, service, and global learning in more than 100 countries. The same spirit of collaboration guides a use-inspired research enterprise focused on solving global challenges in health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern offers a comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs leading to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools, and select graduate programs at campuses in Boston, Charlotte, N.C., San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Toronto. Campuses in Burlington, MA, and Nahant, MA, are home to research institutes for homeland security and coastal sustainability, respectively
