Executive Assistant

Job Type Full-time Description

Arnold Ventures (AV) is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change, AV is working to improve the lives of American families, strengthen their communities, and promote their economic opportunity. 

Position Overview

AV’s Administration team plays a critical role in advancing the organization’s mission by enabling leaders to operate at their highest level. The team provides proactive, high-judgment support that goes beyond coordination to include anticipation, problem-solving, and thoughtful execution.

By managing complex schedules, travel, and logistics with precision and foresight, the team ensures leaders are prepared, informed, and able to focus on strategic priorities. This work requires strong critical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to make sound decisions in dynamic environments.

The team is expected to operate with a high degree of ownership, reliability, and professionalism. Clear communication, responsiveness, and the ability to receive and apply feedback are essential. Through consistent execution and a commitment to excellence, the Administration team builds trust and creates the structure that allows mission-driven work to happen effectively.

The Executive Assistant will serve as a key partner to members of the leadership team and a strong contributor to AV’s Administration team. Through exceptional performance, a proactive spirit, and high attention to detail, this individual will help create the conditions necessary for AV’s leaders and Administration team to accelerate the organization’s impact. The Executive Assistant will report to the Director, Office Services, and be based in AV’s Houston, TX office.

Core Responsibilities

• Manage leaders’ calendars and scheduling with meticulous attention to detail, including but not limited to, setting up internal and external meetings with all pertinent information, anticipating scheduling needs, and proactively resolving scheduling conflicts
• Act as a strategic partner in prioritizing leaders’ time, commitments, and deadlines
• Make travel arrangements including airfare, transportation, hotel and meal reservations, and ensure leaders have travel itineraries before travel, as needed
• Prepare expense reports and work with Accounting team on any necessary troubleshooting
• Assist leaders with tracking any necessary compliance items 
• Provide logistical support for leaders on internal and external events, as needed
• Perform other general administrative duties such as managing conference room calendars, answering phones, printing, and binding presentations, assisting with incoming and outgoing mail and deliveries
• Ensure compliance with administrative policies and practices, physical and operational security, and safety procedures
• Support the Office Manager with new employee onboarding, inventory-related tasks for kitchen and office supplies, events, special projects, and teambuilding activities and initiatives, as needed
• Without exception or failure, maintain discretion and confidentiality

The salary range for this position will be $90,000-$100,000.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant work experience, preferably as an executive assistant or office manager supporting multiple leaders at once
• Exceptional project management, time management, and organization skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends support as needed
• Expert user level knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word as well as modern workplace collaboration tools (e.g. Zoom, Slack, etc.)
• Strong interpersonal skills with a track record of building strong working relationships with executives, internal teams, and external partners

Benefits Overview

AV is committed to providing a robust and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our current benefits package includes 100% paid employee premiums for medical, dental, vision, basic life, and short- and long-term disability insurance; 20 days of paid time off, 16 paid holidays (including a winter break from December 24 to January 1), a hybrid policy that includes four days in office and one flexible day for remote work, and a summer schedule with alternating Fridays off beginning on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day; paid parental leave; a 401k retirement savings plan with an employer match, profit-share contribution, and immediate vesting; pre-tax transit benefits; a professional development stipend; a charitable giving stipend; and an employee assistance program. In addition, a relocation bonus is available for candidates who will move for a position.

Our Culture and Core Values

Our culture seeks to inspire and empower our people to innovate and develop bold ideas that will help AV achieve lasting impact. Our culture, and the core values that support it, should create an environment that spurs our team to think outside the box, feel comfortable pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and signal confidence in our team’s ability to make change happen through our philanthropic efforts. Although not an exhaustive list, below you’ll find examples of AV’s work culture.

• We are adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity
• We are intellectually curious, open-minded, objective, humble, collegial, and receptive to feedback
• We are action-oriented with strong self-direction and self-motivation skills with the ability to work simultaneously on multiple projects
• We are able to interact confidently and collaboratively with team members and navigate relationships with external experts, government leaders, advocates, and individuals 

AV’s values reflect who we are as an organization, help us accelerate our strategic goals, strengthen our resolve, anchor us to our mission, and guide our decision-making. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following core values that inspire the AV team to make a difference.

• Respect for Ourselves & Others
• Audacious Action
• Collaborative Engagement
• Depth of Thought
• Clear Communication

AV is an equal opportunity employer, committed to an inclusive workplace. We are seeking applicants from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of experiences and perspectives. Candidates who have been impacted by the systems we are seeking to change are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, military/veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.