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Executive Assistant, Metropolitan Planning Council - Chicago, IL

Executive Assistant

The Opportunity
MPC seeks a detail-minded Executive Assistant who possesses enthusiasm for the Council’s agenda and an eagerness to assist our leaders in furthering our mission. The Executive Assistant provides administrative, programmatic and organizational support and reports directly to the President and Executive Vice President.
The Position
The Executive Assistant is responsible for:
  • scheduling, coordinating, and handling meeting preparation and follow-up and occasional travel arrangements for meetings of the President and Executive Vice President;
  • coordinating Board and Executive Committee meetings, including drafting agendas and correspondence, communicating needs and deadlines to relevant staff member and preparing meeting minutes;
  • managing logistics for board meetings, committee meetings, roundtables and other events;
  • daily monitoring of and handling responses to emails directed to the President and initiating social media posts;
  • researching, drafting and producing memos, correspondence, and blog posts for a diverse set of clients and constituents;
  • fielding phone calls and emails, managing mass mailings, assisting with hospitality needs in common office spaces and other general administrative tasks;
  • providing program support to the transportation and regional investments teams;
  • facilitating internal communication between program, communications and development staff and the President and Executive Vice President; and
  • updating MPC’s Raiser’s Edge constituent database and mailing lists.
MPC is looking for an intelligent, highly organized, personable individual who thrives in a collegial work environment and can juggle multiple deadlines at once. The preferred candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of work experience. Prior administrative experience and policy interest/experience is strongly preferred. The ideal candidate will have the following core competencies of highly successful MPC employees:
  • Entrepreneurial: a self-starter, able to proactively identify, prioritize and complete tasks, handle multiple projects and deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment, able to chart a course and map out the path to a problem solution and extremely detail-oriented
  • Relationship Builder: able to develop sincere connections and establish rapport with diverse groups and individuals, able to maintain and cultivate relationships even during conflict
  • Passionate, Eager and Positive: passionate about the issues that MPC addresses and committed to supporting the organization’s mission, able to contribute positively to group problem solving, always seeking solutions, volunteering and taking initiative
  • Curious: demonstrates desire for lifelong learning and self-improvement, engaged in the news and current events, not afraid to ask why and seek to understand context
  • Team Player: capable and willing to work collaboratively with staff and volunteers, consult the team for guidance, value positive contributions, tap strengths of all staff and ask for help when needed
  • Strong Communicator: an excellent writer and communicator who can competently represent the organization and its work to the public, board members, donors and audiences of all kinds
  • Analytical Thinker: able to identify root causes and causal relationships, challenge assumptions, and identify pros and cons of possible paths forward
  • Socially and Emotionally Intelligent: able to read people and situations, anticipate reactions, read between the lines, and be aware of emotional reactions
How to Apply
Please send the following materials by e-mail or mail:
  1. A letter detailing how your experience relates to the job description 
  2. Your résumé and salary history
  3. A brief writing sample 
  4. Three references
Madeline Shepherd
Metropolitan Planning Council
140 S. Dearborn, Suite 1400
Chicago, Ill. 60603
MShepherd@metroplanning.org
No phone calls please.  For more information on MPC, please visit our website: www.metroplanning.org. MPC is an equal opportunity employer.
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