What: MPC seeks a detail-oriented Executive Assistant who possesses enthusiasm for MPC's agenda and an eagerness to assist leadership in furthering our mission. The Executive Assistant provides administrative, programmatic and organizational support and reports directly to the President. This position is an opportunity for early-career professionals. Others in this position have been promoted to serve a variety of roles across the organization. Candidates with interest in planning, public policy, communications, development, or government relations are encouraged to apply.
The Position
The Executive Assistant is responsible for:
- Scheduling, coordinating, and handling meeting preparation and follow-up and occasional travel arrangements for the President;
- Researching, drafting and producing memos, correspondence and blog posts for a diverse set of audiences and partners;
- Coordinating Board and Executive Committee meetings, including drafting agendas and correspondence, communicating needs and deadlines to relevant staff member and preparing meeting minutes;
- Facilitating smooth internal communication between program, research, communications and development teams;
- Communicating across the organization and preparing the President for external meetings with high-profile business, civic, philanthropic, and community leaders;
- Daily monitoring of and handling responses to emails directed to the President, identifying and prioritizing urgent and important tasks; and
- Fielding phone calls and emails, managing mailings, assisting with office needs and other general administrative tasks.
- Entrepreneurial: self-starter, able to proactively identify, prioritize and complete tasks, handle multiple projects and deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment, 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, proactively seek solutions, and take initiative
- Curious: demonstrate desire for lifelong learning and self-improvement, engaged in the news and current events, not afraid to ask questions and seek to understand context
- Team Player: capable and willing to work collaboratively with staff, consult others 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 represent the organization and its work to the general 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 and respond to people and situations, anticipate reactions, and navigate conflict with poise and clear communication
MPC has a values-driven workplace and we are seeking candidates with a demonstrated commitment to creating a region that is:
- Equitable: For MPC, equity means that every individual and community in our region has the opportunities they need to thrive. Promoting equity means that we recognize the harm that discrimination and racism have caused and continue to pose to our lives and neighborhoods. That’s why we drive policies, investments and ideas that ensure all current and future residents can reach their full potential.
- Prosperous: For MPC, prosperity means that both metropolitan Chicago and all of its people are economically healthy and prepared for growth. MPC is focused on ensuring that everyone who lives and works in our region can provide for themselves and their families. We support commitments that bring resources, development, and fairly paid and quality jobs to all communities.
- Sustainable: For MPC, sustainability means that our region meets the natural, human and financial needs of the present while improving conditions for future generations. MPC’s agenda supports ecological vitality, residents’ health and economic stability for the long term, and ensures that as things change, our region adapts.
- Engaged and Responsible: For MPC, civic participation and effective government are cornerstones of our region’s viability. We drive policies that strengthen the participation and impact of residents in local and regional decisions. We also promote adaptive, collaborative, just and transparent governance at all levels.
Please send the following materials by e-mail to: MarySue Barrett, manager@metroplanning.org
- A cover letter detailing how your experience relates to the job description
- A resume
- A 250-500 word writing sample or excerpt
About MPC:
For more than 85 years, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has guided metropolitan Chicago toward a better, bolder, more equitable future for everyone. We do that by partnering with businesses, communities and governments to address the area’s toughest planning and development challenges. MPC is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with an established track record of high-quality research, advocacy and demonstration projects to help its residents and local communities thrive. MPC works to solve today's urgent problems—with a focus on government effectiveness, vibrant neighborhoods, quality housing and transportation choices, and well-managed natural assets—and we think ahead to prepare the region for the needs of tomorrow.
With a professional staff of 27 and growing, several Senior Fellows and a team of Research Assistants/Interns, MPC’s 2020 budget is $5.8 million. More information on MPC can be found online at: https://www.metroplanning.org/index.html