Job Title: Executive Assistant for External Relations
Reports to: Head of School
Job Summary
The Executive Assistant for External Relations (EAER) serves as primary administrative support for the Head of School and Advancement/Communications offices. Primary duties include: supporting the administrative, scheduling, and communications requirements of the Head of School; ensuring professional and proactive outreach to employees as well as external constituents — Board of Trustees, parents, donors, alumni, and wider community; providing administrative support for the school’s advancement events, communications, and data management. This is a 12-month, non-exempt, administrative support position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Head of School Support:

• Mirrors the NAIS Head of School’s Principles of Good Practice
• Supports the head’s daily operation of the school, including management of the head’s calendar, monitoring short and long term goals, and executing institutional projects
• Support the Head of School, the Board Chair, and Board of Directors/Board Committees by providing administrative support including meeting minutes, various correspondence/memos and Board handbook; ensure the timely preparation and distribution of materials (e.g. requests, agendas, schedules, notices, resolutions) for meetings.
• Promotes the standards and policies of the school, providing leadership as standards and policies evolve; sets professional boundaries, collaborating with constituents within these boundaries
• Fosters a partnership between faculty and staff to support a positive environment for students’ academic and social-emotional learning
• Provide front desk coverage, when necessary
• Respects, affirms, and protects the dignity and worth of each member of the community, and exhibits moral and ethical behavior
• Is a life-long learner who enhances his/her skills, using timely and relevant technologies to maintain high standards of performance to efficiently and effectively produce work products

Advancement/Alumni Relations/Communications Support:

• In partnership with the Head of School and Advancement Director, support the annual Institutional Advancement Plan
• Support the development, implementation and management of all fundraising activities including annual giving, major gift programs, endowment and capital campaigns, special projects, and other school-related solicitations
• Provide administrative support in the realms of stewardship, including donor cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and relations
• Support the reconciliation of Raiser's Edge gift reporting to the school accounting system on a monthly basis, as well as the maintenance and enhancement of the Raiser’s Edge database
• Participate in the cultivation of volunteers
• Partner with the Director of Advancement and the Gunston Parent Association to co-coordinate the planning and implementation of special events.
• Support the organization of alumni events, and collect news and information about the alumni base for publication, helping to keep accurate records of the school’s alumni
• Support the oversight of the school’s social media alumni presence (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
• Other duties, as assigned

Qualification Requirements
All Gunston employees are ethically-centered, proactive team-players, and lifelong learners, committed to the entire scope of the school’s mission, including our unique focus on environmental sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion. A successful EAER needs to be accessible, approachable, and welcoming; needs to be able to manage confidential situations with discretion, respect, and sensitivity; in addition, the EAER should endeavor to take an active part in the full life of the school. Specific skills include:

• Candidates should ideally possess a Bachelor's Degree or at least 2 years work experience in an administrative/advancement support role, preferably at the executive level.
• Experience with managing special events details
• Should be fluent in use of Google Apps and MS Office applications; ideally, a candidate would be familiar with Raiser’s Edge and/or database programs.  
• Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously; ability to prioritize well and to work efficiently under pressure  
• Ability to work independently and follow through on assignments with minimal direction; ability to handle confidential matters with discretion  
• Skill in managing a complex calendar; Excellent proofreading and writing skills.

Salary and benefits will be commensurate with a candidate’s background and experience, as aligned with local, state, and national benchmarks. Interested candidates should send a cover letter,* resume, and names and phone numbers of three references to:
 
Mr. John Lewis
Head of School
The Gunston School
P.O. Box 200
Centreville, MD 21617
jlewis@gunston.org
*Resumes without cover letters will not be considered.