Advance Associate

DHRM•Richmond, VA

About The Position

The Advance Associate supports the Director of Advance in planning, coordinating, and executing events, engagement days, meetings, and official travel involving the Governor and Cabinet. The role performs logistical, administrative, and operational tasks to ensure activities follow established procedures and organizational standards. Work includes frequent travel, on-site event coordination, and regular work outside standard business hours. This is an at-will position appointed by the Governor of Virginia, and the selected candidate must pass a criminal background check.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, communications, political science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
One to three years of professional experience in event coordination, logistics, government operations, or related areas.
Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work effectively in fast-paced environments.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and communication abilities.
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse internal and external partners.
Ability to travel frequently and work outside standard business hours, including evenings and weekends.
Demonstrated discretion, professionalism, and sound judgment.
Valid driver’s license and ability to drive for official travel, including frequent in-state travel to event locations.
Ability to pass a criminal background check.

Nice To Haves

Prior advance experience in a political campaign or in state or federal government.
Experience supporting senior leadership or working within government or public-sector environments.
Familiarity with intergovernmental engagement, protocol operations, or stakeholder coordination.

Responsibilities

Assist with coordination and execution of advance operations for the Governor, including site logistics, scheduling, and event preparation.
Support planning and implementation of engagement days with colleagues across strategic engagement, local government engagement, communications, policy, legislative affairs, and applicable secretariats.
Conduct preliminary site assessments and collect logistical information for event planning.
Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders, including event hosts, staff, partner organizations, and local officials, as assigned.
Assist in preparing briefing materials, operational packets, run-of-show documents, and other event documentation.
Provide on-site event support, including setup, staging, event-flow coordination, troubleshooting, and team communications.
Assist with transportation arrangements, travel logistics, protocol considerations, and accessibility requirements.
Maintain accurate records, track follow-up items, and participate in post-event evaluations to identify improvements.
Assist in developing and maintaining advance-team procedure documents and best practices.
Provide support to volunteers and additional staff assigned to advance operations.
Ensure compliance with safety, security, and organizational policies during event planning and execution.
Perform other duties as assigned to support advance operations.