Associate Director, Executive Partnerships & Special Projects

CCS Fundraising • Chicago, IL

2d • $60,000 - $80,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

CCS Fundraising is an international strategic fundraising firm that partners with nonprofits for transformational change. Since 1947, CCS has empowered many of the world’s greatest organizations across sectors to advance some of the most important causes in history. We plan, manage, and implement programs and initiatives that achieve fundraising goals and mission impact.
CCS provides tailored support to more than 700 nonprofit organizations annually. Headquartered in New York, the firm has over 600 professionals and 18 offices throughout the United States and Europe. Our people are our greatest strength. At CCS, you will join a diverse team of smart, passionate, and resourceful professionals who are driven by purpose and committed to performance.
We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and strategically-minded professional to serve as an Associate Director, Executive Partnerships supporting our Central U.S. leadership team. This individual will act as a trusted partner to senior executives, providing operational leadership, project coordination, and decision support that drives effectiveness, strengthens client engagement, and enhances cross-department collaboration.
More than a standard Executive Assistant position, this role requires proactive problem-solving, independent management of complex workflows, strong cross-team information coordination, and seamless execution of priorities in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in operations, project management, executive support, or a similar role requiring strategic coordination and independent decision making.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a high degree of professionalism and discretion.
• Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively across departments and levels.
• High proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) and comfort learning new systems; experience with CRM or workflow tools (NetSuite, Hubspot, Monday.com, Navan) a plus.
• Ability to lift 25 pounds as needed.
• Bachelor’s degree required.

Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic and trusted partner to the executives, exercising sound judgment, discretion, and proactive insight to anticipate needs across client work, internal priorities, and business development activities.
• Oversee complex calendar management, travel coordination, timekeeping, and expense workflows, ensuring seamless execution through strong planning, accuracy, and timely follow-through.
• Lead end-to-end meeting preparation for prospect, client, and internal meetings by developing agendas, curating materials, synthesizing background research, and equipping executives with the information needed for strong decision-making.
• Guide executives through post-meeting follow-up by managing next steps, drafting communications, coordinating scheduling, and partnering with other Strategy & Operations teams to drive momentum.
• Maintain a high-level understanding of each executive’s client portfolio, leadership focus areas, team structure, and external commitments to ensure alignment and continuity in planning and execution.
• Ensure consistent, professional, and timely communication across all correspondence, promoting clarity, alignment, and strong constituent relationships.
• Oversee key timelines for prospects, client meetings, reports, and presentations, ensuring executives are fully prepared and that all supporting materials and coordination occur in a timely and organized manner.
• Maintain high-level oversight of executive records - including biographies, contact lists, and meeting notes - ensuring accuracy, organization, and accessibility for leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Ensure compliance with timekeeping and expense policies across supported executives, exercising discretion and sound judgment when resolving discrepancies or identifying process improvements.
• Manage highly confidential information with professionalism and discretion, maintaining organized and secure digital filing systems that support efficient workflow and information retrieval.
• Ensure smooth coordination of essential office logistics, including printing, shipping, supplies, and catering for internal and external meetings, by partnering with the Office Manager and leveraging available resources.
• Oversee processes related to guest registration, mail and package delivery, and general office inquiries, ensuring an organized and professional experience while delegating execution where appropriate.
• Maintain oversight of regional SharePoint pages and office resource documents, ensuring content is accurate, updated, and easily accessible for teams across the region.
• Partner closely with Executive Partners and operational colleagues across the firm to ensure strong alignment, consistent practices, and seamless coordination across regions and leadership teams.
• Collaborate with Business Development, Marketing, and Proposal teams to support executive-led initiatives, enhance workflow integration, and drive effective preparation and follow-through.
• Contribute to firmwide operational and administrative excellence initiatives by offering insights, sharing best practices, and supporting continuous improvement projects across the organization.
• Lead cross-departmental strategic initiatives from concept through execution
• Design and drive region-wide initiatives that advance long-term strategy, operational excellence, and growth priorities
• Oversee end-to-end planning and execution of complex, time-bound projects
• Coordinate cross-departmental resources to ensure alignment, accountability, and on-time delivery
• Stand up and scale new operating models, tools, or processes to support evolving business needs
• Assist in facilitating regional leadership working sessions, offsites, and strategy reviews

Benefits

• CCS offers competitive benefits, a dynamic training program, resources, career advancement, mentoring, and networking opportunities.
• We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and strongly encourage a diverse pool of candidates to apply.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees