Executive Assistant - COO

Johnson & Johnson•Mount Pleasant, SC

20h

About The Position

This is not a traditional administrative role. The Executive Assistant to the COO serves as a trusted force multiplier — protecting the executive’s time, extending his reach across a complex multi-entity operation, and ensuring the right things get done by the right people at the right time. Equal parts strategic operator and personal logistics expert, this person handles everything from high-stakes board communications to monitoring a flight’s departure status before the COO even thinks to check. The ideal candidate thinks two, three, and four steps ahead. They anticipate needs before they are voiced, surface problems before they become crises, and operate with the discretion and judgment required of someone trusted with sensitive business strategy, family enterprise dynamics, and personal matters alike. The COO oversees a fourth-generation wholesale insurance MGA/brokerage, a resort and marina operation in the Bahamas, and a marina in Charleston — while managing board relationships, active capital projects, technology modernization programs, and strategic planning across multiple business entities. This role supports him across all of it.

Requirements

Exceptional written and verbal communication — able to write and speak credibly on behalf of a senior executive
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); comfort with project tracking tools (Smartsheet, Asana, or similar), and comfort using AI tools (Claude, Chat, etc)
High emotional intelligence — reads the room, builds trust quickly, handles sensitive situations with care and composure
Proactive and self-directed — doesn’t wait to be told what to do next; anticipates and acts
Organized but not rigid — able to build systems while adapting when priorities shift
Discreet and trustworthy — handles confidential personal, legal, financial, and succession-related information at the highest level
Comfortable managing up and across — able to hold senior leaders and team members accountable to commitments professionally
Willing and able to travel and work flexible hours as business and personal needs require

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in a high-accountability EA role is a strong differentiator
Exposure to insurance, financial services, real estate, or hospitality is a plus but not required

Responsibilities

Monitoring upcoming travel logistics proactively — flight status, connections, ground transportation, weather, and contingencies — and flagging issues before they are asked about
Reviewing the upcoming week’s calendar each Monday and ensuring every meeting has necessary briefing materials, context, and preparation completed in advance
Tracking key deliverables, commitments, and deadlines across the COO’s agenda and surfacing items at risk of slipping before they become problems
Knowing the COO’s priorities well enough to make real-time judgment calls about what is urgent, what can wait, and what needs to be escalated immediately
Own the COO’s calendar with strategic intent — not just scheduling, but protecting deep work time, building in preparation windows before key meetings, and avoiding overcommitment
Manage conflicting priorities and guard against time fragmentation; push back when the schedule is not working
Coordinate meeting logistics end-to-end: agendas, attendees, materials, room or video setup, and follow-up
Filter and triage all inbound communications — calls, correspondence — and determine priority; handle, route, or hold as appropriate
Draft high-quality written communications on behalf of the COO including board correspondence, executive memos, partner and vendor communications, and internal leadership messaging
Ensure the COO’s voice and intent are accurately represented in all outbound communications; know when to write it and when to bring it to him
Represent the COO with professionalism and discretion in all external interactions
Act as a project coordinator on COO-led initiatives: track milestones, coordinate across teams, follow up with owners, and keep work moving
Attend leadership and board meetings; capture decisions and action items; distribute notes and follow up with owners to ensure commitments are met
Hold the COO’s organizational commitments visible and accountable — escalate gaps professionally when deliverables are not on track
Prepare briefing materials, talking points, decision summaries, and board prep packages as needed
Manage all corporate and personal travel end-to-end: flights, hotels, ground transportation, itineraries, and contingency plans for the COO and family as needed
Proactively monitor travel plans for disruptions and have solutions ready before being asked
Coordinate logistics for company events, leadership offsites, board dinners, and corporate functions from start to finish
Maintain awareness of the COO’s personal schedule cadence (hunting and fishing trips, cycling events, family travel) and coordinate logistics accordingly
Handle personal errands, returns, and scheduling matters with the same efficiency and discretion as business matters
Coordinate family travel, personal reservations, and event logistics as requested
Assist with household-adjacent tasks that arise from time to time — vendor coordination, personal appointments, and similar
Maintain full confidentiality on all personal and family matters; this is non-negotiable
Maintain organized systems for contracts, licensing documents, correspondence, and executive records
Create and manage spreadsheets, presentations, reports, and general business correspondence as needed
Ensure the COO has the right information at the right time — not too much, not too late