Executive Assistant, SVP Principal, Institutional, & Major Giving

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.•New York, NY

4d•$74,000 - $85,000•Hybrid

About The Position

NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) works to safeguard the Earth, its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. NRDC combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 800 policy advocates, lawyers, scientists, and communication experts to confront the climate crisis, protect nature, ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. As an international nonprofit environmental organization, NRDC is working to address the world’s most urgent environmental challenges, and advance innovative, science-based, and enforceable solutions. Since our founding in 1970, NRDC has helped craft and deliver many of America’s foundational environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. Today, we continue to lead in advancing and defending strong environmental protections at the local, state, federal and international levels, as well as through the marketplace. Our team works across the United States and around the world, from offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as in Beijing, and New Delhi (a subsidiary of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd.). Supported by our members and online activists, NRDC is driving impactful solutions that confront the climate crisis, defend nature and safeguard public health across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. At NRDC, we believe lasting change happens when people bring their talent, passion, and expertise together for a common purpose: to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient world. Learn more at nrdc.org NRDC is seeking an Executive Assistant to work with our Development team in our New York Office. The Executive Assistant (EA) will support the Senior Vice President, Principal, Institutional & Major Giving (SVP), who oversees fundraising teams generating over $120M annually. The EA will provide comprehensive ‑day-to-day administrative support to the SVP—including strategic calendar management, travel coordination, preparation of materials, and meeting logistics—and will contribute to project coordination and administrative operations that span all three revenue streams: Principal Gifts, Institutional Giving, and Major Gifts. In addition to supporting the SVP with department-wide projects, the EA will assist with select Principal Gifts activities including internal coordination, briefing preparation, and record-keeping. The ideal candidate is a proactive and detail-oriented professional who thrives in a fast paced, collaborative environment and demonstrates sound judgment, strong communication skills, and exceptional organizational abilities. The position you are applying for is part of the bargaining unit represented by The Washington Baltimore News Guild (WBNG / The Newsguild-CWA Local 32035).

Requirements

High school diploma required.
5 to 7 years administrative or office management experience including 3 years’ experience in an Executive Assistant or equivalent role.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel); Salesforce, Asana and Tableau experience a plus.
Exceptional organizational, project management, and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.
Proactive, detail-oriented problem solver with strong research, analytical, and communication skills; able to translate complex information into clear insights and recommendations.
Skilled at supporting senior leadership by balancing strategic initiatives with day-to-day execution and administrative excellence.
Collaborative, creative thinker who works effectively across teams and represents leadership with professionalism and diplomacy.
Willingness to travel domestically (approximately 5%) and a strong commitment to organizational mission and values.
Commitment to NRDC’s mission, values, and DEI principles are essential.

Nice To Haves

BA/BS degree or equivalent work experience, preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide calendar and scheduling management for the SVP; support scheduling for teams within the Principal, Institutional & Major Giving portfolio as needed.
Arrange domestic and international travel for the SVP; provide travel support for other team members as needed.
Prepare expense reports, process invoices, and support administrative compliance, including time sheet management.
Draft, proofread, and coordinate internal and external correspondence for the SVP and team leadership.
Prepare materials for SVP for internal meetings with leadership and cross‑departmental partners and document SVP-owned action items. This includes intra- and multi-department meetings such as the Management Forum, Development Leadership Team and the Development Executive Team, amongst others.
Support administrative elements of hiring processes and HR coordination for teams reporting to the SVP.
Coordinate special projects initiated by the SVP, ensuring clarity of timelines, deliverables, and responsibilities.
Track progress on SVP related deliverables; proactively flag risks to keep timelines on track.
Assist with planning retreats, presentations, team meetings, and cross departmental convenings.
Participate in cross-team coordination with Institutional, Operations, and Major Gifts partners to ensure consistent administrative practices.
Collect and circulate weekly news relevant to fundraising priorities and donor landscapes.
Coordinate logistics for high-level funder meetings in collaboration with the President’s Office and other leadership support teams (scheduling, prep calls, materials, onsite staffing).
Assist in preparing briefing materials for principal level donor meetings.
Record donor meeting debriefs and prepare detailed contact reports.
Partner with Operations coordinators to maintain database integrity and manage shared resources (e.g., Principal Gifts SharePoint, Asana, Salesforce).
Support early stage donor and prospect research and prepare short written summaries; submit formal research requests as needed.
Support agenda development and logistics for team meetings.