Executive Assistant

Cherokee Federal•Washington, DC

About The Position

This position requires a TS/SCI. Provides executive-level administrative, analytical, and project management support to the AUKUS Senior Advisor, Principal Deputy Advisor, and T/AUKUS leadership. Coordinates complex initiatives, manages executive communications, develops analytical products, supports implementation of AUKUS priorities, and serves as a liaison across Department bureaus and interagency partners while ensuring timely execution of mission-critical assignments.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
Demonstrated experience in project management, program analysis, or initiative coordination within a foreign affairs, defense, or security cooperation environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Teams, and SharePoint.
Demonstrated ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment and managing multiple competing priorities.
Strong analytical, organizational, project management, problem-solving, interpersonal, and communication skills.
Ability to coordinate activities across multiple organizations, locations, and time zones.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multicultural, interagency environment.
Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
Active Top Secret (TS) security clearance with SCI eligibility (or the clearance required under the contract).
Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in International Affairs, Political Science, Security Studies, or a related field preferred.
Alternatively, a High School Diploma or GED with five (5) years of experience in international politics, foreign policy, military/defense, or security cooperation.
Previous experience supporting the Department of State or another Federal department or agency preferred.
Experience coordinating cross-functional projects, tracking deliverables, and reporting progress to senior leadership preferred.
Experience drafting policy, briefing, or analytical products utilizing government documents, academic research, and think tank publications preferred.
Experience in foreign affairs, administration, travel planning, political-military affairs, defense security cooperation, or complex logistics preferred.
Familiarity with Microsoft Project or Planner is preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensures all official communications to the T/AUKUS team are properly and promptly handled in accordance with records requirements and Department standards.
Transmits and interprets instructions from the AUKUS Senior Advisor and colleagues to staff members and other Department officials.
Acts as liaison for GSO work orders and IT maintenance/computer issues; manages conference room scheduling requests.
Assists new staff members with onboarding, including new-hire paperwork, equipment coordination, and security access processing.
Assists T/AUKUS personnel in scheduling meetings at the TS and TS/SCI level, including National Security Council or Intelligence Community briefings.
Briefs and coaches junior colleagues assigned to T/AUKUS and receives temporarily assigned personnel.
Manages special projects assigned by the AUKUS Senior Advisor and Principal Deputy Advisor by developing project plans, timelines, deliverables, and tracking progress through completion.
Supports initiatives to advance AUKUS implementation under the guidance of the Senior Advisor and Principal Deputy Advisor by coordinating across Department bureaus and interagency partners to ensure milestones are met and equities are addressed.
Serves as project lead or coordinator on cross-functional initiatives by convening working groups, tracking action items, and ensuring accountability among stakeholders.
Identifies implementation gaps, bottlenecks, or emerging risks in AUKUS-related workstreams and recommends solutions to senior leadership.
Coordinates development of implementation timelines, status reports, and executive readouts regarding AUKUS program progress.
Designs, implements, and maintains a knowledge management system to track assignments, monitor project milestones, preserve documentation, and facilitate information sharing.
Supports drafting, clearance, and submission of congressional reports, briefing papers, background papers, and other analytical products by synthesizing information from government, academic, and think tank sources.
Prepares and requests briefing memoranda through the Department paper tasking system; conducts research and analysis to support senior leadership decision-making.
Reads, tracks, and analyzes materials related to special programs and projects while ensuring appropriate handling and safeguarding of classified materials in accordance with Department procedures.
Takes and transcribes notes during international, interagency, and public meetings, producing analytical summaries and actionable follow-up items.
Accompanies the AUKUS Senior Advisor, Principal Deputy Advisor, or other T/AUKUS personnel to domestic and international meetings and conferences; prepares briefing materials, analytical products, and travel vouchers.
Carries out special research, analytical, and project assignments requiring sound judgment, diplomacy, and discretion.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.