Projects and Programs Assistant – Commonfund Institute

Commonfund • Norwalk, CT

13h • Hybrid

About The Position

Commonfund Institute houses the education and research activities of Commonfund and serves the broader community of nonprofit long-term investors with investment governance research, thought leadership and professional development programs. Operating alongside—but separate from—the investment business, the Institute is dedicated to advancing investment-related knowledge and promoting best practices in financial management and organizational mission stewardship. It provides a wide variety of resources, including conferences, seminars, and roundtables on topics such as endowments and governance and proprietary and third-party research. These initiatives are designed to benefit both our clients and the nonprofit sector at large.

Commonfund is an investment management firm serving the institutional market with a particular focus on the nonprofit and public sectors including endowments, foundations, health care organizations and other nonprofit institutions.

The Institute seeks to hire a Projects and Programs Assistant to provide operational, program, and coordination support aligned with the firm’s educational mission. This role supports the Managing Director, and Institute leadership as needed, by helping coordinate day-to-day operations, assisting with project activities and timelines, and ensuring programs and events run smoothly.

The Assistant will collaborate with cross-functional teams to support firmwide initiatives and program delivery. Responsibilities include coordinating project schedules and related meetings, preparing materials and communications, tracking project participants, tasks and data, supporting event logistics, and contributing to the successful execution of programs and events.

This role is designed for early-career professionals with 1–3 years of relevant experience who are highly organized, dependable, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and eager to support teams in delivering high-quality programs and initiatives.

This role is well suited for someone who takes pride in keeping projects organized and moving forward. You enjoy supporting colleagues behind the scenes, learning how programs and initiatives come together, and contributing to mission-driven work while continuing to build your professional skills.

Location & Schedule: This position is based in Norwalk, CT, with a hybrid schedule: in-office Tuesday through Thursday, remote work on Mondays and Fridays. This schedule may be adjusted as needed to accommodate special projects and/or particular events.

Requirements

• 1-3 years of relevant professional experience, ideally in an administrative, program coordination, or project support role.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated organizational, project coordination, and time management skills.
• Experience working with spreadsheets and databases for tracking, reporting, and maintaining accurate records (advanced analytical modeling not required).
• Proven ability to take initiative while maintaining a strong team orientation, proactively supporting team objectives and contributing to broader organizational goals.
• Ability to thrive in a hybrid work environment, working productively both in-office and remotely.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with CRM and event and project management platforms such as Salesforce, Asana, CVENT, or HubSpot.

Nice To Haves

• A background in business, communications, or familiarity with the asset management and/or nonprofit sectors is preferred.
• Upcoming college grads welcome to apply with prior intern experience in finance/investments, public policy, consulting or project management.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational, program and project coordination support, ensuring initiatives and programs are executed efficiently and on schedule.
• Support research-related and data-driven initiatives.
• Coordinate logistics for meetings, conferences and virtual/in-person convenings and events including post-event follow-up.
• Assist with preparation and formatting of reports, presentations, and educational materials.
• Manage website inquiries related to events, research projects, etc.
• Maintain project schedules, participant lists, meeting notes, action item tracking, and documentation to support cross-functional collaboration and execution of firmwide initiatives.
• Support ad hoc operational, administrative and research projects, proactively identifying opportunities to improve processes and enhance team efficiency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level