Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO

Noblis•Reston, VA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Executive Assistant serves as a strategic partner and central coordinator for the Office of the CEO. This proactive role extends beyond traditional executive support, requiring anticipation of needs, operational excellence, and the highest level of professionalism and discretion. The individual supports both the CEO and the SVP, General Counsel & Ethics Officer, serving as the primary liaison between the CEO, Board of Trustees, executive leadership team, and key external stakeholders.

Requirements

US Citizenship is required
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top-secret Security clearance
10 years of progressive experience supporting C-suite executives is required, with at least 5 years directly supporting a CEO or President.
Bachelors degree or additional experience in lieu of degree
Demonstrated experience engaging directly with a Board of Directors/Trustees—including preparation of board materials and governance coordination—is essential.
Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) with hands-on daily usage is required, along with proficiency in virtual meeting platforms including Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Demonstrated working experience leveraging AI tools for executive summaries, presentations, research, meeting notes, prioritization, and planning is expected.
Extensive experience managing complex domestic and international travel—including multi-country itineraries, visa coordination, information security, and contingency planning—is required, as is proven ability to manage executive meeting cadences, capture minutes and action items, and drive follow-up to completion.
Agility in navigating competing priorities with composure and precision, critical thinking to anticipate outcomes and impacts through assessing circumstances and conflicts, and exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to draft correspondence, presentations, and briefing documents at an executive level.
Demonstrated track record of planning and executing executive offsites, Board-level engagements, and high-profile events that reflect the distinction and standards of the Office of the CEO.
Ability to travel as required; must be able to lift up to 30 lbs.

Nice To Haves

Top-secret clearance is highly desired.
Experience in a mission-driven organization, government contracting, professional services, or technology environment is preferred. Familiarity with government contracting as well as governance best practices and board management platforms is desirable.
A project management certification or equivalent experience (PMP, CAPM, or similar), experience coordinating across multiple executive assistants or leading an administrative team, and a bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience are preferred.
This individual must embody the organization's values in every interaction, representing the CEO and the company to board members, clients, partners, candidates, employees, and external stakeholders with elegant professionalism and calm under pressure. They must understand the weight of representing an organization that holds itself to the highest ethical standards and maintains an exemplary standard of experience for every person it touches. The ideal candidate does not wait to be asked—they anticipate needs, identify gaps before they become issues, and bring solutions rather than problems, thinking two steps ahead of the CEO's calendar, commitments, and strategic priorities. This role requires access to the most sensitive information in the organization; absolute discretion, sound judgment, and unwavering integrity are non-negotiable. The ability to influence without authority, build trust across all levels of the organization, and foster collaboration among peers and colleagues is critical to success. The successful candidate consistently demonstrates:
Polished, articulate written and verbal communication reflecting the standards of the Office of the CEO
Sound independent judgment regarding when to act, when to escalate, and when to defer
The ability to command a room, facilitate senior-level discussions and represent the CEO’s priorities with conviction.
A professional bearing that instills confidence in every stakeholder who interacts with the Office of the CEO
The emotional intelligence to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, de-escalate tension, and maintain productive relationships across stakeholders

Responsibilities

Board of Trustees Support maintains direct engagement with Trustees and their offices. Prepares all materials, presentations, briefings, and agendas for a minimum of three formal board meetings annually (in coordination with SVP/General Counsel and CEO)
Manages all meeting logistics: travel, catering, hospitality, venue, and technology
Ensures timely distribution of pre-read materials and drives post-meeting follow-up on action items and resolutions to completion
Supports standing committee meetings and ensures alignment with governance protocols
Owns all complex domestic and international travel planning, including multi-city itineraries, visa/passport coordination, and contingency planning
Develops talking points, background research, and briefing materials for keynotes, panels, media engagements, and announcements
Coordinates with communications, marketing, and government relations teams on messaging and logistics
Maintains a forward-looking calendar of industry events and partnership opportunities
Manages expense reports and vendor relationships for both principals
Establishes and maintains the operational rhythm of the executive leadership team (recurring meetings, strategic planning, quarterly reviews). Develops agendas, prepares materials, captures minutes/action items, and drives structured follow-up to completion
Plans and executes executive offsites (venue, agenda design, facilitator coordination, logistics)
Ensures the CEO's time is allocated to highest-impact activities; escalates stalled items as appropriate
Enforces preparation standards for the Office of the CEO—leaders seeking the CEO's time must arrive with clear purpose, supporting context, and a recommended path forward
Partners with leaders to ensure requests are well-prepared, offering guidance when additional detail is needed
Provides indirect oversight, mentorship, and coordination across executive assistants organization-wide
Manages broad schedule coordination across the executive team, resolving conflicts and optimizing collective bandwidth
Serves as escalation point for complex scheduling, event planning, and cross-functional coordination