Special Assistant to the CEO

InnovateEDU•Washington, DC

1d•$78,000 - $85,000•Remote

About The Position

InnovateEDU is seeking a highly organized, adaptive, and execution-oriented Special Assistant to the CEO to provide direct strategic and operational support to our Chief Executive Officer. Serving as a dynamic force multiplier for the CEO, this role is critical to advancing high-impact projects, national policy task forces, and organizational initiatives. Because the CEO frequently engages with federal policymakers, national partners, and philanthropic organizations in the capital, a Washington, D.C.-based candidate is highly preferred to provide on-the-ground support. The ideal candidate excels at "blocking and tackling"—mastering foundational execution, anticipating the CEO's needs, and remaining agile enough to provide critical surge capacity during high-stakes project cycles and congressional or national policy events. This is a unique opportunity to gain a bird's-eye view of executive leadership in a national education non-profit and contribute directly to high-visibility strategic priorities.

Requirements

Exceptional organizational skills with a proven track record of managing multiple moving parts for an executive without dropping the ball.
Thrives in a fast-paced, high-velocity environment and embraces a culture of radical candor. Demonstrates the emotional intelligence to receive, process, and immediately act on direct, constructive feedback with a continuous-improvement mindset.
Ability to thrive in an environment that requires rapid redirection; comfortable with ambiguity, maintaining confidentiality, and high-stakes problem-solving.
Strong command of project management and design tools, specifically Asana, HubSpot, and Canva, as well as other relevant software and presentation platforms.
Superb written and verbal communication skills, with a sharp eye for visual design and layout in presentation decks intended for national audiences.
A low-ego, high-accountability team player who is eager to support the executive office in a behind-the-scenes capacity.
4 years of professional experience in management consulting, education policy, non-profit development, or a relevant fast-paced environment supporting executive leadership.

Nice To Haves

Strong preference for candidates based in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end execution of fast-moving projects and initiatives directly overseen by the CEO, moving them from initial concept to completion with precision.
Act as a flexible resource to provide rapid-response support for the CEO's most critical national initiatives, such as data interoperability frameworks and AI policy advocacy.
Act as a critical liaison between the CEO, internal departments, and external national partners. Maintain a broad understanding of the CEO's portfolio to provide rapid, in-depth support as needed.
Proactively identify workflow bottlenecks in the executive office and implement systems or tools to enhance the CEO's overall operational efficiency.
Support the CEO and Policy Portfolio in planning and executing high-profile events, national convenings, and capital-based stakeholder meetings.
Gather data, analyze key metrics, and conduct landscape research to evaluate new strategic opportunities, education policy shifts, or federal guidance to brief the CEO.
Author and edit high-level memos, congressional testimony drafts, stakeholder updates, and talking points, ensuring a consistent and authoritative voice for the CEO.
Support the CEO and Executive Team in external conversations. When asked, serve as the CEO's representative in first-round introductory meetings, synthesizing notes and elevating key action items.
Translate quantitative and qualitative data into comprehensive reports and high-impact presentation decks for policy, government, and funder audiences.
Track and manage the CEO's fundraising pipeline, preparing briefings ahead of funder meetings and ensuring timely follow-up on prospective philanthropic opportunities.
Draft personalized communications, follow-up notes, and strategic outreach materials for high-level donors and foundation program officers to advance ongoing funding conversations.
Collaborate with the CEO to draft, edit, and organize components of major grant proposals, budget narratives, and follow-up funder reports for large-scale philanthropic partners.
Provide strategic and administrative support for specialized grant funds, task forces, and national initiatives, helping to structure proposals and track funding deliverables.
Create tailored collateral and impact summaries to support the CEO's development efforts and national ecosystem initiatives.