About School Boards for Academic Excellence:

School Boards for Academic Excellence (SBAE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the American education system by training and supporting school board members dedicated to enacting the reforms needed to restore academic excellence.

SBAE consists of nationwide network of 55 state-based partner organizations, operating in 42 states, and approximately 5,600 school board members who oversee the education of more than 13 million students. With SBAE’s support, these school board members are driving a tidal wave of reforms that are restoring excellence as the hallmark of our nation’s education system. But we are just getting started – with 83,000 school board members nationwide, overseeing a system that serves 49 million students, and $1 trillion in annual tax revenue, SBAE is primed for substantial growth.

We are looking for a highly organized, proactive Executive Assistant to provide critical operational support to SBAE’s Executive Vice President and Executive Director. This position will manage complex calendars, coordinate travel and expenses, handle confidential information with discretion, and execute research and data projects that keep our leadership team operating efficiently.

About the Role:

SBAE’s new Executive Assistant will serve as the right hand to the EVP and ED, ensuring they can focus on strategic priorities while the EA handles the operational details that keep the organization running smoothly. This person will play a critical role in managing data systems, coordinating external engagements, and supporting organizational operations across development, communications, and events. The right candidate will be a detail-oriented problem-solver who anticipates needs, operates with high autonomy, and thrives on making others more effective.

It is essential to handle confidential information with discretion, maintain meticulous attention to detail, and communicate clearly across all levels of the organization. The Executive Assistant will be comfortable working independently as part of a virtual team while maintaining proactive communication and follow-through.

SBAE is currently a virtual organization, considering opening a physical office in Jacksonville, FL in the future. The Executive Assistant must be able to travel as needed to support organizational events and leadership needs. Candidates willing to work from Jacksonville, FL in the future will be preferred.

The Executive Assistant will manage complex calendars for the EVP and ED, including scheduling meetings, resolving conflicts, coordinating across time zones, and ensuring executives are prepared for all commitments. He or she will manage executive email inboxes, prioritizing urgent matters, drafting responses, and flagging items requiring leadership attention. This role requires anticipating scheduling needs, protecting time for strategic work, and maintaining calendar accuracy.

Travel Coordination: The Executive Assistant will coordinate all travel arrangements for the EVP and ED, including flights, hotels, ground transportation, and itinerary management. He or she will research travel options, book arrangements in advance, prepare detailed travel packets with confirmation numbers and logistics, and handle travel changes or issues as they arise.

Executive Accounting & Expense Management: The Executive Assistant will manage all expense tracking and reimbursement for the EVP and ED, including travel expenses, receipt collection, expense report preparation, and vendor invoice processing. He or she will coordinate with SBAE’s HR provider to ensure timely submission of all financial documentation. This role may include supporting budget tracking and financial reporting as needed.

Meeting Preparation & Follow-Up: The Executive Assistant will prepare materials for executive meetings, including agendas, briefing documents, and background research. He or she will attend meetings as needed to take notes, track action items, and ensure follow-through on decisions. This role includes coordinating with team members to gather necessary information and distributing meeting summaries and next steps.

Event Logistics Support: The Executive Assistant will support conference planning by organizing sponsor and vendor logistics, coordinating with event planning vendors, and collaborating with the team to ensure a seamless experience. He or she will manage logistics details, track vendor deliverables, handle registration coordination, and serve as the point of contact for event-related questions. This role ensures smooth execution of organizational events without requiring executives to manage operational details.

Data & Systems Management: The Executive Assistant will ensure Salesforce data hygiene and upkeep, including logging meeting notes, call recaps from AI notetakers, contact updates, activity logging, and organizing the database of contacts and resources. He or she will track and add external and internal deadlines to organizational calendars, including planning milestones, to ensure the team stays on track. This role includes keeping OneDrive files organized, ensuring documents are stored in appropriate folders, and maintaining systematic file structures that enable the team to find information quickly.

Communications & Coordination: The Executive Assistant will draft and send standard emails such as invitations, newsletters, event confirmations, and meeting recaps as needed. He or she will coordinate regular meetings with nonprofit partners, speakers, donors, and external collaborators, including scheduling, sending calendar invitations, and managing logistics. This role includes fostering external relationships and ensuring smooth communication between SBAE and key stakeholders.

Research & Special Projects: The Executive Assistant will conduct ad hoc research on potential policies, partner organizations, competitive landscape, or other topics as assigned to support strategic planning, development, and executive decision-making. He or she will prepare reports, summarize findings, and organize information in accessible formats.

This is a virtual role that can be based anywhere within the U.S.

Key Competencies & Characteristics:

Core Skills & Experience:

  • Conscientious self-starter with 3+ years of professional experience as an Executive Assistant, Administrative Manager, or similar role supporting senior leadership
  • Exceptional organizational and time management skills with proven ability to manage complex calendars, competing priorities, and multiple stakeholders simultaneously
  • Very strong attention to detail and track record of executing tasks at a consistently high-quality level
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to draft professional correspondence, invitations, newsletters, and meeting recaps
  • Experience managing confidential and sensitive information with discretion and sound judgment

Technical Capabilities:

  • Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM systems, including data management and hygiene
  • Advanced calendar management skills, including ability to anticipate conflicts, optimize scheduling, and coordinate across multiple time zones
  • Expertise with Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Drive), Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and file-sharing platforms (OneDrive, Google Drive) including advanced organizational and filing systems
  • Experience with expense management systems and travel booking platforms
  • Comfortable learning new systems and technologies quickly, including AI notetakers and productivity tools

Personal Attributes:

  • High degree of autonomy and self-direction – you don’t need hand-holding but communicate proactively about progress and challenges
  • Proactive problem-solver who anticipates needs before being asked
  • Calm under pressure and able to handle last-minute changes with grace
  • Low-ego team player who finds satisfaction in making others successful
  • Adaptability and flexibility in a fast-paced, growing organization
  • Professional demeanor with ability to interact confidently with board members, donors, partners, and external stakeholders
  • Comfort coordinating meetings and fostering external relationships with nonprofit partners, speakers, donors, and collaborators

Required Qualifications:

  • 3+ years of experience as an Executive Assistant or in a similar administrative support role supporting senior leadership
  • Very strong attention to detail with demonstrated track record of executing tasks at a consistently high level of quality
  • Proven expertise managing complex calendars, travel arrangements, and expense management for executives
  • Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM systems, including data entry, hygiene, and organization
  • Strong organizational skills with ability to juggle multiple priorities and work independently under deadline pressure
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including drafting professional emails, invitations, newsletters, and meeting recaps
  • Technical proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, and file-sharing platforms (OneDrive, Google Drive)
  • Comfort coordinating meetings and fostering external relationships with partners, donors, and stakeholders
  • Discretion and confidentiality when handling sensitive information
  • High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree preferred

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Familiarity with Mailchimp or other email marketing platforms
  • Experience in nonprofit, political campaigns, or advocacy organizations
  • Demonstrated interest in education policy reform and academic achievement in the U.S. public school system
  • Background supporting multiple executives simultaneously
  • Experience coordinating with external vendors and managing sponsor/vendor relationships
  • Project management or research experience
  • Event planning or logistics coordination
  • Prior work in virtual/remote team environments

Compensation and Benefits:

  • Competitive salary ($55,000-$70,000 commensurate with experience) with comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance options (employer-subsidized premiums starting from your first day), plus employer-paid life insurance equal to 50% of annual salary
  • Retirement savings with 401(k) plan including up to 2% employer match
  • Paid time off with 10 vacation days in year one (increasing to 20 days with tenure)
  • Flexible benefits including FSA accounts, voluntary disability insurance, and professional development opportunities in a mission-driven, remote-friendly environment

To Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

  • A cover letter detailing your interest in the position and SBAE’s mission, an explanation of why you would be the best candidate, evidence of relevant past success, and your salary requirements
  • Your resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.

Questions can be directed to Angela Hight, Project Manager, who is managing the search process: [email protected].

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.