Special Assistant to the President
7 days ago
Oakland
Job DescriptionDescription: Children Now is a nonpartisan whole-child research, policy development, and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting children’s health, education, and well-being in California and establishing a national model. Children Now employs a game changing, anti-racist connector strategy to mirror and ultimately exceed the power of other established interest groups. Children Now also coordinates The Children’s Movement of California, a grassroots network of more than 6,200 parent, youth, business, labor, civil rights, faith, and community-based organizations, as well as thousands of individuals, working together to make children a top priority in public policy. Learn more at including Children Now’s core organizational values. Position Description We are seeking an extremely talented, ambitious, highly motivated, and detail-oriented Special Assistant to work closely with Children Now’s President and support him with scheduling, development, external communications and internal organizational management. This position will be central to managing the President’s schedule and organizational wide meetings and events; supporting relationships with a wide range of partners, policymakers, funders, and donors, key stakeholders and media; supporting the President with his social media and preparing for a diverse scope of meetings. Through this work, the Special Assistant will gain exposure to the full range of the organization’s activities, including our whole-child policy portfolio (pre-natal to age 26), government relations, research, communications, operations, development, network-building and The Children’s Movement, and support work in these areas as appropriate. This full-time, nonexempt position will report to the President and is based out of our Oakland office with a hybrid work environment. Ideal applicants will be fast learners, able to handle a high volume of work quickly and efficiently, with excellent recall and superior attention to detail. Candidates should have strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills and excellent judgment and work ethic. The candidate must be flexible, adaptable, and solutions-oriented and able to effectively anticipate the needs of the President. This position is ideal for someone who can think strategically, take initiative, and contribute in a very fast-paced environment. The candidate must have a deep commitment to racial equity and Children Now’s mission to ensure all kids have the supports they need to reach their full potential. The position is ideal for someone who wants to have a top leadership position in the public, non-profit, or for-profit sector(s) later in their career, and is passionate about learning about leadership, management and politics. Requirements: Primary Responsibilities Effectively and accurately manage a diverse variety of administrative, communications and project management tasks, using initiative, attention to detail, and critical thinking skills, including but not limited to: • Efficiently manage the President’s busy and rapidly changing calendar to optimize his time and ensure his schedule reflects key organizational priorities;, • Schedule internal organizational meetings that the President participates in, including staff meetings and numerous project director meetings, and help other organizational leaders with scheduling;, • Support the President in drafting and posting social media posts;, • Maintain contacts dataset for the President and assist with maintaining development and communications databases;, • Coordinate travel arrangements, plan and prepare for meetings and events and handle all administrative needs such as time reporting, expense reports, etc.;, • Keep the President well-informed about and prepared for a wide range of internal and external meetings and responsibilities, and ensuring proper follow-up;, • Support The Children’s Movement recruitment and engagement;, • Prepare for bi-annual Board of Directors and quarterly Leadership Council meetings, including compiling agendas and background documents, and facilitating day-of event details;, • Support the Development team in tracking meetings and outreach with funders, prospects, donors, and partners;, • In collaboration with the Development team and the President, track, research, and solicit new Leadership Council members, and ensure current members are engaged and up-to-date on contributions;, • In partnership with the Development team, draft correspondence and prepare meeting/presentation materials for the President to strengthen key relationships and increase the visibility of the organization;, • Manage a variety of special projects for the organization, including event planning, outreach, development, operations and policy efforts, with a strong outcomes- and solutions-orientation;, • Provide additional administrative, development, and policy assistance as needed; and, • Bachelor’s degree, with demonstrated academic and extra-curricular excellence;, • Experience in a fast-paced environment;, • Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in and across teams;, • Strong analytical, writing and editing skills;, • Experience with posting work related items across all social media platforms;, • High-level efficiency, recall, and attention to detail;, • Excellent organizational, administrative and project management skills;, • Superior judgment and discretion;, • Creativity, a positive attitude, and highly flexible to take on a range of assignments;, • Ability to be forward-looking and actively seek opportunities and propose solutions;, • Proficiency in prioritizing conflicting needs, being resourceful, handling matters expeditiously and proactively, and following through on projects to successful completion often with tight deadline pressures;, • Ability to learn quickly and a commitment to quality work;, • Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Suite (including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and comfort navigating new technologies;, • An interest in leadership, management, public policy, politics, philanthropy, and the range of issues affecting children; and, • Able to work effectively with others in a vibrant, diverse, and multicultural environment. Compensation: The salary range is $65,000-$75,000 annually ($31.25-$36.05 per hour) for this position. Please also review our generous benefits. Start Date: The first day of work will be Monday, June 15, 2026, in our Oakland office. To Apply: All applicants must attach the following as part of their online application: 1) cover letter, 2) resume, 3) two-to-three-page writing sample, and 4) three to five references (including former supervisors). Please submit attachments in PDF or Microsoft Word format only. We do not accept phone inquiries regarding the position; please do not call. Position open until filled. Children Now is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to staff diversity, equity, and inclusion. Children Now values diversity as an asset essential to accomplishing our work and views diversity as including differences in race, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, veteran status, job skills, education, and geographic location and any other category protected by law. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply.