Executive Assistant

The Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) is a global coalition of more than 150 organizations dedicated to advancing the forest, land, and resource rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendant Peoples, and in particular the women within these groups. RRI’s members capitalize on each other’s strengths, expertise, and geographic reach to achieve solutions more effectively and efficiently. RRI leverages the power of its global coalition to amplify the voices of local peoples and proactively engage governments, multilateral institutions, and private sector actors to adopt institutional and market reforms that support the realization of rights.

RRI is coordinated by the Rights and Resources Group (RRG), a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC.

If you are passionate about working with Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and Afro-descendant Peoples to secure their rights; supporting women’s rights and governance; and combatting climate change, this could be the place for you. RRI does meaningful work to make a positive difference at the global, national, and local scale. For more information about our inclusive and purpose-driven work, check out our current openings.

People of color, people from Indigenous and local communities, women, and LGBTQ persons are strongly encouraged to apply.

Executive Assistant

The Rights and Resources Initiative seeks an Executive Assistant (EA) to provide administrative support to RRG President and other senior level staff.

The EA exhibits the flexibility to work independently in a highly dynamic environment with shifting priorities, overcoming impediments, and solving problems while ensuring that the work is completed within established deadlines, using excellent written and verbal communication skills, time management capability, and a professional and collegial demeanor. The EA applies culturally sensitive communication skills, and communicates with a wide range of actors, from high-level government representatives to Indigenous leaders across the world and is prepared to assist with time-sensitive matters outside the realm of routine tasks. There is a high threshold for accountability, the exercise of judgment, discretion, and ownership of responsibilities expected from EA, based on guidance provided by the President.

This is a full-time position based in Washington, DC.

Applications will be accepted immediately and interviews conducted on a rolling basis.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide confidential wide-ranging hands-on executive support on priority tasks to the President and other Senior Executives as required.
• Coordinate meetings, manage complex calendar and demand for the President’s time, independently setting and managing priorities and workflow keeping abreast of and maintaining working knowledge of relevant issues.
• Assist the President in drafting, editing, and formatting correspondence and documents for conferences and meetings, including PowerPoint presentations, memos, emails, meeting/event agendas, and other outreach materials as needed.
• Conduct and compile background research and talking points to support the President in preparation of global engagements.
• Support the President’s ex officio governance role as member of the Board and all Board committees, including scheduling meetings, coordination interpretation, and preparing notes or presentation materials as needed.
• Take notes and minutes during meetings and contribute to the generating of reports or briefs.
• Translate short documents and/or provide interpretation during meetings (as applicable based on language abilities).
• Assist President in preparing timesheets, expense reports and credit card statement accountings, to ensure proper coding and supporting documentation.
• Manage and provide logistical, travel, administrative and research support to meetings and events attended by the President (and/or other senior staff and RRI event participants as needed) held domestically and/or internationally. Responsibilities for travel administrative arrangements may include:
  • Working closely with travel agents and event participants to facilitate travel arrangements.
  • Travel/hotel bookings
  • Visa application processes
  • Collection and upload of expense receipts and reports with correct budget coding for financial processing.
  • Preparation of complete travel packages for use on mission(s), including all relevant itineraries, lodging confirmations, meeting agendas, information on local facilities and services, background documentation, etc.
  • Other travel related administrative tasks as required.
• Organize and archive other institutional records, documents, and processes not under the clear purview of other departments.
• Support major RRI events and meetings, such as the annual RRI planning and governance meetings with organizing and logistical support, including travel coordination of participants or speakers, as needed.
• Willingly undertake other tasks as assigned to help the organization achieve its mission and goals

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Excellent writing, proofreading, and oral communications skills in English.
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in providing support to senior management, which may include scheduling, providing event organizing support, managing international travel arrangements, correspondence and communications.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills required – Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Strong sense of teamwork, and ability to build relationships, and interact collaboratively, respectfully and diplomatically with a diverse group of colleagues and coalition partners.
• Fastidious organization skills and ability to accept shifting priorities.
• Fluency in English, with additional French and/or Spanish proficiency required.
• Flexibility in embracing a range of duties as the organization’s needs evolve.

Benefits

Rights and Resources Group (RRG) recognizes the value of benefits to employees and their families. We take great pride in offering our dedicated and committed employees a competitive benefits package. Our comprehensive benefit programs provide you with a reliable, effective, and affordable array of choices that will meet your needs and those of your family.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; dependents and domestic partners eligible
• 100% coverage of employee premiums for the following: short-term/long-term disability insurance, life insurance, travel insurance, and the employee assistant program
• If eligible, 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• 25 days of leave annually, in addition to paid holidays
• Flextime and teleworking options
• Tuition reimbursement up to $1,500 per year after 1 full year of employment
• Dynamic growth opportunities with merit-based promotion philosophy

Rights and Resources Group (RRG) is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the organization and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, RRG makes all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, political affiliation or belief, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation or any other category protected by applicable law.