Governance Assistant

About WestEd

As a community of over 1000 researchers, practitioners, consultants, and administrative professionals from all backgrounds and life experiences, we are committed to making a qualitative difference in the lives of youth, children, and adults. We conduct and apply research, develop evidence-based solutions, and provide consulting services across the country in both rural and urban communities to improve equitable outcomes for individuals from infancy through adulthood. Serving as trusted partners in the areas of education, health, and justice, our teams enhance capacity within communities and school districts to prioritize impact — asking the right questions, customizing methodologies, developing relevant tools, and implementing best practices specific to a diverse range of stakeholder needs.  

Furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion is core to who we are and how we work. We are committed to working with our clients to illuminate and address disparities, value and elevate diverse voices, and ensure equitable access to our resources and services. Read more about WestEd’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  Come and join us!

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING THE WORK LOCATION OF THIS POSITION—Although WestEd provides the option of working at one of its facilities for employees, many roles allow employees to choose to work remotely for their own convenience.  The decision to allow remote work at the employee's convenience is based on the requirements of the position or project in question.

Program or Department Profile:
The CEO’s Office includes the CEO, Director of Operations, Executive Assistant to the CEO, and Governance Assistant. Within WestEd, the team members provide administrative, analytical, research, and logistical support to the agency’s executive leadership and Board members. Drawing on the best knowledge from research and practice, we work with practitioners and policymakers to address education’s most critical issues.

Brief Position Description:
The Governance Assistant position is primarily responsible for organizing, coordinating, and ensuring the quality of governance activities. This includes four Board meetings a year, ongoing maintenance of Board and signatory information, and support to the Chief Executive Officer and the CEO's Executive Assistant in all facets related to the Board. This position also entails supporting other executive team members and executive level activities such as Professional Development. The successful candidate must be able to prioritize and complete a reasonably heavy volume of moderately difficult to challenging projects quickly and accurately. A demonstrated ability to perform well and remain composed under pressure is critical.

Responsibilities:
Production
•Provide proactive, high-quality, secretarial and clerical support, as needed, including copying, filing, organizing, processing purchase and check requests, collating information packets and binder materials for both the Board, and other executive level activities.
•Process travel authorizations, making travel arrangements, and processing reimbursements.
•Budgets: creating simple budgets, and tracking project budgets.

Event Planning:
•Handle all aspects (logistics, production, follow up) required by quarterly meetings of the Board and other meetings of various Board groups, including working with the CEO's Executive Assistant to manage relationships with vendors, hotels, caterers, restaurant personnel, and other service providers.
•Handle some aspects (logistics, production, follow up) of Executive Team and executive level development and training programs.
•Attend and coordinate all Board meetings.

Communication:
•Provide briefing materials, policy analysis, PowerPoint support, etc. for CEO and Board Chair presentations, meetings, etc.
•Provide support on the CEO's annual year end report and presentation to the Board.
•Handle correspondence for the Board.
•Provide word processing (Microsoft Word) support, including proofreading, formatting, composition of letters, reports, or other writing as needed.
•Provide correspondence with training participants.

Governance Compliance:
•Maintain and ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness of Board files, confidential materials, policies, etc.
•Coordinate and monitor compliance with Bagley-Keene, Board governance policies, JPA, etc.
•Coordinate with the CEO and CEO's Executive Assistant to manage and strengthen relationships with Board members and Board member signatory agencies.
•Preparing and maintaining Board agendas and minute books.

Qualifications:
•Bachelors degree or equivalent experience.
•Experience serving in an administrative support position for at least 5 years.
•Evidence of strong writing, editing, and analytical skills.
•Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to work as a team member.
•Ability to coordinate work around multiple tasks and multiple deadlines with a variety of different staff members.
•Ability to follow-through on completion of tasks and responsibilities.
•High tolerance for ambiguity, changing work priorities and deadlines.
•Careful attention to detail and produce quality deliverables.
•High level of skill with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and ability to learn new software quickly.
•Ability to design information systems, work with databases, and maintain filing systems.

Preferred Experience
•Knowledge of governance and experience working with governing boards.
•Experience with legal and compliance on legal; compliance, and regulatory research and filings.
•Experience working with executive leadership.

*Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Successful candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The full salary range for this position, WestEd level F, is $74,080 to $111,100 but WestEd does not typically hire at or near the top of the salary range. The typical hiring range for this role is $74,080 to $92,600. The actual offer takes into account multiple factors including but not limited to education; experience; internal equity, and other organizational needs. 

In addition to the base salary, benefits include:

· 15% contribution toward retirement effective day 1 of employment

· Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts

· All health/welfare benefits are effective first of the month following hire date

· PTO: 3 weeks vacation (increases to 4 weeks beginning the 4th year of employment), paid holidays, and 12 days paid sick leave per year

· Life Insurance: value of 3x gross salary

· Opportunities for annual merit-based performance increases annual incentives

· Professional development opportunities & mentorship program

For more detail about our benefits, go to:

https://www.wested.org/work-at-wested/benefits/

Committed to the diversity of race, ethnicities, perspectives, and opportunities, WestEd offers a variety of social and professional learning communities, such as Employee Resource groups, the Data Intelligence, Insights, and Innovation PLC, and the WestEd Parent Community, just to name a few.  We hope you’ll consider joining us to build better schools, communities, learning pathways, and more! #LI-Remote

Salary : $74,080 - $111,100