Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Executive Assistant & Board Liaison

Reports to: President & CEO

Location: Providence, onsite

Position Type: Full-time, Exempt

Ocean State Media is the locally owned and operated award-winning public media organization serving Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Formerly known as Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio, Ocean State Media was established in 2025 to deliver in-depth local journalism and community connection. We are reimagining what public media can be. We listen first, partner with our neighbors, and make space for meaningful conversation. Wherever you are – on air, online, or out in the world – Ocean State Media is there with you, informing, engaging, and reflecting Rhode Island.

OSM is at an important inflection point. We are building a unified organization, growing our audience, and establishing a national model for public media collaboration. The people who join us now will help shape what comes next.

About the Role

Ocean State Media is seeking an experienced, highly organized, and deeply trusted professional to serve as the primary administrative and operational partner to the President & CEO, and as the primary liaison for our Board of Directors.

This role has two important focus areas: providing the CEO with the day-to-day support she needs to lead a complex, fast-moving organization; and ensuring that Ocean State Media's board members - who are volunteers - have everything they need to do their best work on behalf of the organization.

The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with strong judgment, exceptional discretion, and genuine enthusiasm for the public media mission. You know how to prioritize when everything feels urgent, write clearly in someone else's voice, and build warm relationships with a wide range of people - from staff to senior donors to board members.

Essential Duties

CEO Support

• Manage a complex, high-volume calendar for the CEO, coordinating internal and external meetings, blocking protected time for strategic work, and keeping her schedule aligned with OSM's priorities

• Conduct regular check-ins with the CEO to review and triage email, correspondence, and upcoming commitments

• Draft and edit correspondence, meeting briefs, talking points, and communications on behalf of the CEO, including donor thank-you letters and acknowledgments, in coordination with the development team

• Prepare the CEO for all meetings, events, and public engagements, including briefings, talking points, and background research

• Manage CEO travel arrangements and expense reporting

• Lead logistics for recurring leadership meetings, all-staff meetings, and staff retreats

• Serve as a trusted proxy for the CEO's office in internal and external communications

Board Liaison Support

• Coordinate all aspects of OSM's board meetings and committee meetings, scheduling, materials preparation, venue and logistics, minutes, and post-meeting follow-up

• Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for board members, maintaining warm, professional, and consistent communication

• Support the board chair and committee chairs with governance-related tasks, including tracking action items between meetings

• Maintain board documentation, governance records, and compliance materials

• Serve as administrator for OSM's board management platform, managing document distribution, user accounts, and records

• Coordinate board-related events, including quarterly meetings, biannual retreats, cultivation dinners, and special events

Organizational Support

• Serve as a connective link across OSM's Senior Leadership Team, helping surface what the CEO needs to know and keeping cross-functional priorities on track

• Coordinate with the philanthropy and development team on CEO and board activities related to major donors and Impact Partners

• Support CEO-led internal communications and all-staff touchpoints

• Manage special projects as assigned by the CEO

• Participate in fund drives and other organizational priorities as needed

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5–8 years of executive-level administrative experience, ideally in a nonprofit, public media, or mission-driven organization

• Demonstrated experience supporting a board of directors - including meeting coordination, minutes, and trustee relationship management

• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt as priorities shift

• Strong writer and editor - able to draft clearly and accurately in the CEO's voice across a range of formats

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; experience with board management platforms (such as OnBoard or similar) is a plus

• High degree of discretion, diplomacy, and professional judgment. You will be trusted with sensitive organizational information

• Warm, customer-service-oriented approach to all interactions, including staff, board members, donors, and community partners

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience preferred

We know strong candidates don't always check every box. If you believe you're the right person for this role, we want to hear from you.

Benefits

OSM offers a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with employer match; generous paid time off and paid holidays; and paid parental leave.

Ocean State Media is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) provider, committed to diversity and building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and ages. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply.