Executive Assistant, Legal Division

Summary:

Join the ASPCA’s Legal Division as an Executive Assistant and play a central role in supporting the legal, compliance, safety, and risk-management work that helps advance our mission. In this role, you’ll partner closely with the Chief Legal Officer and a collaborative legal team to keep critical operations moving with precision, discretion, and purpose.

Who We Are

The Legal division provides full-service legal consultation to each department to ensure that risk is appropriately evaluated and managed or mitigated. They provide oversight and guidance on various internal and external policies, contracts, grant agreements, compliance, and protocols, as well as oversee the ASPCA’s safety, security, and risk-management efforts.

The Legal Division prioritizes respect for our internal clients, business partners, colleagues, and others; excellence in the work that we perform and the advice that we provide; and being present in the life-saving work of the ASPCA by showing up for our colleagues, clients and constituents.

What You’ll Do

The Executive Assistant supports the Chief Legal Officer, as well as the other attorneys on the team, to interface with all other departments and the general public, to manage and route issues among team members, and serves as one of the key ways in which the Legal Division interfaces with our colleagues throughout the organization. 

The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented , adaptable, dedicated to the ASPCA mission and empathetic. The candidate must have above average written and oral communication skills and a high regard for confidentiality . The ideal candidate must be a diplomatic problem-solver and able to manage multiple competing deadlines simultaneously.

• The Executive Assistant reports directly to the Chief Legal Officer and has no direct reports.

Where and When You’ll Work

This position requires the ability to work on site at our New York City location on 8th Avenue up to three days per week, with approximately two days working remotely each week. It requires the ability and willingness to travel up to 5% annually, as needed.

What You’ll Get

Compensation

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.

• The target hiring range for this role is $36.06 - $38.47 per hour 

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

 

Administrative Support to the Chief Legal Officer

• Manage and protect the Chief Legal Officer’s calendar. Schedule and prioritize all appointments, troubleshoot scheduling challenges, and help convene and coordinate division meetings.
• Maintain knowledge of the Chief Legal Officer’s priorities and workflow to partner with the Chief Legal Officer to help ensure time is appropriately allocated for team meetings, skip levels, visits, and quarterly check-ins throughout the year; juggle frequent last-minute changes, and coordinate with internal and external constituents.
• Complete all travel logistics and itineraries, facilitate preparation for travel, and prepare and submit expense reports.
• Conduct general administrative responsibilities for the Chief Legal Officer, including summarizing information, editing documents, filing and maintaining organization of various folders (both paper and electronic), and other administrative needs, as requested.

• Monitor new technologies and applications in-use at ASPCA; learn them and guide the Chief Legal Officer in implementation for maximum efficiency/effectiveness

• For in-person meetings: prepare agendas, order meeting supplies, make copies, set up room and audio/visual, coordinate with speakers, order/pick-up/lay out refreshments, etc.
• Provide project support for the Chief Legal Officer, including note taking; recording and archiving notes, decisions, and action steps; tracking tasks and follow-ups; and conducting document management
• Coordinate with Executive Assistants, including for the CEO and members of the Executive Leadership Team, to align schedules, priorities and meeting needs, including providing back-up support to other EAs if/as necessary to ensure seamless support of ASPCA executives.

Legal Division Support

• Support attorneys with legal matters and management of very busy nonprofit in-house Legal Division
• Coordinate with the Administrator, Corporate Counsel’s Office and other key stakeholders within the Legal Division to help ensure administrative support is aligned and needs are thoughtfully addressed across the division
• Handle Legal Division’s physical mail, tracking, organizing, routing, and responding as appropriate
• Oversee administrative tasks across the division including intaking and managing Conflict of Interest disclosures, renewing subscriptions and services provided by third parties, ordering supplies, and other tasks as requested.

• Complete, approve/deny, edit and maintain expense reports in compliance with submission deadlines & requirements
• Code and submit all invoices for payment (for example, Litigation, Trusts & Estates, Safety & Compliance, State Registration Fees), provide statements of accounts, and obtain initial documents to set up firms as new vendors with designated payment elections
• Initiate and act as a point of contact when reporting incidents (personal and auto) to insurance carrier and ordering certificates of insurance
• Manage coding and submission of all division bills and expenses, through coordination with Finance Team
• Develop, organize and deliver onboarding processes for new employees within the Legal Division

• Serve as a notary for documents as appropriate, coordinating signatures and maintaining organized records to support timely, accurate document execution.

• Support special projects as assigned

 Interface with General Public

• Oversee the Legal Division inbox and respond to all messages, including various inquiries from the general public in a timely and thoughtful manner (pet custody, vet/hospital malpractice, dog bites, landlord eviction, providing referrals to animal law attorneys and animal welfare agencies)
• Maintain up-to-date list of resources to provide to callers on above-described topics and stay knowledgeable about appropriate internal and external contacts who may provide additional assistance.
• Work with not-for-profit animal welfare organizations who are applying to the New York State Department of State for nonprofit status, such as a Humane Society or SPCA

 

Qualifications

 

• Proficiency with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, with ability and willingness to learn and train others on new software
• Interest in and familiarity with animal welfare issues is preferred
• Excellent judgment and discretion, especially regarding confidential and sensitive matters

• R esearch and analysis skills
• Presents information clearly in oral and written form
• Plans, organizes and prioritizes work
• Accepts accountability for and effectively executes responsibilities
• Asks questions to identify needs that may not be stated
• Ability to manage projects independently (requires reliability, superb follow through, meeting deadlines, time management, multi-tasking)
• Self-starter with motivation to manage a busy workload and identify ways to improve efficiency throughout the division
• Detail-oriented with a premium on accuracy
• Flexibility to effectively manage new and evolving assignments and changes to workload and priorities based on management or client requests and current regulatory issues
• Valid New York State notary license a plus; ability and willingness to be licensed as a notary in New York State required
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.

 

Education and Work Experience

 

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent professional experience required
• 5 years of professional experience working on or with teams that deal with confidential matters (i.e. legal, financial, medical, etc.) required
• 3 years of experience providing administrative support with at least 1 year of experience providing administrative support at the executive level, including providing logistic support for ongoing work and priorities required
• Experience providing administrative support to a legal team strongly preferred
• Experience with budgeting support and expense reporting for others strongly preferred
• Experience managing projects is a plus
• Experience taking meeting minutes and subsequently outlining, tracking and supporting the completion of next steps required
• Experience supporting external inquiries, such as handling questions from new clients, new customers, or the general public, required

 

Language:

English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:

Bachelors

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About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Our EEO Policy:
The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

Applicant Notices : Applicants have rights under federal employment laws: Equal Employment Opportunity ; Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA) ; Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) ; Uniformed Services Employment Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) . Candidates residing in AZ, CA, CO, Flagstaff (AZ), IL, IN, Los Angeles (CA), Los Angeles County (CA), MA, ME, ND, NJ, NM, NYC, OR, Philadelphia (PA), RI, San Francisco (CA), TN, and WI should click here for additional information about general applicant notices.