Executive Assistant

Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, the Executive Assistant provides executive support and organization to the Marketing and Communications Department. The Executive Assistant organizes and coordinates executive outreach and internal and external relations efforts; and oversees unique assignments.

The Executive Assistant must be organized, creative, and enjoy working within an entrepreneurial environment that is mission-driven, results-driven, and community-oriented. The ideal individual will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of situations, with strong written and verbal communication, administrative, and organizational skills, and the ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple and possibly changing priorities. The Executive Assistant will have the ability to work independently on projects, from conception to completion, and must be able to work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities and confidential matters with discretion.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages a wide range of administrative functions, including, but not limited to: calendar management, expense reporting, travel arrangements, correspondence, meeting preparation, office supply procurement, mail distribution, organizing filing systems, managing special projects and guest coordination.

• Plans, coordinates, and ensures the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer's schedule and priorities are effectively managed and executed.

• Keeps the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer informed of upcoming commitments, responsibilities, and emerging issues, following up as needed.

• Researches, prioritizes, and responds to sensitive and confidential matters, determining appropriate action, referrals, or responses.

• Conducts research and prepares, edits, and coordinates executive communications, presentations, correspondence, and meeting materials.

• Manages competing priorities with sound judgment, proactively resolving issues and ensuring timely completion of assignments, often under tight deadlines.

• Serves as a liaison between the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, internal departments, Board Committees, and external stakeholders, fostering effective communication and ensuring timely approvals and follow-through.

• Supports Board Committee activities by coordinating meetings, preparing and distributing materials, maintaining compliance with applicable bylaws, and handling logistics with discretion and confidentiality.

• Builds and maintains effective relationships across the organization.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Extremely strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail.

• Very strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, vendors, external partners, and donors.

• Expert-level written and verbal communication skills; ability to take meeting minutes; and create executive-level communications in Word and PowerPoint.

• Demonstrated proactive approaches to problem-solving with strong decision-making capability.

• Emotional maturity and ability to handle ambiguity and change.

• Self-starter and highly resourceful team player, with the ability to also be extremely effective independently.

• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion, be adaptable to various competing demands, and demonstrate the highest level of customer/client service and response.

• Demonstrated ability to achieve high performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions.

• Positive attitude and ability to use tact, diplomacy, and discretion in handling confidential information.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Minimum three (3) years administrative assistant or related experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Adobe Acrobat

• Project coordination or project management experience a plus

PHYSICAL:

Must be able to see, hear, feel, speak, and use hands to type and grasp objects with fingers. Primarily sedentary with intermittent standing, walking, bending, and stooping; occasional light lifting and carrying of objects weighing 25 pounds or less; light to heavy repetitive use of hands, wrists and forearms while working on a computer.

EMOTIONAL:

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships involving interactions and communications personally, by phone and in writing with a variety of individuals and/or groups of individuals from diverse backgrounds on a regular, on-going basis; ability to concentrate on detailed tasks for extended periods of time and/or intermittently while attending to other responsibilities; ability to work effectively under pressure on multiple tasks concurrently while meeting established deadlines and changing priorities.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Primarily indoor office environment; frequent contact with and interruptions by individuals in person or by phone.

Compensation and Benefits: This is a full-time, non-exempt, onsite position with a regular working schedule of 40 hours per week Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm. The pay range is $32.00 - $36.00 per hour depending on skills, experience, and ability level. The Colburn School offers excellent benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance plans; Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability and Life Insurance plans; paid sick leave and vacation; a 403(b)-retirement plan with a generous employer matching contribution.

ABOUT THE COLBURN SCHOOL:

The Colburn School is a world-renowned performing arts institution located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Its mission is to provide the highest quality performing arts education at all levels of development in music and dance, and to foster a vibrant community through a wide range of performances, events, and educational activities.

The Colburn School trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.

The academic units of the school provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education:

• Conservatory of Music - The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the very highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.
• The Music Academy is a highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, designed to prepare students for conservatory study and performing careers at the highest levels of achievement. This residential program balances performance, musical instruction, and academics.
• The Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ages, from seven months old to adults. It offers over 120 classes each year in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, music theory, drama, and ensembles including orchestra, choir, and chamber music.
• The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute develops performers of all levels, from the pre-professional ballet program in the Dance Academy to beginners starting in Youth Dance. Students of all levels receive training in ballet, tap, and modern genres as part of a comprehensive dance education.
• Center for Innovation and Community Impact was created to empower the musical and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of new ideas. The Colburn School partners with 15 Los Angeles Unified School District schools, 13 of which receive Title I funding, to provide interactive and engaging concerts and instructional sessions to 5,000 students every year.

The Colburn School is currently constructing a transformational addition to our downtown Los Angeles campus, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry with acoustics by acclaimed Nagata Acoustics. This monumental project reflects a deep commitment to both the community and our students and will feature world-class performance venues and innovative learning spaces that foster collaboration and interdisciplinary partnerships throughout the region.

A once-in-a-lifetime expansion for Colburn, the new facility will include a remarkable and accessible 1,077-seat concert hall, complete with a 70-musician orchestral pit and a modular sprung dance floor. It will also house the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, Colburn’s renowned dance education program. The new dance center will feature a 100-seat dance studio theater, four spacious ballet and tap studios, administrative offices, and vibrant street-level and rooftop gardens with outdoor performance spaces. This will complement Colburn’s existing campus and performance venues which include the 430-seat Zipper Concert Hall, 189-seat Thayer Hall, 100-seat Mayman Hall, an outdoor Plaza, and other venues.

Construction began in 2024, and upon completion in 2027, the expansion will create the world’s largest concentration of Frank Gehry-designed buildings—joining the Walt Disney Concert Hall and mixed-use project The Grand in redefining the cultural landscape of downtown Los Angeles.