Sr Executive Assistant

Senior Executive Assistant

The Senior Executive Assistant, working in collaboration with and in support of the firm's strategic initiatives, provides trusted, strategic, and highly confidential executive support to the firm's most senior global leaders. This role functions as an extension of leadership, exercising exceptional judgment, discretion, and situational awareness while managing complex priorities in a global, client-facing environment.

The Senior Executive Assistant anticipates executive needs, proactively aligns stakeholders, and enables leaders to operate at maximum effectiveness. The role requires executive-level presence, deep understanding of firm operations, sophisticated client and internal relationships, and the ability to navigate high-visibility matters with precision and professionalism. Responsibilities include managing complex global calendars and travel, preparing executive-level communications and materials, coordinating priority initiatives, and serving as a key liaison with partners, clients, and senior stakeholders across the firm.

This position is located in our New York office and offers a hybrid work schedule.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a primary strategic partner and advisor to senior global leader, exercising sound judgment and discretion in handling highly sensitive, confidential, and time-critical matters that impact firm leadership and operations.
• Operates with executive-level presence, representing firm leadership with professionalism and credibility in interactions with partners, clients, senior business professionals, and external stakeholders.
• Anticipates leadership needs and proactively manages priorities, risks, and deadlines in a fast-paced, global environment, often with incomplete information and competing demands.
• Develops and sustains high-trust relationships across the firm, facilitating collaboration and alignment among partners, executive leadership, and key functional teams to support strategic initiatives.
• Prepares and refines executive-level communications, presentations, reports, and briefing materials, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and appropriate tone for internal and external audiences, including clients.
• Manages and prioritizes complex global calendars, coordinating high-stake meetings across time zones, resolving conflicts, and ensuring leaders are thoroughly prepared for all engagements.
• Oversees sophisticated global travel arrangements, including frequent and complex travel, often involving clients or firm leadership, ensuring seamless execution and contingency planning.
• Acts as a central point of coordination for executive meetings, firm initiatives, events, and retreats, managing logistics, agendas, materials, and follow-up to ensure successful outcomes.
• Exercises independent judgment in responding to communications on behalf of firm leaders, including direct engagement with clients and senior internal stakeholders.
• Partners closely with finance, billing, and other operational teams on matters impacting partner financial performance, budgets, and client deliverables, providing timely insight and coordination.
• Reviews and supports contract proposals, project budgets, and cost analyses related to executive initiatives, ensuring alignment with firm objectives.
• Maintains information and documents in compliance with Information Governance and confidentiality standards, recognizing the heightened sensitivity of leadership and client matters.
• Navigates complex organizational dynamics with diplomacy, discretion, and situational awareness, effectively managing competing priorities and stakeholder expectations.
• Performs additional responsibilities as required to support the evolving needs of senior global firm leadership.

Desired Skills

The Senior Executive Assistant must demonstrate advanced professional competence, sound judgment, and executive-level presence in supporting the firm's most senior global leaders. This role requires exceptional discretion in handling highly confidential and firm-critical matters, the ability to anticipate risks and priorities, and confidence operating independently in fast-paced, high-visibility situations. The Sr Executive Assistant serves as a trusted partner and professional ambassador, building high-trust relationships across the firm and interacting effectively with partners, clients, and external stakeholders while representing leadership priorities with credibility and diplomacy.

Success in this role requires strong strategic thinking, project management, and communication skills, with the ability to manage complex workflows, competing priorities, and global schedules. The Sr Executive Assistant drafts and refines executive-level communications and materials, demonstrates business and client acumen, and understands the operational and financial considerations that impact senior leadership. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong digital fluency is required, along with a proactive, adaptable, and solution-oriented approach. A consistent commitment to professionalism, accountability, and excellence is essential in supporting firm leaders and advancing the firm's objectives is required.

Minimum Education

• High School Diploma or GED.

Preferred Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance or related field preferred.

Minimum Years of Experience

• 10+ years' experience providing executive-level administrative and strategic support to senior leaders or C-suite executives, preferably within a law firm or similarly complex professional services environment.

Essential Job Expectations

While the specific job requirements of a DLA Piper position may vary depending upon scope of the job and area of specialty, there are certain universal requirements that are expected of all DLA Piper employees, which include but are not limited to:

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties.
• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner.
• Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product.
• Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required.
• Foster positive work relationships.
• Comply with all firm policies and practices.
• Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as (a) working at a computer for extended periods of time, including on-screen reading and typing; (b) participating in digital/virtual conference calls; (c) participating in meetings as needed.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Perform all other duties, tasks or projects as assigned.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Work Environment

The individual selected for this position may have the opportunity for a hybrid work arrangement comprised of remote and in-office work, the requirement for which will be determined in coordination with the hiring manager or supervisor and may be modified in the firm's discretion in the future.

Disclaimer

The purpose of this job description is to provide a concise statement of the work elements and to organize and present the information in a standardized way. It is not intended to describe all the elements of the work that may be performed by every individual in this classification, nor should it serve as the sole criteria for personnel decisions and actions. The job duties, requirements, and expectations for this position may be modified at the Firm's discretion at any time. This job description does not change the at-will nature of employment.

Application Process

Applicants must apply directly online instead of sending application materials via email.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to permit individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions and responsibilities of the position or to participate in the job selection process. If you have a request for an accommodation during the application process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.

Agency applications will not be considered.

No immigration sponsorship is available for this position. The firm's expected hiring range for this position is $200,000 - $225,000 per year depending on the candidate's geographic market location.

The compensation offered for employment will also be dependent on other factors including the candidate's experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits, including medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).

DLA Piper is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.