Executive Assistant and Operations Manager

Washington, D.C. \| Hybrid

Salary: $65,000–$75,000

Reports to: Senior Vice President \& Chief of Staff

Organization size: 18 staff

Travel: Occasional national travel for meetings and events

About the organization

The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) is a national nonprofit organization that serves the chief executives of statewide governing, policy, and coordinating boards of postsecondary education and their staffs. Founded in 1954, SHEEO promotes an environment that values higher education and its role in ensuring the equitable education of all Americans, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic factors. Together with its members, SHEEO aims to achieve this vision by equipping state higher education executive officers and their staffs with the tools to effectively advance the value of higher education, promoting public policies and academic practices that enable all Americans to achieve success in the 21st century, and serving as an advocate for state higher education leadership.

SHEEO is particularly interested in providing equal employment opportunities. Read more about SHEEO on our website: https://sheeo.org.

About the position

SHEEO is seeking an Executive Assistant and Operations Manager to support the organization’s leadership team and help ensure smooth day\-to\-day operations across the organization.

Reporting to the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, this role plays a central coordinating function within the organization by helping manage leadership schedules and communications, coordinating meetings and logistics, and maintaining administrative systems that support an efficient workplace.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working at the center of a small, mission\-driven organization—supporting senior leaders, coordinating complex logistics, and helping colleagues stay organized and productive.

Key Responsibilities – Executive and Administrative Support

• Provide executive and administrative support to the leadership team, including managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and coordinating leadership availability across internal and external commitments.
• Prepare meeting agendas, materials, and correspondence.
• Track priorities, deadlines, and follow\-up items from meetings and projects.
• Maintain contact lists, internal records, and shared documentation.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with staff, members, and external partners.
• Anticipate scheduling or logistical needs and help leadership stay organized and prepared.

Key Responsibilities – Organizational Operations

• Help ensure consistent administrative processes across staff working in two offices and remotely.
• Coordinate day\-to\-day office operations, including vendor and building management; office services; and maintaining office supplies, inventory, and shared resources.
• Help maintain and improve administrative systems and internal processes.
• Assist with recruitment and onboarding logistics, including scheduling interviews and coordinating onboarding activities.

Key Responsibilities – Meetings, Events, and Member Engagement

• Serve as a professional point of contact for SHEEO members and partners.
• Support planning and logistics for SHEEO meetings and convenings, including assisting with registration processes, participant communications, and meeting materials; and providing logistical support for SHEEO’s annual Higher Education Policy Conference.
• Support scheduling and coordination of site visits to SHEEO member agencies.

Qualifications:

We are looking for someone who brings a mix of organization, professionalism, and initiative with a strong member\-service mindset. Ideal candidates will have many of the following:

• Five or more years of experience in an executive assistant, administrative, or operations role in a professional office environment.
• Strong organizational and time\-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Professional judgment and discretion when working with senior leaders and external partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
• Comfort learning web\-based tools (experience with platforms such as Mailchimp or Cvent is a plus).
• Experience in nonprofit, association, higher education, or public sector environments is a plus.

Location and Travel:

This position is based in Washington, D.C., and is eligible for a hybrid remote/in\-office work schedule. Occasional national travel is required to support meetings and events.

Salary and benefits:

Salary range: $65,000 to $75,000, commensurate with experience.

SHEEO is committed to supporting the physical, emotional, and financial well\-being of our staff and their families. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• A 10% contribution to employees’ retirement plans.
• 22 days of annual vacation, 11 paid holidays, 12 sick days, and office closure from December 25 through January 1\.
• Subsidized health insurance (SHEEO covers 85% of plan costs).
• Dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance.
• Professional development support, including funding for conferences, meetings, and short\-term courses aligned with employees’ responsibilities.

Application Process:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of April 3, 2026.

SHEEO is not able to sponsor work permits. Therefore, candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

Please apply through this website and include the following:

• A cover letter.
• A resume or curriculum vitae.
• Names and contact information of three professional references. (References will not be contacted until you have permitted us to do so.)

In your cover letter, please briefly describe your experience supporting senior leaders or coordinating organizational operations.

SHEEO is committed to providing equal employment opportunities.