Executive Assistant

The Organization: Merit America

The American economy is broken. Today, 53 million working adults–nearly half of the U.S. workforce–do not earn a living wage. These talented workers have few options to advance: college is too long and expensive, full-time boot camp programs don’t offer enough flexibility, and online courses don’t have the structure or support to translate learning into a new career. The result? Talented workers, disproportionately people of color and women, get stuck in low-wage roles with no way to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Merit America is a national nonprofit that creates pathways to family-sustaining careers for Americans stuck in low-wage work. Our fast, flexible solutions are built for working adults: We start by analyzing tens of millions of job postings to identify in-demand, high-paying tech careers and then work with industry-recognized partners to train for these roles with part-time programs that combine flexible online learning with best-in-class coaching. Finally, we support our learners in their job search, helping them connect with a broad constellation of local and national employers such as JPMorgan Chase and Infosys to land higher-earning, family-sustaining jobs. Merit America is on a mission to build a scalable pathway for workers to join the middle class through merit, not money. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve generated a projected $1 billion in near-term wage gains for our learners.

Note: Merit America generally operates on a four-day workweek; however, due to the nature of executive support, this role follows a five-day schedule (Monday–Friday).

Role Overview:

The primary mission of the Executive Assistant to the Co-CEOs is to support the Co-CEOs in working as efficiently and effectively as possible, managing complex calendars, coordinating executive travel, streamlining operations, and serving as a trusted liaison between the Co-CEOs and internal and external stakeholders.

The Executive Assistant will report directly to Lia Bonamassa (Chief of Staff) and work primarily with the Co-CEOs of Merit America. This role offers the opportunity to grow into expanded responsibilities over time, including supporting strategic projects, Board coordination, and executive communications.

Responsibilities:

The responsibilities of the Executive Assistant to the Co-CEOs will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Executive Calendar & Schedule Management (50%)

• Manage complex calendars for two Co-CEOs, scheduling meetings with critical stakeholders, typically within 24 hours of request
• Proactively identify and resolve scheduling conflicts, prioritizing meetings aligned with CEO goals and organizational priorities
• Coordinate across both Co-CEOs' schedules to ensure alignment and efficiency
• Prepare daily/weekly schedule briefings with context, materials, and priorities
• Monitor and respond to scheduling requests with urgency when needed (note: while responses outside business hours are appreciated for urgent matters, they are not required)

Travel & Logistics Coordination (20%)

• Plan and coordinate executive travel, including flights, accommodations, ground transportation, and detailed itineraries
• Manage travel logistics for conferences, board meetings, donor visits, and strategic partner meetings
• Handle expense reconciliation and travel reimbursements
• Anticipate travel needs and prepare travel-related briefing materials

Communication & Stakeholder Management (20%)

• Draft and edit emails, correspondence, meeting agendas, and post-meeting action items on behalf of the Co-CEOs
• Serve as a professional point of contact for internal teams, board members, partners, and external stakeholders
• Manage the Co-CEOs' inboxes, flagging priority items and drafting responses as appropriate
• Maintain discretion with sensitive and confidential information

Operational Support & Project Coordination (10%)

• Streamline workflows and systems to align with CEO priorities and deadlines
• Coordinate logistics for leadership meetings, team offsites, and organizational events
• Support cross-functional initiatives and strategic projects as needed
• Maintain organized systems for tracking action items, deadlines, and follow-ups
• Assist with Board coordination, including meeting minutes and follow-up actions (as role expands)

Skills & Competencies

We recognize that some individuals from underrepresented backgrounds may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet 100% of the listed qualifications.  Please don’t let that discourage you