Associate, External Affairs

Description

Title: Associate, External Affairs

Employment Status:  Non-Exempt

Salary: $21.71 per hour

Supervisor Title: Senior Director, External Affairs 

Date Revised:  April 2025

Summary of Position

The Associate, External Affairs will work to support development activities and private sector program development, with a focus on programming, foundation fundraising, and events. The position will serve under the supervision of the Senior Director, External Affairs to provide administrative support for programs and events, including preparing program documents and donor tracking in the Salesforce database.  The Associate supports the External Affairs team with administrative activities including financial reconciliations, donor acknowledgements, scheduling, and general operating duties.   

This position is located in Washington D.C. and Meridian requires MD, DC, or VA residence for all employees. The position may work partially remotely until further notice. 

Position Responsibilities

· Draft, send and track programmatic correspondence including speaker invitations, event invitations, confirmation emails and thank you notes. Track and manage RSVP lists across multiple platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Excel, Linvio), ensuring accuracy and follow-up.

· Support day-of management and production of all programs (approx. 30 events annually, primarily in-person with occasional hybrid or virtual) designed and/or implemented by the External Affairs team. 

· Maintain program data and related event websites with accurate content including event details, registration functionality, and post event summaries. Assist in updating past event descriptions and stakeholder bios. 

· Coordinate and liaise with Meridian Events team for logistics of programs. 

· Coordinate with Meridian Communications team for collateral development, invitations, social media content, etc. 

· Process incoming gifts, ensure accurate reconciliation with the Finance team, and generate donor acknowledgment letters in a timely manner.

· Database Management to include regular maintenance/cleaning, updating of donor records in Salesforce including but not limited to contact records, opportunities, campaigns, affiliations, and dashboards. 

· Work in close partnership with team members to track, draft, and submit proposals and letters of interest to foundations. 

· Research relevant diplomacy-related topics and Meridian-related matters to contribute to written content. 

· Manage calendars and scheduling for External Affairs leadership, including coordinating meetings with donors and partners, tracking key program and proposal deadlines, and assisting with departmental calendar.

· Attend meetings, as needed, for External Affairs leadership. Distribute any relevant notes to the greater team that adequately summarize the discussion. 

· Maintain organized and up-to-date shared content folders (e.g., SharePoint) to ensure materials are accessible across the team.

· Responsible for completing all organizational administrative responsibilities in a timely manner. 

· Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Education/Experience 

· Undergraduate degree preferred.? 

· 1 year of experience in a non- profit preferred.??? 

· Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

· Understanding and interest in non-profit development and fundraising activities. 

· Exceptional writing skills - experience writing a variety of forms of correspondence including solicitation letters, thank you notes and briefings. 

· Familiarity with organizing and staffing events. 

· Excellent phone and interpersonal skills. 

· Exceptional organizational skills, detail-oriented and proven ability to prioritize multiple concurrent projects. 

· Knowledge of U.S. government agencies, Capitol Hill, and/or foreign embassy community a plus. 

· Strong intercultural communication skills; maturity, cultural sensitivity, and tact suitable for working with individuals from around the world. 

Technical Requirements

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams is necessary for this role.? 

· Experience with Adobe, Canva, Concur, Linvio, Salesforce, Zoom and/or Pardot preferred. 

Employer’s Statement

Meridian is committed to empowering global leaders and amplifying voices of a wide variety of backgrounds to create pathways for greater understanding, shared values,