Description

Together with the President's support team, supports the management of the highly complex schedule of the President, prepares meeting materials and correspondence, staffs the President at meetings, and supports the day to day operations of the President's Office as needed. The EA serves as a representative of the President's office, engages with key stakeholders and maintains a professional and welcoming office presence.

Description

The Executive Assistant (EA) is a critical member of a high-performing, fast-paced President's Office, providing direct, high-level administrative and operational support to the President of Dartmouth College. This is not a traditional support role - it requires someone who understands the unique needs and preferences of the president, sees the calendar as a strategic tool and understands that managing time is managing priorities.

The EA ensures that the President's schedule, meetings, and materials are aligned with institutional goals and executed with precision, discretion, and professionalism. The role calls for a collaborative operator who:

1. Pays close attention to detail
2. Thrives in complexity
3. Communicates clearly
4. Stays grounded under pressure
5. Appreciates the highly confidential nature of this work
6. Can prioritize, as well as adapt quickly when priorities shift
7. Knows when to solve a problem vs. when to escalate

Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp

Bachelors plus 6 or more years' experience or combination of education and experience

Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Minimum 6+ years of experience supporting a senior executive.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Experience managing complex calendars with strategic intent and political sensitivity.
• High technological fluency - proficient in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and collaborative tools.
• Steady under pressure, with strong emotional regulation and interpersonal tact.
• Comfortable handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Excellent judgment, situational awareness, and responsiveness in a fast-paced, high-accountability setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or public-sector environments.
• Experience planning events.

Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries

Tracy Truesdale

Department Contact Phone Number

ttruesdale@kennison.com

Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title

Zoya Chhabra, Chief of Staff

Department Contact's Phone Number

Equal Opportunity Employer

Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.

Background Check

Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Dartmouth vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job?

Preferred, but not required

Special Instructions to Applicants

Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy

Additional Instructions

Dartmouth College has retained Kennison & Associates to assist in the search for the Executive Assistant position. A representative from Kennison & Associates may reach out to candidates directly.

Key Accountabilities

Description

Calendar Management, including personal support:

• Manages the President's calendar as a living, strategic document.
• Constantly adapts and optimizes the schedule to reflect shifting institutional priorities, while handling all changes with professionalism, tact, and attention to political nuance.
• Coordinates complex travel arrangements, both professional and personal, ensuring seamless execution.
• Anticipates conflicts and adjusts scheduling with tact and diplomacy.
• Understands not only what is on the calendar but why it matters, and communicates those connections to the team.
• Maintains and updates calendar tracking documents.
• Manages personal travel and logistics in support of the President's role, including the coordination of childcare, pet care, doctor's appointments, etc.

Percentage Of Time

70%

Description

Meeting & Event Coordination:

• Coordinates logistics for meetings and events, including Board of Trustees meetings and Commencement and adjacent events.
• Assists with preparation, materials, logistics, catering, and follow-through with excellence and attention to tone.
• Provides staffing support for approximately 10-12 evening events and 8-10 weekend events per year, including major institutional gatherings and external stakeholder engagements.

Percentage Of Time

10%

Description

Other duties as assigned:

• Provides flexible support to the President and the Office as new priorities emerge.
• Assists with special projects, initiatives, and institutional events that may fall outside regular responsibilities.
• Steps in to cover or support colleagues in the office during periods of peak activity, staff transitions, or absences.
• Adapts to the evolving needs of the President's office and the broader university, contributing wherever needed to ensure smooth and professional operations.

Percentage Of Time

10%

Description

Writing, Briefings, & Communications:

• In partnership with the President's Office team, drafts and edits briefing materials, emails, and other communications.
• Ensures the President is well-prepared not just for the content of each meeting, but for the role she will play, its context, and its purpose within the institution's broader goals.
• Drafts and responds to correspondence on behalf of the President, ensuring confidentiality, tone, and accuracy.

Percentage Of Time

10%

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Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness through actions, interactions, and communications with others.

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Performs other duties as assigned.