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Executive Special Assistant, Dean's Office Operations

George Washington University
United States, D.C., Washington
May 14, 2025
I. JOB OVERVIEW


Job Description Summary:
At the George Washington University College of Professional Studies, you'll collaborate with a diverse group of experts from across disciplines and backgrounds, who will challenge you to rethink assumptions, test your ideas, and look at ways to make the greatest impact. Here, you'll learn how to use your skills to make an impact that ripples outward through industries and communities, elevating your career trajectory and connecting you to corners of the world you never thought possible.

In support of its mission and vision, the College of Professional Studies ( CPS) seeks a motivated and experienced Executive Special Assistant, Dean's Office Operations to provide high-level executive support to the Dean and support the priorities of the Dean's office operations.

The Executive Special Assistant provides extensive and effective management of the Dean's calendar, appointments, and travel ensuring a clear purpose and strategic use of the Dean's time. The Executive Special Assistant will use strong interpersonal skills, tact, and discretion to evaluate requests and manage access to the Dean.

This dynamic and highly visible role is perfect for a proactive professional who thrives in academic environments, excels in customer service, and enjoys working with executive leadership. As the primary point of contact for the Dean, the Executive Special Assistant will deliver excellent customer service-creating a welcoming and professional atmosphere, maintaining a well-organized calendar, and providing excellent service to executive leadership, students, staff, faculty, and visitors.

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Provides enhanced support to the Dean by managing complex calendars, travel schedules, and meeting logistics.
  • Provides high-level advising on administrative matters to the Dean.
  • Proactively stays informed about the college's policies, programs, and courses to effectively answer inquiries.
  • Coordinates correspondence ensuring error-free documents are presented for the Dean's signature. Drafts correspondence as needed. Organizes and maintains the Dean's official files, documents and archives.
  • Conducts research and prepares background materials, analysis and reports in support of special projects. Partners effectively with offices within the University in order to implement key initiatives on behalf of the Dean's office.
  • Organizes and coordinates internal and external events and engagements involving the Dean. Provides support for the Dean at those meetings and events as required. Initiates follow-up as directed.
  • Collaborates with the Program Manager, Operations, on other college-wide events. May include some evening or weekend events.
  • Supports the budget preparation and manages recordkeeping, reconciling P-cards, and anticipates and prepares associated background materials as needed.
  • Monitors and approves travel, procurement, conference, honoraria, consultant, and other expenses associated with department needs and sponsored projects.
  • Creates visually engaging graphs, charts and summary documents for the Strategic Plan and other reports or presentations.
  • Collaborates on creative strategies for communicating with the CPS community. May include assisting with social media, web presence, marketing efforts, and program materials.
  • Independently handles inquiries and requests made to the office within established procedures and/or by asking probing questions, researching issues and gathering data, and using judgment to inform or escalate to the appropriate parties.
  • Builds and maintains strong relationships across university offices, across the college, and with external vendors and partners.


Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

This is an in-person position, on-campus in Washington, DC. There may be occasional travel to northern Virginia education centers. Some evenings and weekends may be required for events.
Minimum Qualifications:

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 5 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master's degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 3 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:
Preferred Qualifications:

  • Three or more years of administrative experience supporting senior level executives, especially in a higher education environment is highly desired.
  • Strong administrative, scheduling, organizational, and time management skills, and problem solving capabilities.
  • Professional demeanor with a positive disposition and willingness to tackle tasks with enthusiasm, no matter how big or small.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills and demonstrated experience dealing with confidential information.
  • High proficiency with MS 365, Google Workspace, online platforms for virtual meetings (Zoom, Webex, Google Meet), and other standard business apps.
  • Comfortable learning new software and processes for scheduling, meeting/event planning, budgets, marketing & social media, and general business productivity.
  • Team player, comfortable taking direction from multiple people.
  • Strong interest in continuous learning.

Hiring Range $64,483.58 - $88,679.60
GW Staff Approach to Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

Healthcare Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.



II. JOB DETAILS


Campus Location: Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
College/School/Department: College of Professional Studies (CPS)
Family Administration
Sub-Family Administrative / Operations
Stream Individual Contributor
Level Level 3
Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time
Hours Per Week: 40+
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Will require some weekends or evenings for events.
Will this job require the employee to work on site? Yes
Employee Onsite Status On-campus (in person)
Telework: No
Required Background Check: Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search
Special Instructions to Applicants:
- Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status.

- This role is an onsite, 5-days a week, position.
Internal Applicants Only? No
Posting Number: S013710
Job Open Date: 05/14/2025
Job Close Date:
If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:
Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.
EEO Statement:

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

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