"Executive Assistant to the President - Office of the President"

Position Summary

Executive Assistant to the President
Office of the President
Full Time

The Executive Assistant to the President provides high-level, confidential operational and administrative support to the Office of the President. This position exercises independent judgment in performing a broad range of responsibilities and has recurring contact with members of the University's Executive Staff, senior administrators, academic leaders, Board of Governors, public and private officials, the media, students, and parents.

This salaried position reports to the Chief of Staff and General Counsel.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provides sophisticated calendar management to the Office of the President, prioritizing inquiries and requests while troubleshooting conflicts. Exercises independent judgement to ensure smooth day-to-day logistics and engagement. Works closely with the president to keep him/her well informed and prepared for upcoming appearances, meetings, speaking engagements, and activities. Maximizes the president's time to meet personal, board, and institutional goals. Maintains a keen eye for details regarding travel, meeting location(s), agenda, participants, attire, set-up, logistics, and supporting documents/materials is essential.
• Provides proactive email management. Maintains consistent, ongoing scrutiny and maintenance of the president's university email account. Exercises independent judgement in responding to, deleting, forwarding, reassigning, sharing, and following up on issues raised via email. Keeps the president up to date on emails that require his/her immediate personal attention. Maintains an archival system of key emails to ensure future availability upon request.
• Provides high-level administrative support, assisting with special projects, exercising independent judgement on how to proceed to accomplish outcomes; manage sensitive matters and documents with a high level of confidentiality and discretion; design and produce complex documents, reports, and presentations; collect and prepare information for meetings, including populating the online portal for Board of Governors meetings; plan meetings such as the Board of Governors, taking sole responsibility for activities such as room reservation, set-up, food/beverage, guest speakers, audio visual, and other related elements of the meeting; compose and prepare correspondence; answer the main phone line and convey messages as appropriate; process and delivery daily mail; maintain office supplies and gifts; keep contact lists current and readily available; make travel arrangements; and complete expense and mileage reports.
• Serves as the key front-facing representative of the Office of the President, providing for smooth communication and engagement between the university president and internal and external constituents. Serve as the primary gatekeeper for visitors, phone calls, and documents arriving in the president's office. Provide hospitality to all guests while maintaining credibility, trust and support among key internal and external constituents.
• Safeguards the confidentiality of University administration by exercising discretion in communicating information to faculty, students, staff and the various publics served by the University and in handling administrative records, file, and similar confidential items.
• Completes other tasks, assignments, projects, or activities as assigned by the president or chief of staff for the overall benefit of the Board of Governors, Office of the President, institution, and presidency.

Required Qualifications

• High Diploma or GED; Bachelor's degree is a plus
• Significant executive support experience, including supporting C-level executives. Non-profit board experience is a plus
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced executive environment demonstrating a high degree of professionalism in dealing with diverse groups of people, including board members, senior executives, donors, elected officials, and community and governance group leaders
• Expert proficiency with Microsoft Office and desktop publishing software; ability to design and edit graphic presentations and materials
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Exceptional organizational skills and impeccable attention to detail
• Ability to make appropriate, informed decisions regarding priorities, resources, and issues
• Ability to complete a high volume of tasks and projects with little or no guidance
• Ability to switch gears/direction at a moment's notice and react with appropriate levels of urgency to situations and events
• Maintain an extremely high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential interactions, documents, and information
• Ability to be responsive to emails, texts, and phone calls with regular contact outside normal business hours

Required Information & Deadline

Application Deadline: To ensure full consideration, application materials must be received by November 14, 2025. The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled.

To Apply: Complete the online application by clicking on the APPLY button at the top of the page. You must submit the following for your application materials to be complete.

• Letter of interest addressing all position qualifications
• Current resume
• Names and contact information of three professional references may be asked for later, if not previously submitted

Additional Information

About Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO): Founded in 1873 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Southeast Missouri State University provides student-centered education and experiential learning with a foundation of liberal arts and sciences, embracing a tradition of access, exceptional teaching, and commitment to student success that significantly contributes to the development of the region and beyond. SEMO values access to high-quality, affordable education with a broadly representative student body, faculty, and staff that respects and celebrates a diverse learning community in a global society.

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