Working Title: Executive Assistant to the President

State Role Title: General Administration Supervisor II/Coordinator II

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Office of the President Unit

Department: 100184 - President's Office

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 06/10/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

The Executive Assistant to the President provides efficient support and professional assistance to the President, Chief of Staff and administrative staff by providing administrative and clerical support and ensuring that the office exemplifies an institution of excellence.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provides executive level administrative support to the President by:
- maintaining highly confidential and sensitive information and files
- serving as a liaison with other on-and off-campus offices, agencies and constituents
- coordinating schedules and work projects/assignments with multiple administrators and offices from all areas of campus
- preparing correspondence as directed by the President
- providing review of correspondence prepared by other offices for accuracy
- preparing all budget/state forms both electronically and manually
- serving as the Procurement Officer for the Office of the President, as needed
- coordinating and arranging an extensive travel schedule for the President, to include international travel
- maintaining the President’s calendar to include scheduling of appointments and events
- working independently with minimal supervision while exercising significant initiative and independent judgement
- understanding of the President’s role, time commitments, schedule and priorities and strives to evaluate requests and inquiries to balance/prioritize the President’s time

Serves as Office Manager providing oversight to all administrative functions within the Office of the President by:
- maintaining effective and efficient office operations
- establishing, implementing and maintaining procedures to expedite the work within the Office of the President
- providing training and guidance to other office staff as needed

Serves as a resource for campus and all public inquiries coming to the President’s Office by:
- engaging with members of the campus community with the highest level of professional excellence
- maintaining a working knowledge of fundraising initiatives established and implemented by the President
- providing referrals, make recommendations for solutions, problem solve, or provide a listening ear to individuals initiating contact with the Office of the President
- understanding campus resources and diligently directs inquiries to the appropriate person and/or office with customer service as the top priority
- seeking to utilize communication skills to respectfully diffuse conversations and support resolution

Serves as liaison with legislative offices by:
- preparing correspondence as needed on behalf of the President
- coordinating and arranging meetings with members of the legislature and their staff

Serves as assistant/liaison to boards of many national associations, NCAA Committees, and various other committees that president serves on.

Coordinates off-campus presidential meetings and speaking engagements.

Qualifications:

• Significant knowledge of office management practices and procedures. Administrative experience in a higher education environment preferred.
• Computer skills to include working knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated excellent writing skills with a command of the English language and grammar usage.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of executive functions and office functions to best serve the University and the Office of the President.
• Excellent office skills including oral and written communication skills, particularly the proper use of grammar and punctuation.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public.
• Strong organizational skills to manage a highly visible office, to meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to make sound judgments, decisions and recommendations.
• Ability to take initiative.
• Ability to pay close attention to all details.
• Sound independent judgment and discretion to bring to the President’s attention matters of significance and to make decisions and recommendations.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.