Job Vacancy at Purposeful – Executive Assistant
Reporting Lines: Co-Founder and co-Chief Executive Officer (Co-CEO)
Location: Freetown
Contract: Ongoing, subject to successful 6 months probation
WHO WE ARE:
Purposeful is an Africa-rooted global hub for girls’ activism. For millennia, girls have played a critical role in struggles for freedom and liberation. From Africa’s anti-colonial movements to the Arab spring to climate justice organising and everything in between, their resistance has always sparked and sustained transformational change. And yet, too often girls are separated and side-lined from resources and shut out from decision-making spaces, their power deliberately obscured and hidden from view.
Cantering the political power of young feminists across the world, we work so that girls and their allies have access to the resources, networks and platforms they need to power their activism and remake the world.
Our Ways of Being in the World - We believe that another world is not only possible, it is already being built right here and now, in the ways that girls are organising with each other, imagining with each other and pushing us all a little further towards liberation. To build the world that we imagine, a core set of values guide all that we do at Purposeful: Taking bold action; Many ways of knowing; Centering lived expertise; Deep embodiment; Cultivating radical imagination; Joy as resistance; Power in diversity; Rooted in sisterhood.
Our Power-Building Strategies - Our holistic, movement-centred approach works to support girls to live into, amplify and compound their political power. It understands girls’ power-building as holistic and political and in centering the political power of girl activists, we enter all of our work through a power-building lens: Redistributing power assets; Building collective power; Organising power holders; Transforming power structures.
Our vision - Girls are living in safety, dignity and freedom, and the world is transformed.
Our Mission - Girl activists and their allies have access to the resources, networks and platforms they need to power their activism and remake the world for themselves.
CONTEXT OF THIS ROLE:
The executive assistant plays a vital role in supporting the Co-Founder and co-chief executive officer. She/he will report to the Co-CEO. The individual will provide high level support, coordination, manage essential data and day to day scheduling, administer logistics and plan and execute events/activities. The role requires a dynamic, preferably female individual with feminist values and a wealth of experience in working with people from diverse backgrounds and managing multiple complex tasks.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Prepare meeting papers and agendas for meetings.
Coordinate and manage the calendar and schedule of the Co-CEO including calls and visitors.
Document contents and takeaways of key conversations/meetings of the Co-CEO and track follow up actions
Anticipate needs of the Co-CEO and act as gatekeeper (visitors, and sign-off documents), understanding organisational staff, advisory board directors and donor priorities.
Represent Purposeful at meetings and on behalf of the Co-CEO as and when required.
Plan team meetings, retreats including but not limited to, offsite room bookings, travel, accommodation, scheduling, presentations, catering and team building activities.
Organise other meetings led by the Co-CEO.
Manage and schedule strategic meetings, and when agreed communicate outcomes to all staff.
Proactively manage the diary and make informed judgments based on understanding complex demands and conflicting priorities.
Inform the Co-CEO of any urgent items to address and prepare him for critical calls or meetings by conducting background research and providing required documents.
Work closely with the other members of the team and key external contacts to coordinate schedules and meetings.
Create communication templates and send emails on behalf of the Co-CEO.
Handle inquiries, filter and respond to emails and messages on behalf of the Co-CEO aligning them with priorities.
Draft documents as required.
Handle all administrative tasks of the Co-CEO including travel itineraries, insurance, hotels, logistics etc including with outside partners for international missions.
Organise induction meetings with the Co-CEO for new staff.
Liaise with Purposeful operations team to ensure support for and alignment of Co-CEO needs
Serve as a liaison between staff and Co-CEO as needed
Other
Take on additional tasks as assigned.
REQUIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALITIES:
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field.
At least two-three years experience in related work/field
Excellent writing and oral communications skills in English.
Computer literacy (MS Office:WORD, EXCEL, PowerPoint, e-mail, Internet)
Ability to think strategically, set goals and objectives, and execute strategy
Ability to manage multiple tasks and work under pressure, efficient task prioritisation and time management
Proven discretion and maintaining confidentiality
Dedicated to upholding the values and approaches that define Purposeful’s work.
Committed to Purposeful’s mission and values.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Please send your CV and a cover letter to:
by 5pm on Thursday 23rd September, 2021.
For more information on Purposeful please visit the website www.wearepurposeful.org
