ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Bernard van Leer Foundation is an independent Dutch organisation working worldwide to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a good start in life. We inspire and inform largescale action that improves the health and wellbeing of young children – especially the most vulnerable – and the people who care for them

THE POSITION

The Executive Assistant supports the CEO across a wide portfolio including engagement with strategic external stakeholders and internal stakeholders including the Board of Trustees, the management team and the communications team. Our ideal candidate is detail-focused, a fast learner, and enjoys working in an agile environment. They need to be confident helping the CEO engage with senior individuals and partners as well as collaborative and team-oriented with internal colleagues.

This role also provides direct assistance to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and to several of the Board committees.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Administrative support to the CEO

• Maintains CEO agenda including scheduling calls and meetings

• Drafts correspondence from the CEO

• Joins key internal and external meetings and writes summaries of main points

• Prepares logistics and itineraries for CEO travel and processes expense claims

• Manages the administration of grants and contracts held by CEO

• Supports CEO in documentation of stakeholder management activities

 Administrative support to the Board of Trustees

• Supports the CEO to develop materials for the Board including: quarterly meetings, field trips, committees and other ad-hoc briefings

• Organizes the Board and Board committee calendars

• Take minutes of meetings of the Board of Trustees

• Provides direct support to the Chair of the Board and other trustees as needed

Research, writing and project management support to the CEO

• Conducts web-based research tasks and summarizes findings upon request

• Provides proofreading and formatting support for CEO communications

• Prepares documentation of grants and contracts submitted by the CEO

• Manages special projects on behalf of the CEO

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Bachelor’s degree in business, social sciences or other relevant field or equivalent professional experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive professional experience.

• Excellent planning and organisation skills and able to meet deadlines

• A quick thinker who is agile and able to work with competing priorities.

• Well-developed emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, self-management, and empathy

• Able to manage sensitive information with confidentiality and care

• Outstanding communications and teamwork skills across different time-zones and cultures

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and a fast learner of other digital toolsa

• Takes initiative to provide support and improve systems and processes

• Working knowledge of basic budget and accounting procedures

• Experience working with or within philanthropic foundations is a plus

• Interest in and passion for the mission of the Foundation

 Languages

• Fluent English, both speaking and writing

• Proficiency with other languages used in our work is desirable such as Arabic, Dutch, Hebrew, Portuguese or Spanish.