For 50 years, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has been at the forefront of engaging leaders, policymakers, professionals, parents, and caregivers around critical and timely issues that directly impact Black children and families. We are a trusted partner in delivering culturally relevant resources that respond to the unique strengths and needs of Black children around issues, including early childhood education, health and wellness, literacy, family engagement, and child welfare. With the support of our National Affiliate Network, we are committed to our mission “to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and families through education and advocacy.”
Position
The Administrative Assistant provides administrative and clerical support for the Executive Director. This position will support various main office functions including preparing correspondence, answering phones, monitoring office inventory and ordering supplies, maintaining calendars, and various other assignments as needed.
Primary Responsibilities
- Provides administrative support to ensure efficient operation of the office.
- Answers phone calls, schedules meetings and supports visitors.
- Carries out administrative duties such as filing, typing, copying, binding, scanning, etc.
- Completes operational requirements by scheduling and assigning administrative projects and expediting work results.
- Makes travel arrangements for senior staff such as booking flights, cars, and hotel or restaurant reservations.
- Exhibits polite and professional communication via phone, e-mail, and mail.
- Supports team by performing tasks related to organization and strong communication.
- Develops administrative staff by providing information, educational opportunities, and experiential growth opportunities.
- Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
- Provides information by answering questions and requests.
- Maintains supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies.
- Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
Qualifications
With a strong and demonstrated commitment to NBCDI’s mission and vision, the administrative assistant will be a strategic, diligent, and results-oriented professional with a high level of programmatic expertise, flexibility, creativity, and innovation. They will also have:
- Passion to lift up and address issues related to educational inequality and access to opportunities in life.
- Courage to engage families in person or over the phone who may be experiencing personal stress or in turmoil.
- Confidence to effectively communicate basic learning and technology concepts to adults and children.
- Dependable – Being there for families and children when they need you!
- Exemplary communication skills to communicate clearly with BCDI and the family groups in need of support.
- Must be fully knowledgeable and committed to Covid-19 protocols to ensure the safety of the children, colleagues, and families.
- Communicate scheduling needs and availability accurately and in a timely manner.
- Ability to lift up to 25lbs to set up family literacy events (tables, chairs, posters, collateral material, etc.)
- Have fun! Families and children are excited to work with you, and you will learn more about our community
through their eyes; this is truly a reciprocal partnership.
- Experience in maternal and child health, early childhood education, and family engagement while possessing strong knowledge and insight into the learning and development of newborns, infants, and toddlers across the prenatal to grade three (PN-3) continuum is strongly preferred.
Additional Qualifications
- Reporting Skills
- Administrative Writing Skills
- Microsoft Office Skills
- Managing Processes
- Organization
- Analyzing Information
- Professionalism
- Problem Solving
- Supply Management
- Inventory Control
- Verbal Communication
- Education and Experience Requirements
- A high school diploma or equivalent education required
- 3 years of administrative assistant experience
- Knowledge of appropriate software including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Adobe Acrobat
- Valid driver’s license and current automobile insurance
- Experience with program development, implementation, and evaluation, preferably including direct service experience with Black families with children (birth to age eight).
- Experience developing and implementing program training systems and processes.
- An unwavering commitment to excellence and solutions-based, outcomes-driven strategies with strong problem-solving skills.
- A high comfort level with issues regarding race, culture, and class.
- A strong commitment to strengths-based, culturally responsive practices and approaches that support and advance Black children, families, and communities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- A demonstrated ability to successfully partner and communicate with diverse groups, including external partners and funders (including national, state, and local corporations and organizations), NBCDI Affiliate leaders and members, families, educators, school administrators, policymakers, and advocates, other community stakeholders, and NBCDI staff.