Title: Special Assistant
Organization: The Primary School
Type: Full-Time
Start date: Immediate
Location: East Palo Alto, CA
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Special Assistant will provide critical administrative, operational, and program support to the president and COO of The
Primary School. This role is key in ensuring the organization runs smoothly and efficiently. The Primary School is a quickly
growing organization and a strong Special Assistant will have opportunities to expand their responsibilities.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
The Primary School (TPS) is a new organization that will serve as the keystone of a collaborative model dedicated to
improving health and educational outcomes for children. Fueled by the belief that the current model of school is too limited
to close the achievement gap for our nation’s most at risk children, TPS is designing a new model of primary education and
primary care which braids together education, health, and family support services starting at birth. In doing so, the school
will expand the traditional definition of “school” in order to prepare all children to succeed in college, career, and life.
The first TPS site will open in the fall of 2016 with three cohorts of early childhood students and grow to serve grades K-5
and beyond. The model has three defining characteristics:
• Provide integrated and comprehensive services: The new school will partner with an existing health care
organization. Educators and health care professionals will provide integrated academic and health (physical,
mental, and socio-emotional) services to students and families.
• Begin serving children at birth: The school will admit students at or before birth, and will provide early childhood
supports alongside medical care during the critical years of child development, ensuring that students are schoolready by the time they enter the elementary school grades.
• Offer two-generation supports: Families will receive services, including primary care and intensive parenting
education, to help them better support their children and become healthier themselves.
In addition to our core focus on serving the children and families of East Palo Alto and Belle Haven, TPS is committed to
designing a model that is replicable in other communities. We are investing in design, research, evaluation, and
dissemination that will allow us to replicate our model and/or transfer our learnings to others.
RESPONSIBILITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
• Perform administrative tasks to support the president, including:
o Manage personal and organization-wide calendar coordination
o Schedule new appointments and maintain up-to-date information for confirmed appointments
o Transcribe, synthesize and share meeting notes and information; ensure completion of next steps
o Review and prioritize inbound communication from external stakeholders
o Organize events with high-profile external contacts
o Draft email correspondence for high priority partners and contacts
o Scan and mail documents; file and organize paper and electronic files
o Arrange major travel plans
o Track and submit expense documentation
o Manage and execute other routine administrative assignments
• Provide coordination for Board meetings
o Schedule and own end-to-end logistics of Board meetings
o Assist with development and production of Board and Board Committee meeting materials
• Assist president in prioritizing upcoming activities and tasks
o Track contacts with experts and community members and identify appropriate cadence of future meetings
o Review calendar for the week and ensure the schedule meets priorities
o Meet with TPS staff as needed to understand interests and adjust president’s schedule accordingly
PROGRAM SUPPORT
• Provide communication support
o Develop new materials for internal and external audiences
o Proofread and edit existing documents
o Brief team members for meetings by researching and synthesizing relevant background knowledge
o Track management of existing marketing and communication materials for future use
• Represent the president
o Represent the president at internal and external meeting when she is not present
o Promote the president’s priorities and needs with other staff members
• Support research and program design for elements of the health and education model
o Own discrete primary and secondary research projects related to the school and model design
o Support design of evidence-based elements of the new school model
• Other responsibilities as needed and as time permits
QUALIFICATIONS
• Highly organized and detail-oriented; able to orchestrate and manage discrete steps in line with broader strategies
• Poised and professionally mature communicator; experience with professional design platforms a bonus
• Comfort delivering high-quality work on short timelines in fast-paced, ambiguous environment
• Self-aware and self-directed; curious and humble, fast learner
• Experience in education or social sector a huge plus
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
COMPENSATION
Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience.
TO APPLY
TPS values diversity; people of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should send resume and
cover letter to [email protected]. Please put the name of the job title in the email subject line.