Steele Recruiting, LLC is an executive Administrative Assistant Retained Search firm located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, specializing in Executive Administrative Assistant, Chiefs of Staff, and Personal Assistant placements for C-Suite and Senior Leadership Executives across the United States. With over 20 years in recruitment, we have a solid reputation for quality placements, professionalism, and maintaining confidentiality for every client and candidate.
We are currently partnering with our trusted nonprofit client Temple Israel, located in the beautiful east Lake of the Isles community in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a Senior Executive Assistant to the Executive Director position.
Temple Israel is an urban congregation dedicated to serving a diverse community. Temple Israel was the first synagogue established in Minneapolis and is now one of the ten largest congregations in the United States.
The Role
The Senior Executive Assistant to the Executive Director will play a pivotal role in providing high-level administrative right-hand support to the Executive Director of Temple Israel and additionally the Co-Executive Director/Strategic Advancement. This individual will serve as a trusted liaison to leadership and a strategic partner in ensuring seamless organizational operations. Additionally, they will act as an administrative mentor and leader to the administrative team, fostering cohesion, growth, and a culture of continuous learning.
Temple Israel, the largest and oldest Reform Jewish congregation in Minneapolis, is at the heart of a vibrant, community-oriented environment. The successful candidate will interact with a diverse array of individuals, including community leaders, donors, the Board of Directors, those seeking counseling or pastoral care, and various stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide comprehensive administrative support to the Executive Director (70%), and Co-Executive Director/Advancement (30%), managing schedules, correspondence, and priorities with efficiency and discretion.
- Act as a strategic liaison to senior leadership, facilitating communication and ensuring alignment across key initiatives.
- Proactively anticipate needs, manage end-to-end projects, and adapt to shifting priorities with tactical flexibility while maintaining a strategic outlook.
- Handle sensitive information with utmost confidentiality and professionalism.
- Serve as a reliable resource for coordination and communication, fostering positive relationships within and outside the organization.
Executive Support: Serve as the primary administrative confidant to the Executive Director, with additional support for the Co-Executive Director/Strategic Advancement.
Calendar Management: Oversee the Executive Directors’ complex professional calendars, balancing competing priorities to ensure their time—and that of other executive staff members—is used strategically. Ensure all parties are adequately prepared for meetings.
Travel Management: Arrange domestic travel, including flights, hotels, and ground transportation. Providing detailed, door-to-door itineraries to ensure seamless travel experiences.
Communication: Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create and proofread high-quality materials.
Act as the main liaison for the Executive Directors’ office, triaging and responding to requests promptly to provide excellent customer service. Redirect requests to appropriate departments or team members as needed.
Confidentiality: Handle sensitive and proprietary information with discretion. Ensure appropriate sharing of information within the organization and guide peers on confidentiality standards.
Operational Efficiency: Develop and maintain systems and processes that ensure the efficient day-to-day operations of the Executive Directors’ office. Proactively identify opportunities for improvement.
Project Management: Assist the Executive Directors with managing large-scale special projects and ensuring follow-up on key tasks. Lead or assist in planning internal events, Galas speaking events.
Board Management: Coordinate and manage all aspects of board meetings for the 18-member board, including scheduling, preparing agendas, recording and distributing detailed minutes, arranging catering, and ensuring smooth logistical execution to support productive and efficient meetings.
Leadership: Mentor the administrative support team to deliver exceptional assistance to leadership across all departments. Provide opportunities for professional development and continuous learning to foster a collaborative, high-performing organizational culture that emphasizes excellence, growth, and teamwork.
Core Competencies:
- Exceptional Communication: Possess outstanding written and verbal communication skills. Must be comfortable communicating professionally by phone, email, and in person, including confirming appointments by phone. Provide a warm and welcoming experience for congregants, visitors, and stakeholders when interacting in person, over the phone, or via email.
- Proactive Mindset: Anticipate and address potential issues before they arise by creating systems and processes that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Executive Directors.
- Proofreading and Accuracy: High attention to detail and accuracy and proofreading skills
- Strong Organizational Skills: Proven ability to accurately manage complex schedules, meeting logistics, and travel arrangements.
- Judgment and Discretion: Exercise excellent judgment, discretion, and problem-solving skills, particularly when handling sensitive information.
- Prioritization: Effectively juggle multiple priorities, knowing when to take initiative and when to seek guidance.
- Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in MS Office Suite; basic proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM systems preferred. Ability to learn and adapt to new technologies with ease.
- Versatile Work Style: Equally comfortable owning and managing large projects as performing hands-on tasks such as data entry or preparing and tidying meeting spaces.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Comfortable working in and respectful of the synagogue environment, including its culture and values.
What makes this opportunity unique?
Temple Israel is an organization where teamwork and mutual support create a positive impact on the community and the lives they touch. Their team consists of kind, caring, and dedicated individuals who trust and value one another, fostering a happy and collaborative work environment.
You will support an established professional and dynamic Executive Director who deeply values the exceptional contributions of an Executive Assistant. As a trusted administrative right-hand partner, you will collaborate closely with her and the Co-ED to drive the organization forward into an exciting new era and future direction. The organization is warm and welcoming.
In this role, you’ll interact with individuals seeking assistance or guidance, becoming a vital point of connection for their community. If you're a lifelong learner with an interest in religion, you’ll have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge and appreciation for the meaningful work they do and the profound impact they have in their community
Temple Israel is a welcoming community that embraces diversity and fosters mutual respect for all. Inspired by Jewish wisdom. Navigating and improving our ever-changing world.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of progressive Executive Assistant experience supporting C-suite executives, Presidents, CEO, or similar
- Experience supporting and interacting with a board of directors, including meeting minutes, communication, and logistics
- Strong analytical and organizational skills with high attention to detail and accuracy
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proven ability to work independently, proactively, and creatively while exercising sound judgment and discretion on confidential matters
- Experience owning and managing projects to completion
- Ability to work under pressure at times to handle a wide variety of activities with shifting priorities
- Leadership experience qualities to help mentor a team of administrative professionals
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Teams, and other relevant software, and ability to learn new technologies
- Basic knowledge of CRM such as Salesforce preferred.
- An appreciation of the Jewish faith. You do not need to be of the Jewish faith to apply for this role. The team is diverse, with approximately 50% Christian and 50% Jewish members, reflecting an inclusive and welcoming organizational culture.
Preferred Experience/Qualifications:
- A college degree
- Experience in a nonprofit or religious entity
Benefits:
- Highly competitive Executive Assistant compensation
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
- Life and AD&D Insurance (Employer-provided)
- Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Plan, with 4% match
- Very Generous vacation and sick time
- 3 personal days
- 16 paid holidays
- This is an in-office position, with some flexibility as needed
Childcare Education and Camp Discounts:
- 75% tuition reduction at Temple Israel onsite early childhood, preschool, and external camp programs
Temple Israel is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
