What Is a Senior Executive Assistant and How to Become One
Table of Contents
What Does a Senior Executive Assistant Do?
A senior executive assistant (EA) performs tasks that support high-level executives and members of senior management. As a senior EA, your duties include schedule management and other administrative tasks such as preparing notes for meetings and liaising with other executives’ assistants. You may set meetings for executives and help prepare presentations on their behalf. You may also manage deadlines and handle communications. As a senior-level assistant, your responsibilities may include supervising office support staff and delegating tasks to other assistants.
What Are Qualifications to Work as a Senior Executive Assistant?
To work as a senior executive assistant, you typically need a bachelor’s degree and several years of experience as an executive assistant, secretary, or administrative assistant. You may wish to pursue a degree in business, management, or business administration or a postsecondary certificate from a secretarial program. Some companies may offer internship opportunities to students in an associate or bachelor’s degree program who want to gain experience as a junior-level executive assistant. Additional qualifications for the position include excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, as well as computer literacy and attention to detail.
Senior Executive Assistant Job Description Sample
With this Senior Executive Assistant job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Senior Executive Assistant role.
Job Summary
We are seeking a highly motivated, talented individual to join our company as a Senior Executive Assistant. In this fast-paced role, you will support a high-level company executive, managing their calendar, assisting with travel arrangements, and maximizing the efficiency of their schedule. You will coordinate travel arrangements for the executive (and occasionally the executive's family); balance business, personal, and charitable events; and coordinate with private drivers and home staff to ensure smooth transitions between events and locations. This position requires a detail-oriented personality, and our ideal candidate has at least five years of experience as an executive assistant.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage a complex schedule for a busy senior executive, avoiding conflicts and minimizing downtime
- Coordinate travel and transportation for the executive and family
- Liaise with private drivers and house staff to ensure smooth processes
- Handle confidential material and send and receive items via courier
- Coordinate family activities and downtime to ensure good work/life balance
Requirements and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- Five years of experience as an executive assistant, or commensurate experience in a fast-paced guest services role
- Superb problem-solving, organizational, and multitasking skills
- Discretion and ability to maintain the confidentiality of communications and documents
