Executive Assistant to the CEO

Executive Assistant To The CEOThe Executive Assistant (EA) to the CEO is a high-trust, high-judgment role responsible for amplifying CEO effectiveness through proactive prioritization, executive preparation, meeting architecture, and disciplined follow-through. This role operates as an extension of the CEO's capacity, optimizing time allocation, ensuring decision-ready preparation, and driving accountability on "what-who-by when" commitments.The EA maintains deep working context of Sunward's strategic priorities, key initiatives, and stakeholder relationships to anticipate needs and reduce friction across the CEO's operating cadence. The role also serves as the primary owner of CEO meeting operations, board logistics/portal readiness, and executive-office coordination, aligning with Sunward's standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and values-based execution.Core Responsibilities:CEO Time Strategy, Gatekeeping, and PrioritizationMeeting Management, Decision-Ready Preparation, and Follow-ThroughBoard & Governance OperationsOrganizational Context, Intelligence, and Executive Office CoordinationTravel, External Commitments, and Executive Presence SupportExample outputs:CEO weekly time-allocation view; "triage notes" for meeting requests; protected strategy blocks; calendar architecture aligned to routines.W3 log with status; decision register; follow-through dashboard for ELT deliverables.Board Readiness Tracker (90-day calendar with R/Y/G packet status); standardized board packet/minutes workflow ensuring on-time delivery and quality control.CEO Decision Brief templates (decision-ready synthesis), and monthly risk/escalation summary highlighting declines and cross-functional friction.Travel Briefing Packet (itinerary, stakeholder context, objectives, talking points), 12-month External Engagement Calendar categorized by strategic priority, and Post-Engagement Follow-Up Log capturing commitments and ownership through completion.Required Competencies and Skills:Foresight and anticipation; initiative; autonomyCritical thinking and complex problem solvingAdvanced research, analysis, and briefing (ability to convert information into decision-ready synthesis)High-trust communication: tact, diplomacy, negotiation, emotional intelligence, sound judgmentConfidentiality and discretionOperational rigor: time management, workflow design, systems thinking, and high-detail execution qualityGovernance fluency: board packet standards, minutes discipline, portal management, policy/version controlSuccess Metrics (What "Great" Looks Like):% of CEO week aligned to top priorities (target set with CEO)Protected strategic thinking blocks achieved vs. plannedMeeting load reduced or improved (e.g., fewer low-value meetings; more decisions made per hour)Briefing packets delivered within agreed lead time (e.g., 2472 hours depending on meeting tier)W3 distribution timeliness (e.g., within 24 hours for key meetings)Follow-through closure rate by due date; escalation cycle time for overdue actionsBoard/committee materials posted one week prior (on-time rate)Minutes finalized within required timelinesGovernance policy review cadence compliance; version control accuracyCEO satisfaction with readiness and decision-quality preparationBoard/volunteer satisfaction with responsiveness and packet quality (qualitative + periodic survey)Required Qualifications:5+ years of progressively responsible executive support experience, including direct CEO or C-suite support and board-facing work.Demonstrated ability to operate with high discretion and sound judgment in sensitive environments.Advanced proficiency in modern productivity and collaboration tools (calendar systems, document management, board portals, presentation tools).Preferred:Experience in financial services/credit union governance environments; familiarity with exam/audit coordination norms.Demonstrated experience creating executive briefings, decision memos, and meeting operating systems (W3, action logs, decision registers).Education:Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and executive support experience acceptable.