Description

The Cato Institute is seeking applications for an Administrative Assistant for Development to play a critical role supporting our fundraising efforts through administrative, operational, and clerical duties. This position’s chief responsibility is to enhance the efficiency of the Vice President for Development by overseeing the VP’s scheduling, travel, deadlines, meeting materials, and coordination across the Development team. Additionally, this position will support the Chief Financial Officer as needed. Reporting to the Vice President for Development, the position will also support all members of the Development team as needed.

About Cato

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization – a think tank – dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Its scholars and analysts conduct independent, nonpartisan research on a wide range of policy issues.

Founded in 1977, Cato owes its name to Cato’s Letters, a series of essays published in 18th-century England that presented a vision of a society free from excessive government power. Those essays inspired the architects of the American Revolution. And the simple, timeless principles of that revolution – individual liberty, limited government, and free markets – turn out to be even more powerful in today’s world of global markets and unprecedented access to information than Jefferson or Madison could have imagined. Social and economic freedom is not just the best policy for a free people, it is the indispensable framework for the future.

The Cato Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Responsibilities

• Partners with Vice President for Development to increase productivity through management of VP’s calendar, internal and external priorities, deadlines, coordination across the team, and travel.
• Manages online approval systems for VP for Development’s expenses and reimbursement.
• Drafts, proofreads, tracks, and records in database VP for Development’s correspondence.
• Provides administrative, operational, and clerical support to the Development department staff.
• Light support for other members of Cato’s executive management team when needed.[MD1] 
• Coordinate with the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO to align institutional priorities with Development team priorities.
• Monitor standard operating procedures for Cato Institute’s phone line and voicemail system.[MD2] 
• Coordinates and stages meetings, to include scheduling such meetings with both internal and external parties, reserving space, and coordinating/obtaining catering if needed. 
• Trains new staff in basic functions of the department. 
• Maintains standard operating practices for the department and shares updated policies with department staff.
• Coordinates with the team to facilitate the digital and physical distribution of Cato materials, both internally and externally (i.e. books, mailers, newsletters, etc.)
• Supports department colleagues and performs additional duties as assigned.
• Works with existing Development staff to ensure Cato-wide coordination of the Institute’s efforts. 
• Answers incoming phone calls from Cato donors and other parties as needed.
• Attend weekly department meetings providing updates on ongoing projects.

Requirements

• At least three years professional work experience, ideally in an Executive or Administrative support role.
• Reliable with a strong work ethic, consistently completing tasks on time.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an enthusiastic and positive attitude.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and comfortable interacting with individuals at a high level.
• Composed, highly organized with a keen attention to detail, quality, accuracy, and customer orientation.
• Positive and professional mindset with the ability to provide superior support to the full Development team.
• Motivated self-starter who can problem solve and is proactive in learning new processes and skills. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required.

Preferred 

• Bachelor's or associate degree. 
• Knowledge of and commitment to libertarianism or classical liberalism consistent with the vision of the Cato Institute.
• Experience with Salesforce, Hubspot, or other CRM database.[MD2] [HM3] 
• Customer-service experience.