PROGRAMS OPERATIONS & EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

About the Role:

The Mercatus Center seeks a bright and motivated Operations Associate & Executive Assistant to join the Research & Programs team. As the primary executive support for the Senior Vice President of Research and programs, you will provide comprehensive administrative and strategic assistance, managing complex schedules, coordinating communications, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.

In addition to executive support, you will contribute to programmatic activities across the team, including event preparation, project logistics, and a wide range of administrative tasks. This role requires exceptional organizational skills, proactive problem-solving, and discretion when handling sensitive information. The ideal candidate communicates effectively with stakeholders at all levels, manages competing priorities with ease, and demonstrates a strong commitment to the mission of the Mercatus Center.

You’ll also have the opportunity to develop your professional skillset and work toward your own career goals. The team encourages advancement through university courses at George Mason University and other professional development opportunities; this is a great position and team environment for someone interested in pursuing an advanced degree.

This position reports to the Program Manager at Research & Programs and works primarily at the office on the Fairfax, VA campus, with frequent visits to the Arlington, VA campus.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Administrative Support: Manage the Senior VP's calendars, including scheduling meetings, appointments, and making travel arrangements. Ensure the Senior VP is well-prepared for all engagements by providing timely and accurate information.
• Communication Management: Serve as a point of contact between the Senior VP and internal/external stakeholders. Draft, review, and send communications on behalf of the Senior VP. Handle confidential information with discretion.
• Meeting Coordination: Organize and coordinate meetings, including agenda preparation, document distribution, and logistics as needed. Take minutes and follow up on action items as necessary.
• Project Management: Assist in the planning and execution of team-wide projects, programs, and events. Track progress, coordinate with team members, and report updates to the Senior VP.
• Research and Reporting: Conduct research on topics related to the team's goals and prepare reports, presentations, and briefs to support decision-making.
• Financial Management: Assist with budget preparation and monitoring. Process expense reports and invoices, ensuring compliance with organizational policies.
• Provide administrative support for talent programs, including staffing events (which includes evening and weekend events) and preparing materials, assisting with recruiting efforts, and helping with the scheduling and administrative needs of program leads and scholars. 
• Contribute to office management for the Fairfax office by sharing reception desk duties and assisting in day-to-day operations, including facilities maintenance, office and kitchen supply inventory, and presenting a professional office appearance.
• Assist with creating content and publications, including website copy, social media posts, and podcasts, as well as copyediting manuscripts, journal articles, and other research products.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• 1-2 years of experience in a professional staff support role
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency with MS Office
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and balance multiple short- and long-term projects
• Ability to show initiative and creativity in improving regular processes and in developing new ones
• Effective communicator
• Strong writing and editing skills
• Ability to handle sensitive information with integrity and confidentiality
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities
• Interest in economics, classical liberalism, and public policy

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1-2 years of experience in an executive support role, preferably in a nonprofit environment
• Experience in content creation (web, social media, podcasts, etc.)
• Experience in copyediting

How to Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:

• Cover letter including:
  • An introductory paragraph(s) describing three distinct reasons you are drawn to Mercatus’s mission and how you came to those beliefs
  • Salary requirements
• Resume

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/

Questions can be directed to Savannah Murphy, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: Savannah@talentmarket.org.

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.

EEO Statement: We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Employee Benefits: Salary is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. In addition, Mercatus provides excellent benefits to all individual employees, including full health and dental coverage, flexible spending accounts, long-term disability and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement savings program, parking/travel benefits, and twelve free credits per year at George Mason University.
About the Mercatus Center at George Mason University: For over 40 years, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University has been the world’s premier university source for market-oriented ideas—bridging the gap between academic ideas and real-world problems. A university-based research center, Mercatus works to advance knowledge about how markets work to improve our lives by training graduate students, conducting research, and applying sound economics to offer solutions to society’s most pressing problems.