Executive Assistant and Government Relations Specialist

Organization & Job Summary

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), the Washington, DC-based trade association representing the 35,000 company, $8.2 trillion revenue distribution industry, is seeking a highly organized, proactive professional, who can manage sensitive information with discretion.

The Executive Assistant & Government Relations Specialist will have two primary areas of responsibility. The first is to provide executive-level support to NAW’s CEO, ensuring seamless day-to-day operations and optimizing efficiency. The second is to support NAW’s government relations efforts by assisting with events, member communications, reporting, and compliance. This role reports directly to the CEO, with an indirect reporting line to the Chief Government Officer.

This dual-role position is critical to ensuring NAW’s leadership operates effectively while also advancing the association’s advocacy priorities. The Executive Assistant & Government Relations Specialist will act as a trusted point of contact internally and externally, helping the CEO to effectively lead the association and the government relations team to achieve its advocacy objectives. 

Essential Job Responsibilities

· Support the CEO: Effectively manage the CEO’s time by handling all scheduling, travel, technology, and expense related duties. Organize and manage daily tasks, provide managerial direction to key staff members in alignment with the CEO’s objectives, and optimize the operations related to the CEO to maximize efficiency.

· Coordinate and manage the working relationship between the Board of Directors and the CEO, including scheduling monthly meetings with the chair, and coordinating reports, schedules, and logistics for each of the Board meetings.

·  Serve as a liaison to philanthropic partners, supporting fundraising and engagement efforts for nonprofit organizations on which the CEO serves as a board member.

· Coordinate and manage the Summer Internship Program, including candidate screening, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and ongoing intern supervision.

· Draft, track, and support management of the Executive Department budget, including forecasting and coordination with Finance as needed.

·  Facilitate communication between the CEO and NAW members, helping the CEO to maximize time spent engaging with members and key stakeholders.

·Assist the communications team in all things related to CEO communication, including organizing speaking events, monitoring and updating social media, gathering data and research to inform speeches and interviews.

· Support the government relations team in the areas of events, compliance, member communication and more.

Requirements: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required to successfully perform the job as well as the education and experience requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Ability to follow schedules and prioritize to meet deadlines and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Strong interpersonal skills, exhibits a positive attitude and a professional demeanor

·   Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to articulate and demonstrate the unique value proposition that NAW provides to distribution industry leaders

• Exceptional customer service skills, a focused listener

·      Ability to work with creativity and flexibility in a fast-paced environment

·      Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders

·      Ability to create new processes and demonstrate sound judgment

·      Exhibits a high degree of personal initiative

Education and Experience:

·      Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience considered

·      3 years of executive assistant, or in a similar administrative role supporting senior leadership, required

Other Requirements:

·      Experience presenting to and interacting with senior level executive, required

·      Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; knowledge of SalesForce, and NetForum, and/or Pardot, desirable

·      Knowledge of the distribution industry, desirable

Work Environment: The position is based at NAW’s headquarters office in Washington, DC, near Metro Center. NAW is currently offering a hybrid work model. Employees are required to be in the office Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and upon request for mandatory meetings or events. Employees are provided the opportunity to work remotely on Monday and Friday. The hybrid work model is subject to change

Travel: up to 10%

Experience level and other factors will determine the final salary level, with a starting base salary range of $70,000–$78,000/year.

The position also offers competitive benefits, including health and wellness coverage, a 401(k) plan, and other benefits for eligible employees.

• Apply on the NAW website: https://www.naw.org/about/jobs/