ACLU of Louisiana is hiring: Executive Assistant in New Orleans

Executive Assistant

ABOUT THE ACLU OF LOUISIANA

At the ACLU of Louisiana, we envision an equitable Louisiana that upholds the rights, dignity, and safety of all people and courageously acknowledges and endeavors to repair historical injustice that continues to harm marginalized communities. Our team seeks to protect the civil rights and civil liberties of all Louisianians by working to dismantle systems of oppression that harm the most vulnerable members of the community, specifically Black, Brown, Immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities.

Our work reflects the ideals of peace, justice, and love.

We fight for change through a vigorous legal, policy, and community-centered strategy dedicated to ending white supremacist policy and law. We are engineers for real social change. We steep ourselves in a thorough understanding of Louisiana and American history to free ourselves of bias and ignorance.

It has been said that the fight for civil liberties never stays won; as cynical as that may sound, the ACLU of Louisiana remains confident that we—and justice—will prevail.

Our team members are deeply passionate about doing the work and embodying the values of our organization each day. We invite individuals who have experience in and share our passion for social justice to join our team.

Position Overview

The Executive Assistant provides high-level administrative support to the Executive Director. This role serves as a bridge between the Executive Director and staff, board, and external partners, ensuring information flows clearly and efficiently. The Executive Assistant manages executive scheduling, prepares materials, supports board-related logistics on behalf of the Executive Director, and coordinates special projects. The position is central to maintaining a professional, collaborative, and well-organized environment that enables the Executive Director and the organization to operate effectively.

Key responsibilities

The Opportunity

Executive Support

• Serve as the primary liaison for the Executive Director with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clear, timely, and professional communication.
• Manage a dynamic calendar of meetings, speaking engagements, travel, and events, aligning priorities with organizational goals.
• Prepare the Executive Director for meetings in collaboration with senior leaders by developing agendas, briefing materials, research, and talking points.
• Ensure the Executive Director is fully equipped to participate in meetings and events, with logistics and follow-up actions clearly organized.
• Develop, edit, and polish correspondence, reports, presentations, and other communications to effectively support the Executive Director’s priorities.
• Maintain and update the Executive Director’s bio, organizational documents, and talking points in coordination with the Communications Director.
• Coordinate the Executive Director’s participation in internal and external events by securing materials, context, and support.
• Track action items and drive follow-through across teams to ensure accountability and timely completion.
• Handle highly sensitive information with discretion, exercising sound judgment and maintaining confidentiality.
• Coordinate all aspects of travel, including itineraries, expense tracking, reimbursements, and reconciliation.
• Anticipate needs and proactively identify solutions to maximize the Executive Director’s effectiveness.

Operations & Administration

• Coordinate internal meetings, staff gatherings, and organizational events to foster smooth operations.
• Manage shared calendars and organization-wide scheduling to ensure alignment across teams.
• Contribute to the smooth functioning of internal systems and office operations by supporting processes and vendor coordination as assigned.
• Oversee basic office needs, including mail, supplies, and vendor communication, to maintain an efficient work environment.

Communications & Culture

• Draft internal communications such as staff updates, reminders, and logistical notices on behalf of the Executive Director.
• Plan and coordinate culture-building initiatives, including retreats, celebrations, and staff recognition activities.

Board Support

• Support the Executive Director’s work with the Board by coordinating scheduling, logistics, and communication needs.
• Prepare and organize materials to ensure the Executive Director is ready for board engagement.

Project & Cross-Team Support

• Manage special projects and initiatives as assigned by the Executive Director.
• Serve as a bridge across departments to ensure information flows clearly and consistently to and from the Executive Director.

To Be Successful in This Role, You Bring:

• Education: A bachelor’s degree required; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Experience: 3–5 years providing executive-level administrative support, ideally in a nonprofit or mission-driven environment.
• Organization and Coordination: Exceptional ability to manage multiple priorities, anticipate needs, and keep complex schedules and projects on track.
• Communication Skills: Strong writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with a knack for producing clear and professional materials.
• Discretion and Judgment: A proven ability to handle sensitive information with professionalism, tact, and confidentiality.
• Technical Proficiency: Comfort with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Zoom, and other productivity or project management platforms.
• Collaboration: A service-oriented approach and the ability to work effectively across teams, supporting leadership while fostering a collaborative environment.
• Flexibility: Willingness to occasionally support early morning, evening, or weekend events in service of organizational needs.

Schedule

This position follows a hybrid work schedule. The Executive Assistant must reside within commuting distance of downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, and be available for in-person work as needed to support the Executive Director and organizational priorities.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is $50,000 to $65,000, based on experience.

Excellent benefits include vacation, sick leave, family leave, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance with all premiums 100% paid for the employee and health insurance premiums 100% paid for the employee and children, an employer-funded HRA plan, a 401k contribution and match, and paid parking.

What Else You Should Know

You are welcome here! The ACLU of Louisiana is proud to provide a workplace environment that reflects and respects the diverse communities we serve. We value equity, inclusion, and belonging in all aspects of our work.

We strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, prior criminal conviction, or veteran status. The ACLU of Louisiana is an equal opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce and inclusive culture.

This job description provides a general overview of key responsibilities and qualifications. It is not intended as a contract of employment. The ACLU of Louisiana reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to adjust this posting at any time without advance notice.

Job Title: Executive Assistant
Employment Status: Full-Time
Reports To: Executive Director
FLSA Classification: Exempt