Executive Assistant to Chief Executive Officer

Senior Executive Assistant to CEO | Executive Events & Operations

Washington, DC | $90,000–$125,000

Location: Washington, DC (100% Onsite, Monday–Friday)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

Salary: $90,000–$125,000 annually, depending on experience

The Opportunity

We are partnering with an established, woman-owned organization in Washington, DC, to identify an exceptional Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO .

This is not your traditional Executive Assistant position.

Our client is seeking a polished, highly resourceful, exceptionally organized professional who can serve as a true right hand to a dynamic, entrepreneurial CEO while independently managing sophisticated corporate events, executive travel, office operations, and high-level logistics.

The ideal candidate is someone who naturally thinks three steps ahead, takes ownership without waiting for direction, and has the judgment and confidence to make things happen behind the scenes.

A significant component of this position is end-to-end event planning and execution. We are specifically seeking someone who has personally owned elevated corporate events, executive retreats, VIP experiences, and complex logistics, not simply assisted an events department.

This individual will be trusted to manage the details, anticipate challenges, present solutions, and execute with an exceptional level of professionalism and care.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Support & CEO Partnership

• Serve as a trusted strategic and administrative partner to the CEO, anticipating needs and proactively managing competing priorities.
• Own complex executive calendar management, scheduling, meeting coordination, and daily prioritization.
• Prepare the CEO for meetings, presentations, conferences, and client engagements, ensuring materials, locations, logistics, and relevant information are accurate and ready.
• Manage confidential communications, executive correspondence, and sensitive information with discretion.
• Act as a professional gatekeeper and liaison between the CEO, leadership team, clients, and external stakeholders.
• Establish proactive daily communication and follow-through to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
• Build a relationship based on trust, sound judgment, initiative, and accountability.

Corporate Events, VIP Hospitality & Execution

• Independently lead the planning and execution of sophisticated corporate events, including annual galas, company celebrations, executive dinners, recognition events, incentive trips, and retreats.
• Manage the full event lifecycle: concept development, venue research, vendor selection, contracts, budgets, timelines, guest communications, logistics, onsite execution, and post-event follow-up.
• Coordinate elevated hospitality experiences with careful attention to presentation, atmosphere, service, and guest experience.
• Manage event vendors, caterers, entertainment, décor, transportation, accommodations, and event production partners.
• Develop comprehensive event timelines, checklists, run-of-show documents, contingency plans, and tracking systems.
• Coordinate philanthropic events, charity sponsorships, golf tournaments, and other executive and corporate engagements.
• Partner with internal marketing resources on event branding, invitations, collateral, and communications.
• Independently identify and resolve issues, keeping leadership informed without requiring direction on every detail.

Executive Travel & Complex Logistics

• Coordinate domestic and international executive travel, including flights, accommodations, ground transportation, dining reservations, and detailed itineraries.
• Support VIP travel, executive retreats, and group incentive trips involving multiple attendees, reservations, and moving parts.
• Anticipate travel disruptions, develop contingency plans, and resolve issues quickly.
• Create concise, polished, accurate travel documents and executive briefings.
• Experience with American Express Travel or similar corporate travel platforms is highly desirable.

Office Operations & Employee Experience

• Help oversee the daily operations and overall experience of a professional DC office.
• Coordinate office vendors, facilities, supplies, catering, employee needs, and special projects.
• Serve as a warm, approachable, solutions-oriented resource for employees and leadership.
• Maintain organized records, vendor information, event documentation, and administrative systems.
• Support executive leadership with special requests and time-sensitive projects.
• Contribute to a positive, welcoming, high-performing office culture.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience supporting a CEO, founder, president, or other senior C-suite executive in a fast-paced professional environment.
• Demonstrated experience personally leading and executing sophisticated corporate events from beginning to end.
• Strong experience coordinating complex executive travel, itineraries, meetings, and logistics.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, time management, and follow-through.
• Ability to anticipate needs, manage multiple competing priorities, and operate independently.
• Strong vendor management, contract coordination, event budgeting, and project management capabilities.
• Professional executive presence with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, emotional intelligence, and ability to navigate different personalities.
• A genuine hospitality mindset, creativity, and an eye for elevated experiences and presentation.
• Comfort working directly with a hands-on, entrepreneurial executive and earning trust over time.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Outlook, PowerPoint, and digital collaboration/document management tools.
• Willingness and ability to work 100% onsite in Washington, DC , with flexibility for occasional event-related evening or weekend commitments.

The Ideal Personality

We are looking for someone who is:

• Proactive, not reactive. You identify needs and address issues before they become problems.
• A true owner. You don't just coordinate tasks; you take responsibility for the outcome.
• Detail-obsessed. You notice what others miss and take pride in flawless execution.
• Polished but approachable. You can comfortably interact with executives, VIP guests, vendors, and employees alike.
• Resourceful and adaptable. When something changes or goes wrong, you already have a solution in motion.
• Creative and hospitality-minded. You appreciate the difference between a well-organized event and a truly memorable experience.
• Confident and collaborative. You can navigate strong personalities, communicate directly, and maintain a positive attitude.
• Service-oriented without being passive. You genuinely enjoy supporting others while bringing independent judgment and initiative.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to become an indispensable partner to a successful CEO and play a meaningful role in both executive operations and company culture.

You will have the opportunity to take ownership of high-visibility projects, create memorable experiences, build trusted relationships, and bring structure and thoughtful execution to a dynamic organization.

If you are an exceptional Executive Assistant who also thrives on owning beautiful, complex events and making the impossible look effortless, we would love to hear from you.

Our client is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics.