Operations Special Assistant

About The Kennedy Center

“I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” – President John F. Kennedy

The Kennedy Center is the nation’s cultural center and living memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Located on the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., the Center presents performances across all genres, and is also home to artistic affiliates Washington National Opera and National Symphony Orchestra. 

At the Kennedy Center, we strive to foster belonging and empowerment at work. We are able to advance our mission because of our committed and passionate employees. We are fortunate to be able to leverage their diverse perspectives, life experiences and skills to inform how our workplace can be a safe, transparent, and replenishing community. The Kennedy Center is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, or any other basis protected by law. 

Mission Statement: As America's performing arts center, and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, we are a leader for the arts across the United States and around the world, connecting the greatest living artists with audiences of every stripe, no matter their background. We welcome all Americans and creators and visitors from across the globe to discover, experience, learn about, be inspired by, and engage with the arts.

Why Join Us

We offer a total rewards package to all full-time employees to include: 

• Staff offers for discount tickets
• Retirement plan with organization matching (after 1 year of employment)
• Qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• Commuter programs including pre-tax options for discounted parking and SmartBenefits (WMATA)
• Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Personal Days available immediately upon hire
• 11 paid holidays per year 
• Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits with FSA and HSA options, and paid FMLA
• We like to have fun! Check out the Kennedy Center National Dance Day 2024 staff video!

Pay Details

The Kennedy Center strives to design equitable compensation programs. The projected salary range for this position is $61,000 - $70,000, commensurate with experience, and includes a comprehensive benefits package. This is the targeted range of possible compensation for this role at the time of posting. This range may be modified in the future. Base pay within the range is ultimately determined by a candidate’s skills, expertise, and experience as it relates to the position qualifications and responsibilities.

Job Description

The Kennedy Center is seeking an energetic, organized and proactive individual to serve as a Special Assistant to the Vice President of Operations. This person will work as part of the Operations Department and report directly to the Vice President of Operations to advance institutional priorities and initiatives, support day-to-day activities and manage high-priority departmental projects.

The ideal candidate will have experience working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and developing relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The ideal candidate should have excellent communication and organization skills and be able to exercise a high degree of initiative, tact, discretion and judgment in all work assignments. Additionally, the ideal candidate will have at least 2-3 years of experience managing projects and be extremely detail-oriented and analytical.

The Special Assistant will be responsible for coordinating and managing projects, overseeing project timelines and deliverables and ensuring smooth operations across the Kennedy Center.

Key Responsibilities

• Assists the Vice President of Operations with coordinating tasks, tracking timelines and facilitating efficient project execution.
• Oversee project timelines, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Conducts independent research on relevant topics to provide insights and supports decision-making processes.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures for project administration functions across the Operations Department, making recommendations for improvements and increased efficiency.
• Works with colleagues to consistently communicate project statuses within databases and systems, including Asana and Office 365.
• Provides administrative support for meetings, including scheduling, preparing materials, taking notes, drafting reports, memos and other written and visual presentation materials and sending out follow-up items.
• Acts as the point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, maintaining clear communication channels and managing inquiries.
• Ensures confidentiality in handling sensitive information and maintains a high level of professionalism and discretion in all interactions.
• Assists in the development of organizational strategies and initiatives.
• Gathers and analyzes information, prepares reports and presentations and provides recommendations.
• Supports the development of written content (policies, workflows, statements of work, purchase orders, etc.) and related research on behalf of the Vice President of Operations.
• Contributes strategic support to the Vice President of Operations in overseeing and implementing action items that support the Kennedy Center’s mission and vision.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher and a minimum of five years’ proven experience providing executive and personal assistance and strategic support to senior executives, preferably in a non-profit setting.

• This position requires careful attention to detail, initiative, willingness to assume responsibility, confidentiality, strong organizational skills, discretion, strategic thinking, excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a dynamic, positive, and outgoing attitude. 

• Experience working in a legislative or legislative related environment and on governmental issues and leadership development is a plus.

• Candidate must be local or willing to relocate to the DMV area. Relocation assistance is not provided. 
• Candidate must be willing to work onsite.