Special Assistant

About KID Museum

KID Museum is the nation’s leading educational makerspace for youth. Our mission is to revolutionize how kids learn through the maker experience. Through hands-on programming and deep learning experiences, we empower youth with the creative problem-solving and STEM skills to invent the future. With a focus on engaging populations traditionally underrepresented in STEM, our programs aim to build economic opportunity and diversify the future talent pipeline.

Our vision is to become the standard of excellence for inclusive, impactful maker learning nationally, and a model for how to expand access to maker learning at scale. Our headquarters in the Washington, DC region serves as our innovation hub. In partnership with local school systems, government and philanthropic leaders, we design and deliver K-12 programs that produce results at scale in a large and diverse metropolitan region. We leverage the learnings from this learning lab to create resources, training, and technical support to expand high-impact maker learning nationally. For more information, please visit www.kid-museum.org.

Position Overview

KID Museum is seeking a Special Assistant who will support the Executive Director (ED), Managing Director, and other senior leaders to achieve KID’s strategic and growth goals. The Special Assistant will report directly to the Managing Director of Strategy and Planning and will lead a range of projects focused on fundraising, partnership engagement, and other growth strategy goals.

The ideal candidate is collaborative, curious, efficient, detail-oriented and thrives in a fast-paced role. An individual in this role will be exposed to a wide range of responsibilities related to nonprofit management, executive leadership, fundraising, and strategy. The Special Assistant will be able to prioritize effectively, act quickly, work independently, and maintain confidentiality. The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience. Experience or interest in education innovation and maker/STEM fields is a plus. Successful candidates are likely early-career professionals interested in learning the inner workings of a growing nonprofit organization and being mentored by senior leaders to develop skills in nonprofit management, written communications, nonprofit fundraising, and related areas.

Essential Job Functions

• Manage special projects as assigned by the Managing Director and/or Executive Director. Special projects will include, but will not be limited to, research, drafting project plans and communications, event planning, and other initiatives.
• Liaise with the development department to support the management of the ED’s fundraising portfolio, including drafting materials, meeting prep and logistics, preparing briefing materials, taking notes, recording actions in the database, etc.
• Provide support for grant management functions as needed; draft and submit routine funding and proposals and reports as needed.
• Manage the Executive Director’s schedule and calendar, prioritizing time according to the organizational priorities. Strategically respond to and prioritize the high-volume demand for the ED’s time, ensuring that the ED focuses on the most impactful areas to drive organizational growth and impact.
• Support logistical planning and content development for internal and external meetings and presentations, including invitations, reminders, catering, room or video conferencing set-up and follow-up.
• Take accurate minutes and/or notes during meetings as assigned. Compile and organize finalized minutes, notes, and follow up tasks, ensuring all information is accurately captured and organized in an orderly and timely manner.
• Support the scheduling and routine communications with the Board of Directors.
• Keep track of and electronically file documents as requested.
• Other administrative duties, including coordinating activities, information, and communication between teams and outside parties.
• Successfully complete other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Mastery of standard office procedures, software, and communications technology. Ability to effectively and efficiently use Microsoft Office, Google Suite, etc.
• Excellent organizational, time management and project management skills; experience with project management software a plus
• High level of personal initiative, resourcefulness and sound judgment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, demonstrating professionalism and diplomacy in all interactions internally and externally.
• High degree of discretion and ability to build relationships with diverse groups.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks with excellent attention to detail and customer/client service.

Diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion are important, interdependent components of everyday life at KID Museum and are critical to our pursuit of excellence. KID Museum is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sex, ancestry, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, veteran status, or military status.