{"id":8998,"date":"2025-05-28T13:58:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T13:58:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/?p=8998"},"modified":"2026-01-19T20:44:02","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T20:44:02","slug":"vacancy-executive-assistant-to-president-ceo-and-special-projects-manager","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/vacancy-executive-assistant-to-president-ceo-and-special-projects-manager\/","title":{"rendered":"Vacancy: Executive Assistant to the President & CEO; and Special Projects Manager"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Job Description: Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, JA Africa <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job Title: <\/strong>Executive Assistant to the President & CEO; and Special Projects Manager <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organization: <\/strong>JA Africa <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department:<\/strong> Office of the President & CEO <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: <\/strong>Lagos, Nigeria <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reports to: <\/strong>President and CEO, JA Africa <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About JA Africa<\/strong>: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

JA Africa is one of Africa\u2019s largest organizations working on economic development for youth. We equip young Africans with the employment and entrepreneurship skills and mindsets they need to build thriving communities. Through our work, we help shape the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and employees, who will build Africa\u2019s future. JA Africa is a member of JA Worldwide. For more information, visit https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/ <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Position Summary: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Executive Assistant and Special Projects Manager provides high-level executive and administrative support to the President and CEO of JA Africa. This role requires a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented individual who can effectively manage multiple priorities, maintain confidentiality, and exercise sound judgment. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, digital skills with knowledge of AI tools for research, organization, and productivity, and the ability to anticipate needs, solve problems, and manage projects with minimal supervision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key Responsibilities: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Executive Support: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Manage the President and CEO’s complex and dynamic calendar, including scheduling meetings, appointments, and travel arrangements, while optimizing time and prioritizing major donor deliverables. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, including Board members, senior leadership, partners, and donors, handling inquiries and requests with professionalism and discretion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Coordinate and manage travel logistics, including booking flights, visas, accommodations, and ground transportation, and developing detailed itineraries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Prepare and reconcile expense reports, ensuring accuracy and adherence to organizational policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Draft and edit correspondence, reports, and other documents, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and a professional tone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Maintain confidential files and records, ensuring security and compliance with data protection policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Anticipate the needs of the President and CEO and proactively identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve efficiency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Provide support to the Board of Directors, including coordinating meetings, preparing materials, and managing communication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Support the CEO with follow-up communication with meeting and conference attendees, and keep track of responses and deliverables \u25cf Update the newsletter mailing list with all new contacts for the President & CEO <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research and Writing: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Conduct research and gather information on various topics to support the President and CEO’s decision-making and initiatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Review the attendee list for conferences that the President & CEO has been invited to attend to identify potential partners and prepare a briefing package for her <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Prepare a weekly briefing for the President & CEO on the latest news and trending topics in the youth empowerment space, especially regarding African youth <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Research websites of major global donors to identify trending topics or requests for proposals to include in a weekly briefing for the President & CEO \u25cf Support with research for thought leadership pieces and keynote speeches <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special Project Management: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Support the President & CEO with the design of new special projects that fit the mission of JA Africa and align with goals for the current strategic cycle \u25cf Develop project proposals, including defining scope, goals, deliverables, timelines, and budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Once approved and funding received, coordinate project pilot activities, track progress, and identify and resolve any issues or roadblocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Communicate project status to the President, CEO, and other stakeholders, providing regular updates and reports. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external partners to ensure project success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Conduct research and analysis to inform project planning and decision-making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Prepare project-related documentation, including proposals, reports, and presentations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Monitor project budgets and expenses, ensuring adherence to financial guidelines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Evaluate project outcomes and identify lessons learned for future projects. \u25cf Transition the project to the Programs team once approved as an ongoing project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qualifications and Requirements: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, economics, international relations, development, or a related field. \u25cf Master\u2019s degree or project management certification preferred. \u25cf Minimum of 3-5 years of experience managing a project or providing executive-level support, preferably in a dynamic international organization. \u25cf Proven experience in project management, with a track record of successfully managing and delivering projects on time and within budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and project management software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Proficiency with AI tools, including ChatGPT and other tools for research, writing, organizing, scheduling, and maximum productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and maintain the highest level of professionalism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and analyze issues and develop effective solutions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Ability to work independently, take initiative, and exercise sound judgment. \u25cf Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities and demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Knowledge of the African business landscape and global socio-economic issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French is a desirable bonus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal Attributes: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Proactive and resourceful <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Detail-oriented and highly organized <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Strong work ethic and commitment to excellence <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Ability to maintain composure under pressure <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Positive attitude and strong team player <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf Demonstrated commitment to JA Africa\u2019s mission and values <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equal Opportunity Employer: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

JA Africa is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TO APPLY: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please send your CV and a cover letter to recruitment@ja-africa.org with the subject line \u201cApplication: EA to CEO \/ Special Projects Manager \u2013 Your Name\u201d (e.g., Application: EA to CEO \/ Special Projects Manager \u2013 Mary Johnson).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please use the following naming convention for your application documents: \u201cCV \u2013 Mary Johnson\u201d and \u201cCover Letter \u2013 Mary Johnson.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application deadline:<\/strong>  June 13, 2025, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Job Description: Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, JA Africa  Job Title: Executive Assistant to the President & CEO; and Special Projects Manager Organization: JA Africa  Department: Office of the President & CEO  Location: Lagos, Nigeria  Reports to: President and CEO, JA Africa  About JA Africa:  JA Africa is one of Africa\u2019s largest organizations …<\/p>\n

Vacancy: Executive Assistant to the President & CEO; and Special Projects Manager<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":9002,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-careers"],"acf":{"featured_alumni_video":"","year":""},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Heading-Instagram-Post-1-e1748440652153.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8998"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10345,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8998\/revisions\/10345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms.ja-africa.org\/backend\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}