Position Description

Summary
The Executive Assistant (EA) serves as the administrative executive administrative support for APLU’s Senior Vice President Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources (SVP). As Executive Assistant to the SVP, they are responsible for coordinating a complex calendar, travel logistics, stakeholder requests, and vendor management, while also working closely with the FANR team to support the needs of the SVP. A s Senior Associate for FANR, they will provide administrative support for the Administrative Heads Section (AHS), the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA) Board of Directors, Board on Natural Resources, and the Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources (CFERR). They will provide administrative and logistical support to multiple virtual and in-person meetings each year and ensure that APLU records and files are up to date, including in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and the website. This full-time position is based in Washington, DC. The incumbent must be eligible to work in the United States, reside in DC, MD, or VA, and pass standard background checks. They are eligible for a hybrid work schedule. Some travel outside of the DMV is required. For more information, consult www.aplu.org.

Background
APLU is a membership organization that provides advocacy and support to land-grant and public research colleges and universities. fosters a community of university leaders collectively working to advance the mission of public research universities. The association’s membership consists of more than 250 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations spanning across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, six U.S. territories, Canada, and Mexico. Annually, member campuses enroll 5.4 million undergraduates and 1.5 million graduate students, award 1.5 million degrees, employ 1.4 million faculty and staff, and conduct $67 billion in university-based research.

The Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources focuses on broad cross-cutting issues related to agriculture, food, fiber, health and human sciences, natural resources, and veterinary medicine in the functional areas of research, extension and teaching.

 

The Board on Agriculture Assembly represent public and land-grant universities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Pacific territories, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its member institutions advance critical agricultural research, education, and Cooperative Extension to develop and deliver cutting-edge, cost-effective solutions that address key regional and national priorities.

 

The Administrative Heads Section (AHS) is a unit of the APLU Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources (CFERR) of the Board on Agriculture Assembly (BAA). Members of the section are the chief administrators of the APLU-member universities’ agricultural programs.

Responsibilities

  • Respond proactively to daily issues and requests to the SVP’s Office, anticipating needs, resolving conflicts, and managing competing priorities when necessary.
  • Represent the Office of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources in a professional manner by placing and responding to telephone calls, greeting visitors, drafting correspondence, etc.
  • Manage the calendar for the Senior Vice President, including anticipating schedule conflicts. Develop comprehensive background information for meetings as appropriate and provide meeting materials to the President.
  • Provide independent administrative and logistical support for the BAA Board of Directors, the Executive Committees of the AHS and CFERR, Board on Natural Resources, and the full AHS including, scheduling calls and meetings, coordinating logistics and audio-visual requirements, developing meeting budgets and collaborating with vendors, compiling and distributing meeting materials, taking notes and preparing meeting minutes, processing travel reimbursement requests, managing the website directory, etc.
  • Reconcile monthly expense reports and submit reimbursement forms.
  • Monitor contracts, corresponding as necessary with contractors to ensure timely payments and reporting.
    Prepare itineraries and arrange complex and detailed travel arrangements for the SVP, ensuring a smooth travel experience.
  • Independently maintain accurate records within APLU’s knowledge management platforms and customer relationship management systems (CRM) for the BAA Board of Directors BAA Voting Delegates, AHS and its subcomponents, BAA Assessments, agInnovation, Board on Natural Resources, and CFERR and other lists needed by the SVP.
  • Draft, review, proofread, and distribute correspondence and documents on behalf of the SVP using mass email marketing software (Marketo).
  • Maintain an organized filing system of electronic documents.
  • Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in handling sensitive information and materials.
  • Participate as an integral team member of the FANR team and APLU and contribute to a welcoming and collegial workplace.
  • Contribute to ongoing projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

-Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 3-4 years of experience providing exceptional support to senior management, strongly preferred.
-Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills that are professional, effective, and courteous. The ability to navigate relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds and at all levels, including senior level representatives from universities and federal agencies.
-Impeccable attention to detail and pride in quality of work.
-Reliable self-starter with demonstrated organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills. Ability to balance multiple, complex tasks and priorities, resolve problems, meet deadlines, and recognize potential issues and bring them to the attention of the appropriate team members.
-Demonstrated ability to work both as part of a team and independently, including taking direction from and communicating with multiple team members to keep track of activities and priorities on multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
-Experience planning and coordinating all aspects of events both virtually and in person.
-Ability to maintain a strict level of confidentiality.
-Experience and comfort working with MS Office software, CRM, Zoom, mass email marketing systems as well as the ability to learn new software. Comfort using and learning new technologies.
-Ability to travel domestically as needed.
-Passion to support the work of APLU and FANR.
-Ability to travel domestically three or more times a year (primarily within the United States), including over weekends and the Veteran’s Day holiday.

Application Instructions

To apply, please send a letter of interest and resume (preferably in one PDF document) to APLU’s Human Resources Department at resume@aplu.org with “FANR Executive Assistant” in the subject line. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by Friday, October 2, 2026. The annual salary for this position ranges from $70,000 - $80,000, depending on experience and qualifications. APLU is committed to a welcoming work environment and supports staff with a generous benefits package.

Association of Public & Land-grant Universities

Full Time

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