Special Assistant to the CEO

New York, NY
Full Time
Experienced

ABOUT US |   HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A) is an employee-owned company advising public, private, non-profit, and philanthropic clients on how to increase opportunity and advance quality of life in cities.       

We believe in creating vital places, building equitable and resilient communities, and improving people’s lives.     

From Brooklyn to London, Medellin to Hong Kong, we have guided hundreds of clients in transforming real estate and economic development concepts, and public infrastructure, first into actionable plans and then into job-producing, community-strengthening assets.      

Our clients include real estate owners and investors, hospitals and universities, cultural institutions and philanthropies, community development organizations, and governments.      

HR&A has offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Raleigh, Washington D.C and the Bay Area. We come from diverse backgrounds, have a breadth of lived experience, and share a passion for cities. We are former city officials, executive directors, planners, lawyers, architects, and economists.       

Hear more about the HR&A experience from our staff.   

Learn more about careers at HR&A on our website here.    

THE ROLE | We are seeking candidates for a Special Assistant to the CEO based in the New York City office. This person provides strategic support to maximize the CEO’s effectiveness. They will serve as a connector across the organization, working closely with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to link people, projects, and priorities. The ideal candidate is a fast learner with a service-oriented mindset, eager to take on new challenges and grow in a fast-paced consulting environment. Working closely with the CEO, the role will be a strong learning and development experience with a significant amount of responsibility. 

Administrative Support 

  • Collaborate with the CEO’s Executive Assistant to manage calendars, communications, and daily flow of work with precision and foresight.  

  • Prepare briefing materials, track follow-ups, and maintain systems that help the CEO stay ahead of priorities and operate smoothly. 

Project Management and Communications 

  • Support the CEO and Executive Leadership Team in advancing firmwide priorities and special initiatives. This includes tracking progress, surfacing issues, preparing concise materials for decision-making, and ensuring follow-through.  

  • Assist in drafting, editing, and organizing communications from the CEO, including internal updates, visuals and PowerPoint decks, external correspondence, and thought leadership content.  

  • Contribute to improving systems over time, including experimenting with new tools and AI-enabled workflows. 

Business Development Operations 

  • Help organize and advance the CEO’s business development efforts by tracking opportunities, preparing research briefs, supporting outreach and follow-up.  

Meeting Preparation 

  • Help plan and prepare for internal and external meetings, including board and leadership meetings, speaking engagements, and key events. This includes agenda development, coordination with internal teams, preparation of materials, and tracking action items. 

Special Projects 

  • As the role evolves, the Special Assistant will have opportunities to contribute to client engagements, internal firm initiatives, and emerging areas such as research and AI, aligned with both individual strengths and firm priorities. 

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED | Successful candidates bring at least 5-10 years of experience managing complex work, coordinating across teams with senior leaders, and supporting organizational priorities, along with the judgment, communication skills, and adaptability needed to succeed in this role including:  

  • Action-oriented and solution-focused. Enjoys tackling complex problems, creating practical solutions, and following through to completion. Comfortable moving between strategic thinking and hands-on execution. 

  • Intentional and systems-minded. Brings order to complexity by planning ahead, thinking systematically, and building clear, effective processes. 

  • Highly empathetic and service-oriented. Understands different perspectives, builds trust easily, and takes pride in helping others succeed. 

  • Strong communicator. An excellent listener and a clear, compelling writer and presenter, with the ability to build relationships across personalities and seniority levels. 

  • Curious. Seeks feedback, learns quickly, and brings intellectual curiosity about how organizations operate and improve. Demonstrates resilience in the face of challenge. 

  • Adaptable and composed. Stays calm as priorities shift, reorients quickly, and balances structure with flexibility in fast-changing environments. 

  • Detail-oriented and highly organized. Brings precision to work, spots errors quickly, and maintains strong organizational and time-management practices. 

  • Experienced in complex environments. Brings experience in consulting, business operations, or similar settings, with exposure to project management, executive support, or cross-functional work 

  • Comfortable with modern tools. Proficient in project management, presentation design, and productivity tools, with interest in using AI and new technologies to improve workflows. 

HYBRID WORK POLICY | HR&A fosters a collaborative and flexible work environment through our hybrid work policy. Employees work from the office at least three days a week, which allows individuals the freedom to balance their professional and personal lives while maintaining a strong connection to their teams. 

COMPENSATION | The annual base salary range for this position is between $110,000 and $130,000. This role is also eligible for a discretionary year-end bonus. Where an offer falls inside this pay range is dependent on experience.  We offer competitive compensation packages, based on qualifications and experience. We are an employee-owned company, meaning you will have the opportunity to benefit from the firm’s growth over time through participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Each year. The firm will contribute funds to this long-term wealth-building account and may make contributions to other retirement accounts. We also provide a comprehensive benefits package that goes well beyond coverage of 90-95% of healthcare premiums, including dental and vision coverage.  

HOW TO APPLY | HR&A is committed to attracting and retaining a talented, diverse, and high performing team of professionals dedicated to solving the challenges of urban life. Women, people of color, members of the LGBT community, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.     

To apply, click here. Please submit your cover letter and your resume as a single PDF document. Applications without this requested cover letter will not be reviewed.   

As part of our ongoing work to build a hiring system that mitigates bias and is based on candidate merit and performance, we ask that you submit a version of your resume and essay that has your school information removed. Please list your degree, e.g., B.A. Economics; however, remove all references to undergraduate and graduate schools you have attended.    

All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, medical condition, veteran status, or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.        

For more information, please contact us at [email protected].    

 
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