Sunnyside Mennonite Church

Executive Assistant, MCC Executive Office in Akron, PA
Term 3 years
Date Required Available Now


All MCC workers must have a personal Christian faith, an active church membership and a commitment to nonviolent peacemaking.

Candidates of a gender or ethnic group typically underrepresented in this type of MCC assignment are encouraged to apply.

Synopsis:
This fast-paced position offers the successful candidate an opportunity to be a participant within the central administration of Mennonite Central Committee, with its diverse constituency and its global relief/development/peace efforts.

Qualifications:
Baccalaureate degree or equivalent experience
Previous experience with MCC or other Mennonite agency preferred
Knowledge of MCC and the inter-Mennonite community
Excellent administrative, organizational and secretarial skills
Able to take initiative and to work well with minimum supervision
Willing to do limited travel
Available for overtime work, particularly before and during meetings
Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, in writing and orally
Flexible and adaptable to changing situations, including crises
Mature judgment in responding to inquiries
Ability to interact appropriately (in person, by email or phone) with a diverse constituency and other MCC offices
Ability to provide welcoming and professional environment for the Executive Office
Good computer skills, including a basic knowledge of Word Perfect and/or Word

Assignment Description:
The Executive Assistant is responsible to the MCC Executive Director, provides administrative, logistical and some secretarial support for the Executive Director and for the Director of Administration and Resources. The Executive Assistant plans for MCC executive committee meetings and for the annual meeting. This individual also takes minutes for a variety of headquarters committees. The Executive Assistant coordinates many details with other MCC offices related to travel and meeting logistics.

Duties:
A. Administrative/secretarial support for Executive Director, Director of Administration and Resources and Anti-Racism Coordinator --35%
1. Provide administrative and secretarial support including typing and editing correspondence and reports for the Executive Director, Director of Administration and Resources and Anti-Racism Coordinator
2. Represents executive office to public when other executive office staff are unavailable.
3. Manage schedules and make travel arrangements for Executive Director, Director of Administration and Resources and Anti-Racism Coordinator.
4. As requested by Executive Director and/or Executive Committee, participates in special assignments such as the Resource Generation Evaluation, the Ten Thousand Villages Evaluation and the Executive Director Search Committee.
5. At the request of the Executive Director, Director of Administration and Resources and/or Anti-Racism Coordinator, independently draft responses to inquiries and issues, collecting, researching, and analyzing on the subject matter as necessary.

B. Administrative support for the MCC Executive Office -- 35%
1. Respond to general phone and written inquiries; facilitate communications when prompt Executive Office deliberations/decisions are required
2. Interface with other MCC offices and staff both in Akron and in Canada and follow up on requests when the subject matter is not assignable to other MCC program areas.
3. Facilitate preparation and take minutes for various headquarters meetings: Executive Council, Headquarters Council, Akron Management Team, Classification Committee
4. Be alert to and advise on issues of Akron office dynamics, recommending appropriate interventions as needed
5. Process incoming mail to Executive Office, delegating to appropriate individual or department, and identifying matters of pressing importance; support receptionist as required
6. Maintain and update records and background material on MCC membership.
7. Make and coordinate travel plans of Executive Staff, the MCC Board, MCC Executive Committee, and constituents

C. Board meetings and communications -- 20%
1. Arrange for quarterly MCC Executive Committee meetings and the MCC Annual Meeting
2. Request, collect, process and distribute meeting materials
3. Coordinate logistic (transportation, lodging and meals)
4. Take minutes, circulate minutes for input, edit and distribute
5. Work closely with the local annual meeting planning committee before, during and after the meeting
6. Through a collegial collaborative working environment, maintain direct contact with Executive Directors of MCC Regional and Provincial offices and MCC Regional and Provincial board chairs in order to collect and distribute information essential to the management and administration of the organization

D. Other duties --10%
1. Maintain and work with sensitive information, including personnel and legal matters within the purview of the Executive Office, ensuring confidentiality of the material yet ensuring access to those who require it
2. Identify administrative follow-up items related to the annual cycle of meetings, planning and other agency-wide activities and bring those matters to the attention of appropriate staff
3. Other duties as assigned


Location Description:
MCC is located in Akron, Pennsylvania (population 4,500), a small town, bedroom community located about ten miles from Lancaster city (population 55,000) which is more ethnically diverse and urban in character.


Mennonite Central Committee
MCC, 21 South 12th Street, PO Box 500 Akron, PA 17501 tel: +1 (717) 859-1151 or toll free (888) 563-4676