Description

THE W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), an international foundation headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan with regional offices in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Mexico City is a leading philanthropic institution that supports thriving children, working families, equitable communities, and the dynamic connections among them. The New Mexico office in Albuquerque collaborates with grantee organizations, communities, and other stakeholders throughout New Mexico.

“The W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families, and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger community and society.”

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Senior Executive Assistant (SEA) serves as a strategic administrative partner to the Director of New Mexico Programs. The SEA is the essential “engine” of the New Mexico office, managing scheduling and administration for the Director, providing support and facilitation for the regional team, and serving as the office representative for visitors and grantees. The SEA is both a strategic and hands-on leader ensuring operational excellence and facilities management, seamless leadership and team support, and high-touch coordination with grantee partners and the Battle Creek headquarters. The ideal candidate brings a relational mindset and technical savvy to navigate complex nonprofit and philanthropic relationships and systems with clarity and care.

Responsibilities
Strategic Executive Partnership: Act as a high-level partner to the Director, managing the complexities of their schedule and priorities to ensure the office remains focused on its mission-critical work.

• Calendar and Priority Orchestration: Manage complex calendars and scheduling across internal and external stakeholders, proactively flagging conflicts and shifting timelines.
• Travel and Logistics: Design and execute end-to-end travel arrangements and itineraries, ensuring all logistics and expense processing are handled with precision.
• Workflow Systems: Maintain organized systems for contact management, meeting cadence, and administrative workflow to ensure leadership continuity.

Meeting Excellence and Synthesis: Oversee the full lifecycle of internal and external engagements, ensuring the Director is fully briefed and that every meeting results in clear outcomes and next steps.

• Briefing and preparation: Develop high-quality meeting materials, agendas, and briefing packets; research and supply pertinent background information for key events.
• Active Participation: Join key meetings to capture core themes and trends, synthesizing complex discussions into concise, actionable summary products for the team.
• Action Tracking: Manage post-meeting follow-through by developing action plans and project timelines, ensuring accountability across the New Mexico leadership team.

Office Operation and Stewardship: Lead the day-to-day operations of the office to foster a professional, productive, and culturally responsive environment.

• Physical Workspace Management: Oversee office procurement, vendor relationships, meal coordination, and equipment maintenance to ensure a high-functioning workspace.
• Local Presence: Anchor the office environment with a consistent presence (typically 2-3 days per week, more if needed), serving as the primary point of contact for visitors and new hires.
• Operational Budgeting: Support the place-based office with budget planning, contract assistance, and general administrative project management.

Stakeholder Engagement and Liaison: Serve as a professional representative of the foundation, welcoming partners and grantees to the New Mexico office and coordinating effectively with other WKKF offices while maintaining the highest standards of discretion.

• Relationship Management: Build and maintain trust-based relationships with staff, external partners, community leaders, and dignitaries.
• Strategic Communications: Respond to internal and external inquiries on behalf of the Director; draft and edit letters, speeches, and funding documents.
• Confidentiality: Handle highly sensitive information concerning personnel and strategic planning with absolute integrity and discretion.

Requirements

CANDIDATE PROFILE
While no candidate is expected to have all of the desired qualifications, strong applicants will have a track record of successful and relevant professional experience and a demonstrated commitment to the values and mission of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Ideal candidates will have:

Professional Experience

• Background: Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of executive support experience (or 8+ years of experience with some college/equivalent).
• Sector Knowledge: Previous experience in the nonprofit or philanthropic sector is highly preferred.
• Cultural Fluency: Experience working effectively with diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds; a strong preference for bilingual (English/Spanish) candidates or those with Indigenous language skills.

Technical Skills and Competencies

• System Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, databases, and experience with automated accounting systems (SAP preferred).
• Editorial: Strong ability to draft, edit, and synthesize complex information into clear, professional communications.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple moving parts, from event logistics to long-term project tracking.

Personal Attributes

• System Thinker: Ability to see how administrative tasks connect to the broader mission and "bring people together" through organized processes.
• Agility: a curious mindset with the ability to thrive in a remote/hybrid environment and pivot quickly as priorities shift.
• Values Alignment: Deep commitment to racial equity, community-led change, and the core DNA of W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Compensation and Impact

• Salary Range: $75,200 – $94,000 (Commensurate with experience).
• The "Why": This role is more than administrative; it is an opportunity to strengthen the conditions that allow vulnerable children and families in New Mexico to thrive.

TO APPLY
More information about the W.K. Kellogg Foundation may be found at: www.wkkf.org

This search is being led by Katherine Jacobs and Jehivian Hernandez of GDSI Leadership. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, via GDSI’s applicant portal.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.