Special Assistant to the President

The Special Assistant to the President oversees high-priority projects, conducts research, and aids in communication by reviewing and drafting documents. This role supports the college president and leadership team, collaborating with various stakeholders, including Vice Presidents, Deans, and community partners. Under the guidance of the President and Chief of Staff, the assistant ensures effective coordination and execution of initiatives that align with the college's strategic goals.

Duties

• Manage special, high visibility projects for the president
• Assist the president in preparing for meetings and events
• Research and analyze; draft reports
• Assist with communication, fundraising, and public affairs
• Represent the president at community meetings and events
• Review, edit, and draft documents and correspondence
• Support other members of the president’s office and leadership team as required
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive/privileged information
• Support the president and colleagues with sensitivity, sound judgement, tact, diplomacy, discretion, and flexibility

LaGuardia Community College

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York/CUNY. LaGuardia offers seventy-two associate degree and certificate programs, more than fifty non-degree workforce training programs, and dozens of ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 25,000 students. More than one-third of our degree-seeking students (35%) were born outside of the United States, coming to LaGuardia from 136 countries and speaking forty-three heritage languages. More than half (54 percent) are first-generation college students.

Sixty-nine percent of LaGuardia degree students live in Queens; the rest come from Brooklyn and beyond. Virtually all LaGuardia degree students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent are Hispanic, well above the threshold of 25 percent required by the US Department of Education for designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Sixty-six percent of LaGuardia degree-seeking students receive some form of financial aid. Close to half of our degree-seeking students attend part-time (49%), usually because they need to work to support their families. Tuition and fees are $5,271 per year for a full-time student.

• Other duties as assigned

• A Master’s Degree from an accredited institution and (1) year of relevant experience, OR
• A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution and three (3) years of relevant experience
• Possession of the core competencies determined to be required at the time of hire

Core Competencies

• Ability to understand and act upon moderately complex assignments
• Ability to handle several moderately complex assignments concurrently
• Public speaking skills are essential for this role e in both personal and professional settings
• Key components include clarity, confidence, and audience engagement
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues, faculty, staff and external partners
• Ability to use office software and web-based technology as appropriate
• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately verbally and in writing
• Ability to take direction and to work both cooperatively and autonomously as part of a team

RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.