Project Assistant
New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) | Boston, MA
About the role
The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) seeks a Project Assistant to support the activities of the New England Prison Education Collaborative (NEPEC). NEPEC is a five-year regional initiative led by NEBHE and funded by a grant from Ascendium Education Group. Through NEPEC, NEBHE seeks to accelerate, support, and collaborate to help actualize a future where every incarcerated person in New England has access to high-quality, workforce-aligned, postsecondary opportunities with a diverse range of educational pathways.
Since its launch in October 2024, NEPEC has operated on three distinct levels—the regional, state, and institutional levels—to catalyze progress. As NEPEC continues to grow, the Project Assistant will provide administrative and operational support to the Director and work closely with the three other full-time members of the NEPEC team. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a highly organized early-career professional interested in working in a nonprofit setting focused on higher education, with the opportunity to grow and develop professionally in communications, event management, and more—based on individual interests and career goals.
Responsibilities
- Administrative Support
- Assist the NEPEC Director with calendar management and internal and external scheduling.
- Support the NEPEC Director in email outreach and replying to incoming communication.
- Make travel arrangements for the Director and other NEPEC team members—including booking transportation and completing conference or event registration, where applicable; coordinate mileage and other reimbursements related to travel and events.
- Support maintenance of Teams, SharePoint, and other collaboration platforms.
- Respond to routine initiative inquiries and direct actionable requests to the appropriate team member.
- Meeting and Event Support
- Support the NEPEC Director with notetaking and dissemination of meeting minutes for select engagements.
- Prepare agendas and meeting materials and execute follow-up communication.
- Coordinate logistics for virtual and in-person meetings as well as trainings and events.
- In collaboration with the Senior Coordinator, Communications and Events, manage registrations, attendance tracking, materials preparation, and follow-up activities for NEPEC-hosted events.
- Support NEPEC Regional Advisory Council meetings and other stakeholder convenings.
- Assist with travel arrangements, reimbursements, procurement requests, and other administrative processes.
- Data Management and Reporting
- Enter and maintain project-related information in spreadsheets and tracking systems.
- Maintain stakeholder contact lists and support document and file management.
- Assist in compiling information for reports, presentations, and other communications materials.
Requirements
- Associate or bachelor's degree.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Strong written and oral communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and collaboration tools such as Teams and SharePoint.
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, and sensitivity in communications with diverse populations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting nonprofit, higher education, or grant-funded initiatives.
- Administrative support experience from previous employment or internship experience.
- Experience managing a calendar and coordinating travel for a busy team.
- Interest in higher education in prison and policy to expand educational access.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Life and disability insurance
- Paid holidays and vacation
- Retirement plan
- Flexible hybrid work environment (with three required in-office days per week)
Pay
Starting salary: $60,000
Schedule
- Full-time
- More than half of the time (3 days per week) spent in a normal office setting.
Working Conditions
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.