Executive Assistant, Rainier Climate Group - Ballmer Group

The Organization

Rainier Climate Group is a new philanthropic organization focused on addressing climate change. Co-founded by Sam Ballmer, Connie Ballmer, and Steve Ballmer in 2024, Rainier Climate Group will focus on providing philanthropic funding to non-government organizations pursuing strategies that operate at the speed and scale needed to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions.

As it scales, Rainier anticipates supporting work in many parts of the world and on a range of strategies such as forests and land use, clean energy, clean transportation, industrial decarbonization, energy efficiency, and super pollutants. The organization also anticipates supporting work in climate cross-cutting areas such as strategic communications, climate finance, legal, movement building, advocacy, and public policy.

The Opportunity

Rainier Climate Group seeks an experienced Executive Assistant (EA) to provide comprehensive administrative support to the organization’s President. This role is essential for optimizing the President’s schedule and managing travel logistics, requiring cultural awareness and experience working across time zones to support global collaboration.

Key responsibilities include managing the President’s calendar, coordinating travel, and handling communications and information management. The EA will organize meetings, events, and team-wide activities led by the President and Co-Founder and will work closely with colleagues at Ballmer Group and Ballmer Enterprises to ensure smooth operations for Rainier Climate Group.

As a new organization, Rainier Climate Group’s needs will evolve, and the EA must be adaptable and proactive in refining administrative processes as needed. This is an individual contributor role, focused on fostering effective collaboration across the team and with external stakeholders.

Key Priorities & Responsibilities

• Calendar and Schedule Management: Manage the President's calendar, including scheduling and coordinating meetings and events, across time zones and cultures, globally. Proactively handle scheduling conflicts, prioritize appointments, and ensure the President's schedule is optimized for productivity. Ensure the President is prepared for each meeting, including coordination and organization of pre-read materials.
• Time Management and Blocking: Partner with the President to create a calendar that reflects and tracks their objectives and priorities. Establish time blocks for specific activities such as strategic planning or focused work. Protect time blocks from interruptions, to ensure the President stays focused for designated periods.
• Travel Arrangements: Coordinate all travel logistics for the President, including booking flights, hotels, and ground transportation, and preparing detailed itineraries and briefing materials. Ensure travel arrangements are timely, cost-effective, and aligned with The President's priorities.
• Communication and Correspondence: Draft, edit, and proofread documents, including emails, memos, and presentations on behalf of the President and the Rainier Climate Group team. Ensure all communications are professional, accurate, and aligned with the organization’s philanthropic goals. Recognize any sensitivities that may arise.
• Meeting and Event Support: Provide comprehensive support for meetings and events, including coordinating board meetings, external visitors, catering, event planning, and greeting guests. Duties also include agenda development, document preparation, and onsite logistical support. Attend meetings as requested to take minutes and track action items to ensure follow-up and completion.
• Information Management: Organize and maintain confidential information related to the President's office, including contacts, files, expense tracking and reporting, and records. Develop and implement efficient systems for information retrieval.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Serve as a liaison between the President and various stakeholders and represent the President and Rainier Climate Group in a positive, professional manner.
• Team Support: Work closely with the Rainier Climate Group team to implement the organization’s rhythm of the business; including proactive input on near and long-range planning to optimize time allocations, travel, and communication needs. Provide administrative support to the Rainier Climate Group team, including complex calendaring for other team members, team-wide meetings, coordinating team events, and assisting with team-wide communications.
• Support the Organization’s Development: Assist with the development and refinement of administrative systems and processes for this new organization. Maintain flexibility to adjust responsibilities and priorities as needs change with team growth.
• Proactive Support: Anticipate needs and proactively provide support to the President and the Rainier team. Identify opportunities for improvement, implement solutions, and handle ad hoc requests with a positive and solution-oriented mindset.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience (Executive Assistant or similar).
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Experience in highly collaborative or matrixed environments or in philanthropy, public policy, or the nonprofit sector is a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to develop and deliver communications that convey a clear understanding of the needs of different audiences.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, competing priorities, and deadlines simultaneously while paying close attention to detail.
• Ability to schedule and manage calendars across multiple time zones. Can draft and edit documents with a high level of accuracy.
• Highly skilled at Microsoft Office products, including Outlook and Excel.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and work independently with minimal supervision, possessing both initiative and drive to meet goals and exceed expectations.
• Ability to monitor various projects and initiatives and report progress to senior leadership.
• Listens attentively and speaks candidly, effectively giving and receiving open, two-way feedback.
• Is committed to the successful development of the organization and eager to learn, share, and collaborate to help define and support national and global work.
• Intellectually curious self-starter, possessing both initiative and drive to meet goals and exceed expectations.
• Able to build and manage internal and external relationships working with diverse constituencies and contribute to a strong team culture.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in effectively communicating and building relationships with diverse stakeholders
• High emotional intelligence with sound judgement; capable of handling confidential and sensitive information and of discerning when to escalate issues/concerns to directors or leadership.
• Interest in and experience working to address climate change is preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

The starting cash compensation range for the Executive Assistant role in WA includes an annual base salary hiring range of $96,200 to $120,000, plus a 10% annual performance bonus opportunity.

The annual base salary maximum for the role is $144,200. We aim to hire new employees within the hiring range to allow future compensation growth. Individual pay increases are assessed annually based on multiple factors such as demonstrated skill in the role and context, progress and performance against goals, and increased experience.

Featured Benefits & Perks

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employee and dependent premiums entirely paid for by Ballmer Group
• 3 weeks of paid vacation annually
• 11 paid holidays, plus paid days off for the weekdays between Christmas and New Year
• 80 hours of paid sick leave annually
• 401(k) with 12% employer contribution
• 2:1 Ballmer Family Giving Match for charitable contributions, and $50 donation per volunteer hour
• Professional development reimbursement up to $2,000 per year
• Employer-paid life insurance of 3x salary up to $1,000,000
• Reimbursement up to $40,000 (lifetime limit) for Fertility & Family Building (including Back-up Childcare reimbursement up to $5,000 annually)
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Parking or transportation (Orca card) up to $250 monthly
• Cash stipend of $300/month (for cell phone, wellness expenses, etc.)
• Identity theft protection

Location & Hybrid Work

The position is based in Bellevue, WA.

Our organization practices intentional hybrid work. All Rainer Climate Group employees are expected to work on-site Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and as needed on other weekdays based on the needs of the team. The number of in-office days may shift or increase as the organization evolves.

Rainer Climate Group is an equal opportunity employer and is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is valued. Individuals seeking employment at Rainer Climate Group are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual orientation.