Executive Assistant at National Basketball Association (NBA)

Position Summary

• The Executive Assistant provides high-level administrative and operational support to the NBA Africa CEO, ensuring seamless day-to-day execution and alignment with business priorities. This role requires strong independent judgment, discretion, and proactive problem-solving to manage complex calendars, prioritize competing demands, and anticipate executive needs.
• Serving as a trusted partner and primary point of contact, the Executive Assistant manages sensitive communications, triages stakeholder inquiries, and handles confidential information with professionalism and care. The role is responsible for coordinating travel, meetings, and events, preparing materials and correspondence, and tracking deliverables to support effective decision-making and follow-through.
• In addition to executive support, this role contributes to broader departmental initiatives by coordinating logistics for events, offsites, and programs, and providing project and operational support as needed. The Executive Assistant leverages technology, including AI and automation tools, to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and drive productivity across administrative functions.

This role travels between 0-15% of the year, depending upon priorities.

Major Responsibilities
Provide administrative support to the NBA Africa, including, but not limited to:

• Exercise independent judgment to determine meeting priorities, decline requests, and resolve scheduling conflicts based on strategic importance to business objectives
• Proactively prioritize the CEOs daily schedule with to ensure efficiency.
• Make recommendations regarding travel arrangements, including booking flights, accommodations, and transportation for the CEO as needed
• Anticipate executive needs and proactively develop solutions before issues arise.
• Independently triage and respond to stakeholder inquiries, determining which matters require executive attention.
• Exercise judgment in handling confidential business information, determining appropriate distribution and timing
• Prepare travel and expense reports and ensure information is complete and accurate.
• Create and prep confidential correspondence, itineraries, and agendas.
• Serve as the primary point of contact, exercising independent judgment to respond to stakeholder inquiries, determine appropriate escalation, and manage sensitive communications on behalf of the executive
• Draft, proofread, and edit documents, reports, and presentations for the CEO.
• Schedule, prepare materials for, and attend meetings as requested by the CEO.
• Take meeting minutes, track action items, and follow up on action plan deadlines.
• Secure conference rooms for meetings and ensure that Audio Visual needs are addressed and prepared prior to meetings and handle catering and hospitality requests for meetings with external guests.
• Submit guest registration requests, greet, and announce all external meeting attendees and incoming visitors.
• Manage the guest invitation process for large-scale NBA events and act as the contact for registering NBA Africa & BAL staff for events.
• Provide project support for NBA Africa & BAL initiatives and programs as directed by the CEO.
• Handle special requests as directed by the CEO.
• Leverage available AI and automation tools to streamline administrative tasks, improve efficiency, and enhance overall productivity.

Provide general support to NBA Africa including, but not limited to:

• Coordinate and manage planned activities and events by ensuring all logistical components are secured such as registrations, reservations, securing equipment/products/event space, travel arrangements, partnerships with other internal and external stakeholders such as the conference and events team, information technology, security, volunteers, etc.
• Coordinate large department orders for special events and off-sites (supplies, merchandise, catering, etc.)

Required Education/Professional Experience

• College degree with foundation in Administration, Business or Secretarial preferred.
• 7+ years previous experience supporting Executive(s) in a fast-paced, corporate setting.

Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes

• Able to handle sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of discretion and integrity.
• Proven experience as an executive assistant in a similar administrative role.
• Proven ability to exercise independent judgment on matters of significance with minimal supervision
• Strategic thinking skills with ability to anticipate needs and proactively recommend solutions
• Expert-level judgment in handling sensitive and confidential business information
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate across all levels of an organization.
• Exceptional organization and multitasking abilities.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Discretion and a high level of confidentiality.
• Advanced aptitude with all Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with calendar management tools.
• Creative problem-solving skills and is proactive in identifying ways to improve outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Operates with the highest level of personal integrity and ethics.
• Performs independent project-based work with little supervision.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time with varying deadlines.