Executive Assistant to CEO

Simon & Schuster was named to Forbes magazine list of America’s Best Mid-Size Employers 2022. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world’s most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Adams Media, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

Simon & Schuster is seeking an exceptional Executive Assistant to serve as a trusted partner to our Chief Executive Officer. This highly visible role supports a dynamic, fast-moving executive whose responsibilities span company leadership, strategic initiatives, board engagement, industry relationships, and frequent travel between the East and West Coasts.

The successful candidate is an outstanding administrator, proactive problem-solver, skilled relationship manager, and master of execution who can anticipate needs, navigate competing priorities, and bring order to complex situations. This individual will serve as a key extension of the CEO, ensuring seamless coordination across a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate thrives in a high-performance environment, exercises exceptional judgment, maintains absolute discretion, and enjoys operating at the center of one of the most respected publishing companies in the world.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a complex, constantly evolving bicoastal calendar, balancing internal leadership responsibilities, board commitments, travel, speaking engagements, and external meetings
• Anticipate scheduling conflicts and competing priorities, proactively identifying solutions and optimizing the CEO’s time and focus
• Serve as a trusted liaison between the CEO and internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, board members, authors, agents, business partners, and industry leaders
• Coordinate extensive domestic and international travel, including detailed itineraries, accommodations, logistics, and last-minute changes
• Prepare briefing materials, presentations, reports, and other supporting documents for meetings, board sessions, speaking engagements, and public appearances
• Draft, edit, and manage correspondence on behalf of the CEO
• Monitor key initiatives and follow-through across the organization to ensure timely execution and alignment with CEO priorities
• Organize and support executive meetings, including agendas, materials, notes, and follow-up coordination
• Partner closely with the Chief of Staff and leadership team on strategic projects and company-wide initiatives
• Handle highly confidential information with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment
• Assist with special projects, events, and company initiatives as needed

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience supporting a CEO, senior executive, founder, or business leader in a complex, fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, shifting schedules, and high-volume communications with exceptional attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility and strong working relationships with senior executives, external partners, and high-profile stakeholders
• Exceptional organizational, project management, and time management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Ability to anticipate needs, think several steps ahead, and operate with minimal direction
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment with changing priorities
• Experience in publishing, media, entertainment, technology, consumer, or other fast-paced industries is preferred

Technical Capabilities

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook) and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, Drive)
• Experience with project management and collaboration tools such as Asana, Monday.com, Trello, or similar platforms
• Familiarity with CRM system…