Executive Assistant II, ESPN Programming and Acquisitions

This position will report to the SVP, Programming & Acquisitions, with additional support for two Vice Presidents.  This is the team currently responsible for the content strategy, acquisition and overall business and relationship management for the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Women’s National Basketball Association, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and other sport categories.   

You will be responsible for the day-to-day workings of the leaders you support. It goes without saying that there will be expense reports, travel planning, phone messages and lots of calendar management, but this job is very much about people. The relationship you build with the executives you support is absolutely critical, because that’s what enables you to become a true partner. In addition to understanding your executive’s business - and business needs - inside and out, you’ll also need knowledge of the leadership and workings of ESPN and of related departments across the Disney enterprise. As the face of your executives within The Walt Disney Company and with your leaders’ external clients, your professionalism, loyalty and attitude are a reflection of the office, and as such, are a key component to its success. Every day as an Executive Assistant is different! On any given day you might:

Responsibilities

• Plan large, high-profile events like executive board meetings, on and off-site events with sport league partners (e.g. NBA) and team-building activities
• Conduct research, fact-check existing work, and prepare regular reports and summaries – you’ll have tasks that you own completely and will provide regular assistance on others
• Create a multi-city travel itinerary, taking into account time zones, weather delays, traffic and fatigue levels
• Interface directly with other senior executives and their support teams – your ability to work well with people on all levels is a very important part of your job
• Review your leader’s schedule to build-in time for things like thinking, email and traveling to their next meeting
• Understand the day’s priorities so you can be strategic about how you direct phone calls
• Schedule conference rooms and meetings
• Be ready to throw the entire schedule out the door when an emergency comes up, then pick it up again when the dust settles
• Handle extremely confidential, sensitive information, remembering that Disney/ESPN is a publicly traded company
• Draft letters and emails on behalf of your leaders
• Assist with on-boarding new employees – you’ll be the friendly face that newbies count on to answer all their questions, including some who are extremely senior in the organization
• Read relevant newspapers and trade journals so you are completely immersed in the mission of the office

Qualifications

• At least five years supporting a Vice President and/or equivalent experience
• Sharp written and verbal communication skills
• Desire to immerse yourself fully and learn all aspects of your executive’s business
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize deadlines/deliverables
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• A calm head and steady hand to deal with the unexpected
• “EQ” skills to build bridges, forge alliances and encourage people to want to work with you
• Complete reliability handling confidential, often highly sensitive information
• Desire to truly be helpful to your leaders and co-workers, to go the extra mile without being asked
• Some flexibility in your schedule – we value work/life balance, but in a pinch, a bit more time is needed
• Very strong organizational skills and extreme attention to detail
• A highly professional demeanor, positive outlook and a can-do attitude

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at The Walt Disney Company
• Experience working in a large public corporation
• Good general knowledge of professional and collegiate sports, as well as ESPN
• Proficiency in SAP and Concur

Required Education

• High School degree or equivalent

Preferred Education

• Bachelor’s degree

Additional Information

Sports is a 24/7/365 business. This role will require your availability some nights, weekends and occasional holiday support.

Hiring Range

The hiring range for this position in Bristol is $58,762.40 to $80,798.30 per year based on a 40-hour work week. The amount of hours scheduled per week may vary based on business needs. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.  A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.