Executive Assistant Job Description (2026): Duties, Skills and Salary
An executive assistant supports one or more senior leaders directly, managing their calendar, travel, correspondence and the countless small decisions that keep an executive's day on track. Unlike general office support, the job requires judgment: knowing which meeting to prioritize, which email needs the executive's attention now, and which can wait.
Executive assistants work across every industry where leadership needs dedicated support, from startups to large corporations. The toolkit is calendar and email software, travel booking and expense systems, and often board or investor communication. The best executive assistants build enough trust to represent their executive's priorities without being told every detail.
Executive Assistant job description template
Copy it, replace everything in [brackets] and cut what doesn't apply. Keep the requirements to what the job really needs.
Template · replace the [brackets]
Executive Assistant
[Company] · [City and office days, or remote with the countries or time zones you hire in] · [Full-time]
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences on what your company does, who it serves and why this team matters now.]
About the role
[Company] is hiring an executive assistant to support [CEO / executive team]. You'll manage a demanding calendar, coordinate travel, handle sensitive correspondence, and act as a trusted gatekeeper and point of contact.
What you'll do
- Manage complex calendars, resolving conflicts and prioritizing competing requests.
- Book domestic and international travel, including detailed itineraries.
- Draft, screen and respond to correspondence on behalf of the executive.
- Prepare materials and agendas for board meetings, leadership meetings and offsites.
- Coordinate cross-functionally to keep projects and commitments on track.
- Process expense reports and manage confidential documents.
- Anticipate the executive's needs and handle issues before they become problems.
What you'll bring
- [X]+ years supporting a senior executive or leadership team.
- Exceptional organization and ability to manage shifting priorities under pressure.
- Strong written and verbal communication, including with external stakeholders.
- Discretion and sound judgment with highly confidential information.
- Proficiency with [Microsoft Office / Google Workspace] and travel booking tools.
- Comfort working independently and making decisions on the executive's behalf.
Nice to have
- Experience supporting a C-level executive or board of directors.
- Familiarity with [project management tools such as Asana or Monday].
- Experience planning offsites, board meetings or investor events.
- Notary public license.
What we offer
- [Pay range: e.g. $X–$Y base salary, plus bonus or equity if offered]
- [Competitive PTO, health benefits, performance bonus]
- [Health cover, retirement or pension plan, paid time off, parental leave]
- [Work authorization: whether you can sponsor a visa or hire through an employer of record]
[Our process: a recruiter call, a scheduling and prioritization exercise, and interviews with the executive and their team.]
[Your equal opportunity statement, and how candidates can ask for adjustments during the process]
Put the pay range in the ad. Several US states, including California, Colorado, New York and Washington, require it in job postings, and the EU Pay Transparency Directive gives applicants the right to know the starting pay or its range before the interview.
Executive Assistant duties by seniority
What the job usually looks like at each level. Pitch the ad at one level and say which in the title.
Junior
- Supports one executive with calendar and travel under guidance.
- Learns the executive's preferences and the organization's structure.
- Handles routine correspondence and meeting logistics.
Mid-level
- Manages a full calendar and travel independently for one or more executives.
- Drafts correspondence and represents the executive's priorities to others.
- Coordinates board materials and cross-functional projects.
Senior
- Supports a CEO or full leadership team with minimal oversight.
- Manages confidential board and investor communications.
- Mentors other assistants and sets administrative processes for leadership.
Executive Assistant career path
- Administrative Assistant
- Executive Assistant
- Senior Executive Assistant
- Chief of Staff
Executive assistant is often a step up from general administrative work, reached after proving reliability and judgment supporting a smaller team. From here, people move into chief of staff roles, office management, or operations, where the trust and organizational skills built as an EA carry over directly.
Similar roles
- Administrative Assistant job description
Supports a team or office broadly rather than one or two executives closely.
- Office Manager job description
Manages office operations and facilities rather than one executive's schedule.
- Project Coordinator job description
Tracks project timelines and tasks rather than an individual's calendar.
- Operations Manager job description
Oversees broader business operations rather than direct executive support.
Executive Assistant job description FAQ
What does an executive assistant do?
Manages an executive's calendar, travel and correspondence, prepares materials for meetings, and handles confidential matters with judgment. The role requires anticipating needs, not just following instructions.
What skills should an executive assistant job description require?
Strong organization, communication and discretion, along with experience managing complex calendars and travel. Experience supporting a C-level executive or board is a useful extra, better listed as nice-to-have.
Is executive assistant a senior role?
It's typically more senior than a general administrative assistant, since it requires judgment and trust built over time. Entry into the role often comes after experience in administrative support. State the expected experience clearly.