About Achievement First
Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments — schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life.
The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI.
Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves.
Your Impact
The Executive Assistant / Paralegal is a hybrid role that provides high-level administrative support to three members of Achievement First’s Executive Team—the General Counsel, Chief People Officer, and Chief Financial Officer—while also supporting foundational legal, compliance, and research work across the organization. This shared structure is a strong fit for a candidate with paralegal experience, as it allows the role to meaningfully support Legal, HR, and Finance priorities in an integrated way.
The role ensures that all three executives have strategically managed time, information, and systems, while advancing critical legal and compliance workflows across regions. A candidate with notary capabilities will further strengthen support for HR and Finance processes, particularly in areas requiring document execution, verification, and regulatory rigor.
Reporting directly to the General Counsel, the Executive Assistant / Paralegal will support the work of the General Counsel, Chief People Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. In this role, you will be responsible for:
- Managing complex executive calendars, scheduling, travel logistics, and communication flow for three Executive Team members
- Drafting, editing, and preparing briefs, memos, agendas, presentations, and meeting materials
- Conducting foundational legal research and supporting legal and compliance workflows across Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island
- Triaging legal documents submitted by schools (e.g., orders of protection, legal notices, or litigation correspondence) and escalating appropriately
- Supporting the development of compliance systems, trackers, and documentation to ensure regulatory deadlines and reporting requirements are met
- Assisting with the development of legal guidance, training materials, and compliance resources for schools and internal teams
- Coordinating meetings, retreats, professional development sessions, and executive events across regions
- Supporting document management, information systems, and operational infrastructure that enables the Executive Team to operate effectively
Skills You’ll Have
All candidates for this position will:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree
- Have 3–5 years of experience in executive support, paralegal work, compliance, and/or related operational roles
Preferred qualifications include:
- Paralegal certification
- Notary Public certification
- Experience supporting legal, compliance, HR, or regulatory functions
An ideal candidate will demonstrate competency in the following areas:
- Executive Operations & Administrative Leadership
- Legal Research & Compliance Support
- Project Management & Organizational Systems
- Stakeholder Communication & Relationship Management
- Information Management & Confidentiality
In addition, the following characteristics are required to be successful on this team:
- Strong ethics and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
- Confidence interacting with and influencing individuals at all levels of an organization
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment; flexible and able to work both autonomously and collaboratively
- Exceptional organizational skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through
- Excellent written and verbal communication with a proactive communication style
- Deep belief in the Achievement First mission and commitment to educational equity
Travel Expectations
This is a hybrid role. The expectation is that the person in the role would be able to come into the NYC Network Support office 4 days per week. There may be additional travel to regions outside of your own on a monthly basis.
Compensation
Achievement First sets salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on the requisite skills, education, and experience relevant to the role. The salary for this position is $71,437. In order to uphold our commitment to equity, Achievement First does not negotiate pay. Additionally, Achievement First offers to all regular, full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match, and paid Family Leave.
Achievement First is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. You can learn more about diversity at Achievement First here: http://achievementfirst.org/about-us/diversity/