The posting
Who we are:
At the Child Poverty Action Lab CPAL, we believe every child deserves a life filled with opportunity. CPAL operates as an unofficial Research and Development lab for Dallas, using data to rethink public systems and equipping community partners at the neighborhood level to be successful in collectively achieving our mission to reduce childhood poverty in Dallas by 50% within a single generation. CPAL works across five key areas to reduce child poverty - Benefits Delivery, Maternal Health, Housing, Criminal Justice and Public Safety. These five “big bets” are rooted in a growing body of evidence that connects experiences in childhood to economics in adulthood.
Five design principles guide our work:
- Start with children and families, and work backward to systems. Change begins with understanding on-the-ground experiences of children and families, then reverse-engineering systems, policies, and processes to improve those experiences. This ensures solutions are grounded in actual needs rather than institutional assumptions.
- A problem well stated is half a solution. Systemic problems often feel intractable and too big to solve until they’re sharply defined. Real change happens when problems are made concrete, actionable, and replicable.
- Systems are like a string of Christmas lights. When everything works, the whole string lights up. But one burnt-out bulb — missing data, a confusing process, a broken handoff — can take the rest with it. The burnt-out bulb can change, but finding and fixing it is a repeatable exercise.
- Have a bias for action. Perfect is the enemy of good. CPAL takes concrete steps forward with the best available information rather than waiting for certainty. We learn by doing and course-correct along the way.
- Test, learn, and iterate. CPAL experiments fast and iterates with intention. Feedback loops and rapid evaluation help us identify what’s working and amplify insights with the greatest potential.
Overview of Position:
We are seeking a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented Office Manager & Executive Assistant to support our Chief Deputies and to manage the daily operations of CPAL's Dallas office. This is a hybrid role: part strategic right hand to senior leadership, part steward of a space that functions as a hub for cross-sector collaboration and innovation. The ideal candidate moves easily between high-stakes calendar and communications support and the hands-on work of ensuring the office is efficient, organized, and welcoming for staff and partners alike, including the partners, vendors, and state representatives who pass through as guests.
Every detail of CPAL's office operations, from how we host community leaders to how we structure our work environment, reflects our belief that systems change begins with people working together effectively. This role ensures the conditions for that collaboration to thrive, while also keeping our Chief Deputies' time and communications running smoothly.
Why we need you:
- Executive Support to Chief Deputies
- Manage Chief Deputies' calendars, including scheduling meetings, appointments, and travel arrangements.
- Prepare and edit correspondence, communications, presentations, and other documents.
- Handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
- Meeting Coordination:
- Organize and coordinate meetings, including preparing agendas, taking minutes, and following up on action items.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders regarding meeting logistics and materials.
- Communication and Liaison:
- Act as a liaison between the Chief Deputies and staff, board members, donors, and other stakeholders.
- Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across various departments within the organization.
- Office Management
- Ensure a professional, vibrant, and welcoming office space through day-to-day management tasks (e.g., watering plants, preparing for visitors, maintaining common areas), maintaining a consistent on-site presence Monday through Friday with occasional weekend availability as needed.
- Organize and track office deliveries, mail, and supply inventory, ensuring timely receipt, distribution, and restocking.
- Serve as the day-to-day point of contact with office support vendors (e.g., cleaning crew, water jug service, printer/tech needs).
- Visitor Experience
- Partner with the Alignment Team to plan and support office site visits, preparing materials and ensuring logistics run smoothly, and serve as an ambassador for CPAL's mission in all external interactions.
- Lead the visitor experience for office guests, overseeing scheduling and reservations, greeting guests, assisting with setup, and providing tours of the space (may occasionally include weekends).
- Monitor office operations and visitor engagement metrics to inform process improvements, and collaborate with Good Coworking to maintain shared space standards.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Communications, Non-Profit Management, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5-7 years of experience as an Executive Assistant, Office Manager, or in a hybrid administrative/operations role, preferably in a non-profit organization; experience supporting multiple executives simultaneously strongly preferred.
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize and multitask effectively across executive support and office operations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Comfortable being the go-to person for both high-level executive needs and everyday office logistics.
- Proficiency in Google Suite, Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and familiarity with project management tools.
- High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
Compensation and Benefits:
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Retirement savings plan with employer match.
- Generous paid time off and holidays.
