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Executive Assistant

Plenty

Plenty

Administration
Chester, VA, USA
Posted on Tuesday, October 10, 2023

About Plenty

Plenty is on a mission to make fresh, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables more accessible to everyone. Our cutting-edge indoor, vertical farms produce extraordinary yields using a fraction of the land and water outdoor farms need. Nutrient-rich, mouth-watering and locally grown, our crops help people, communities and our planet to be healthier and more resilient.

The people and teams who make up Plenty are at the core of how we do this. We are a collaborative and innovative bunch. We are passionate about our contributions to Plenty, the communities around us and our planet, but never take ourselves too seriously. We’re down to Earth, we grow together, and we always find a way. Most importantly, we are growing for a better tomorrow, today.

About the role

The people and teams who make up Plenty are at the core of how we do that. We are an ag-tech company looking for a world-class Executive Assistant to support our SVP of Farm Deployment, SVP of Farm Operations, and at least one other executive, based out of our farm in Virginia.

Whether it’s Board meetings, interfacing with key strategic partners, tracking and implementing the Company objectives, or high-profile external press, this role will help ensure the Executive team is always prepared and ready to drive towards the best outcomes for the Company. This role is not only an amazing opportunity, but it also requires a strong connection to Company mission and value, as well as a presence in the office five days per week. Expectations of this role are very high, so we’re looking for someone who enjoys being “on-call” and ready to execute, even when not in the office. Given the farm is actively under construction, this person would thrive in a dynamic work environment that ranges from prepping for board meetings in our offsite satellite office to supporting the needs of the onsite Farm Deployment (construction) teams out of a mobile office.

What you'll do

  • Manage the day-to-day - Manage schedule and coordinate a high volume of meetings with internal and external constituents as well as a high volume of travel for the SVP of Farm Deployment, SVP of Farm Operations and at least one other executive. This includes but is not limited to:
    • Coordinate & optimize calendars - Keep executives on-time for meetings, organize and prepare for meetings, including gathering documents and attending to logistics of meetings; ensure both are where they need to be and have what they need
    • Plan & manage travel - Book travel arrangements and other related logistics for efficient travel within company expense policy
    • Setup, lead, & document department meetings - Handle on-site meeting logistics and provide meeting support as needed (e.g. reserve rooms, greet guests, ensure A/V equipment is in working order and presentations are properly loaded)
    • Manage expense reports - Complete and submit expense reports in a timely and accurate manner
    • Communicate on the executive’s behalf - Draft, review and send communications on behalf of the executives you are supporting
    • Office management support - Given Virginia is a new location for the Company, this individual will be instrumental in working with cross functional partners to ensure everything is set up in the farm office and the offsite satellite office. The expectation is that this person would have a strong sense of pride for providing a great physical space for visitors to our offices
    • On-Site Point of Contact - This individual will be the main point of contact for Plenty with any visitors, vendors, employees, etc, representing Plenty onsite
  • Strategic Coordination
    • Assist with preparation for Board meetings, executive offsites, investor meetings, and strategic business reviews across all levels of the organization. This will require thought partnership, proactivity, excellent communication and analytical skills, and an end-to-end understanding of the business to enable planning and preparation for executive, Board, and investor audiences
  • Plan, execute, and host - Support executives in maintaining important relationships, visits, and meetings to achieve business goals. This includes but is not limited to:
    • Research & make recommendations - Develop informed suggestions or solutions for the executive’s needs or requests
    • Orchestrate external meetings & visits - Coordinate off-site meetings including researching and booking venues, negotiating pricing, ensuring A/V and logistics are set up, and schedule catering
    • Coordinate important events - Support travel and event coordination, welcome visitors or guests, provide hospitality and recommendations, etc
    • Represent executives professionally - Maintain professional composure and behavior that reflects Plenty and the executive
  • Preparation of materials for meetings - Develop presentations, templates, graphics, and spreadsheets at the highest level; proofread, and edit presentations as needed
    • Proofread, format, and edit documents - Focused on accuracy, completeness, and compliance with Company standards
    • Prepare materials, and create decks - creating, formatting, delivering, and potentially presenting client presentations and proposals for strategic leadership engagements such as monthly senior leadership and quarterly Board of Directors meetings
  • Manage projects and optimize systems - Support successful execution of various projects while developing and improving systems for doing so over time. This includes but is not limited to:
    • Create systems/build processes to drive efficiency - Constantly look for ways to make daily tasks and ongoing operations more streamlined
    • Proactively address gaps or capitalize on opportunities - Maintain high situational awareness to fulfill project or executive needs, proactively solve problems, etc
    • Develop & improve internal systems with partners - Work with other internal collaborators to continuously improve how things are done to create greater leverage for supported executives
    • Support other EAs in providing always-on coverage - Work closely with the Executive Assistant team and ensure all executives have support coverage if/when needed
    • Project Management - Opportunity to take ownership of strategically significant projects within the business on an as needed basis, overseeing conception through to implementation
  • Others duties as assigned

What you'll bring to the table

  • 5+ years experience at a hyper-growth startup or similar fast-paced environment, particularly in a highly collaborative, cross-functional team setting with multiple internal and external stakeholders
  • Proven track record of partnering effectively with executives/leadership team; highly collaborative mindset and ability to work closely with all members of the Senior Executive team and the Office of the CEO
  • Ability to see around the corner and anticipate needs or issues before they arise - this is a “proactive” not a “reactive” position, and you will be expected to provide recommendations and anticipate needs accordingly
  • Extremely professional and polished communication; you will be a representative of the Company
  • Highly detail-oriented while able to also think and act strategically and with a “big-picture” mindset
  • Ability to exercise good judgment, discretion and high levels of confidentiality including within the organization
  • A self-starter with an ability to excel in a dynamic, ever-changing environment
  • Personable with an exceptional emotional intelligence
  • Extremely reliable, highly motivated and resourceful
  • “Roll-up your sleeves” attitude -- no job is too big or too small, with ability to be pushed outside your comfort zone and take on increasing levels of responsibility
  • Excellent project management and organizational skills and an incredible ability to multitask
  • Technically savvy and exceptionally skilled in MS Office, Google Calendar, Gmail, and Slack

Type of role

Full-Time; Onsite

What we can offer

  • Compensation; we’ll pay you a competitive salary on a biweekly basis, give you a stake in the company via equity and contribute toward your 401K
  • Health & well-being; we’ll invest in your physical and mental well-being with comprehensive medical, dental, & vision benefits, in-office gyms, and an Employee Assistance Program to help with mental health, financial & legal matters
  • Food; in-office lunches, snacks and access to our leafy greens & new produce in development -- are you up for a side gig as a taste tester?
  • Grow together; learning & development opportunities including unlimited access to our Upstart University platform, LinkedIn Learning, lunch & learns, training certifications, and more
  • Equipment; we’ll provide you with the equipment you need to be successful, including $75/month toward your phone bill and $250 every 2 years to upgrade your phone
  • Paid time off; we know you’ll do your best if you’re taking time to recharge, so we don’t cap the amount of days you can take off per year in addition to the paid holidays we observe
  • Parental leave; 12 weeks off for all new parents - fully paid so you can focus your energy on your newest addition

Food & Safety Requirements

  • Comply with all Plant, State and Federal OSHA, EPA, FDA, HACCP, and SQF regulations
  • All applicants must be 18 years or older to apply