Requisition No: 880837 

Agency: Department of Education

Working Title: SENIOR EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT - SES

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number: 48001133 

Salary:  $60,000 - $68,000 

Posting Closing Date: 08/13/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida Department of Education

Office of the Commissioner

Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Position Title: Senior Executive Assistant (SES)

Salary Range: $60,000 - $68,000

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This position serves as the Senior Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Education, providing comprehensive executive-level administrative, operational, and strategic support to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Commissioner’s Office. This incumbent exercises sound judgement, maintains the highest level of professionalism and confidentiality, and serves as a trusted liaison between the Commissioner, Executive Leadership, external stakeholders, and the public. This position requires exceptional organizational communication, and writing skills, the ability to anticipate needs, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to changing demands in a fast-paced environment.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Note: The omission of specific job duties does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.)

Executive Support and Coordination:

• Manages the Commissioner’s complex calendar, scheduling appointments, meetings, travel, and events while balancing competing priorities and ensuring the effective use of executive time.
• Coordinates all logistics for meetings, conferences, public appearances, speaking engagements, and other official events, including preparing agendas, briefing materials, presentations, and supporting documentation.
• Anticipates the Commissioner’s needs by ensuring all relevant information, background materials, and correspondence are organized and available in advance of meetings, events, and decision-making activities.
• Coordinates travel arrangements and develops detailed itineraries to support official business.
• Maintains flexibility to accommodate changing schedules, urgent priorities, and events that may require work outside normal business hours.

Communications and Correspondence:

• Drafts, edits, proofreads, and coordinates high-quality correspondence, memoranda, reports, presentations, speeches, talking points, and other written materials on behalf of the Commissioner.
• Ensures written communication are accurate, professional, timely, and consistent with the Department’s mission, strategic priorities, and executive expectations.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for internal and external communications directed to the Commissioner’s Office, exercising discretion and independent judgement in responding to inquires or routing matters appropriately.
• Assists with coordinating communications between the Commissioner, executive leadership, legislative partners, school districts, colleges, state agencies, and other stakeholders.

Executive Operations:

• Coordinates activities, assignments, and special projects on behalf of the Commissioner, ensuring priorities, timelines, and deliverables are effectively managed.
• Monitors action items, follows up on outstanding assignments, and ensures deadlines and commitments are met.
• Collaborates with senior leadership and departmental staff to facilitate communication, resolve issues, and support implementation of executive initiatives.
• Identifies opportunities to improve administrative processes, increase operational efficiency, and enhance customer service within the Commissioner’s Office.

Stakeholder and Event Coordination:

• Coordinates the Commissioner’s participation in meetings, conferences, community events, and stakeholder engagement activities throughout the state.
• Works collaboratively with internal offices and external partners to ensure events are professionally planned, well-organized, and successfully executed.
• Serves as a liaison between the Commissioner’s Office and agency leadership, governmental entities, educational partners, community organizations, and constituents.

Correspondence Management:

• Oversees the Commissioner’s correspondence tracking process to ensure inquiries, assignments, and requests are accurately monitored, routed, and completed within established timeframes.
• Monitors workflow, identifies potential delays, and recommends process improvements to enhance efficiency, accountability, and responsiveness.
• Ensures confidential and sensitive information is handled with the highest degree of discretion and professionalism.

General Responsibilities:

• Represents the Commissioner’s Office with courtesy, integrity, and discretion.
• Demonstrates exceptional professionalism, diplomacy, sound judgment, and customer service in all interactions.
• Serves on committees, workgroups, or special projects, as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the Commissioner’s Office and the Department.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to work independently and perform tasks and responsibilities with limited guidance and direction.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize and organize multiple assignments, balance competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to independently analyze situations, anticipate needs, and resolve problems with minimal supervision.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced executive environment while maintaining professionalism and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft, edit, and proofread executive-level correspondence.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to interact with executive leadership, elected officials, department staff, and the public in a tactful and courteous manner.
• Demonstrated the ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion at all times.
• Ability to coordinate complex meetings, travel, and special events involving multiple participants and competing schedules.
• Ability to demonstrate consistent and reliable attendance with the willingness and ability to work extended hours, evenings, or weekends as necessary to support the Commissioner’s schedule and departmental priorities.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel, Outlook, internet research tools, and various electronic databases.
• Knowledge of office practices and administrative procedures.
• Knowledge of the methods of data collection with the ability to collect, organize, and maintain data, records and information.
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to maintain work area in an organized clean manner. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Licensure/Registration/Certification/Experience or Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, as an Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant, or comparable administrative support role.
• Demonstrated experience providing direct administrative support to senior level leadership.
• Experience preparing executive correspondence, presentations, reports, and meeting materials.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preference will be given to candidates who possess:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Communications, Public Administration, Management or related field.
• More than five (5) years of experience supporting executive leadership.

OFFICE CONTACT:

Jennifer Boswell; 850-245-0484

APPLICATION INFORMATION & HIRING REQUIREMENTS

Application Information:

• Your Candidate Profile (application) must be complete in its entirety.
• Work History (in easy to review chronological order) Consists of:

• • Any position held by a State of Florida Agency
  • Any position held by a Florida University
  • All periods of employment from high school graduation
  • All periods of current or prior unemployment
  • Gaps 3 months or more must be accounted for*
  • Any Education
  • Any Volunteer Experience
  • Your resume and application must match
• *Gaps 3 months or more must be addressed – you will need to account for and explain any gaps in employment including unemployment. You can either list these in your application under Period of Employment or attach a word document listing your gaps.
• It is unacceptable to use the statement “See Resume” in place of entering work history. Your candidate profile will be converted to your official application.
• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for reference checks or the contact information for your Human Resources office to verify current or former employment.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications.  

Hiring Information and Requirements:

• The Bureau of Personnel Management reviews every application for prior State of Florida and Florida University work history in the People First system.

• If claiming Veteran’s Preference, the candidate MUST attach supporting documentation such as the DD214 and your VA Letter that reflects level of disability if applicable. Applicable to career service positions only.
• If claiming Right to First Interview, the candidate MUST attach a copy of your official layoff letter when applying. This only applies to employees laid off from Career Service positions. Applicable to career service positions only.

If you are missing any of the items above, your packet may be held up at the final review step.

NOTE: Responses to qualifying questions must be clearly supported by the state application and any omission, falsification, or misrepresentation in the answering of the qualifying questions will be cause for immediate elimination from the selection process.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MISSION STATEMENT:

Every day the Department of Education works hand in hand with parents, teachers, educators, and community members to improve Florida's education system for students of all backgrounds and abilities. Our site reflects this cooperative relationship and the role that so many Floridians play in ensuring student success.

The FDOE’s mission for Florida’s Early Learning-20 education system is to increase the proficiency of all students within one seamless, efficient system, by allowing them the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills through learning opportunities and research valued by students, parents, and communities.

Serving approximately 3 million students, 4,400 public schools, 28 colleges, 200,000 instructional staff, 46,000 college professors and administrators, and 340,000 full-time staff throughout the state, FDOE enhances programs and services for Florida’s students from early learning through college and career development. In addition, FDOE manages programs that assist individuals who are blind, visually-impaired, or disabled succeed either in school settings or careers - encouraging independence and self-sufficiency.

FDOE’s goal is to hire individuals to provide:

1. Higher Student Achievement
2. Seamless Articulation and Maximum Access
3. Skilled Workforce and Economic Development
4. Quality Services

Florida Department of Education

WORKING FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS BENEFITS!

For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

LEAVE INFORMATION:

• Annual Leave - Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions are credited with 176 hours of annual leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of the initial appointment.

• • Sick Leave - Employees in Senior Management Service and Selected Exempt Service positions shall be credited with 104 hours of sick leave upon appointment. In subsequent years, the annual allotment is credited on the anniversary date of initial appointment.

BACKGROUND SCREENING REQUIREMENT

It is the policy of the Florida Department of Education that applicants for employment/volunteer undergo Level 2 background screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer. You will be required to provide your Social Security Number to conduct required verifications. No applicant for a designated position will be employed, contracted or permitted to volunteer until the level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Department. Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, finger printing for all purposes and checks under this requirement, statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local criminal records checks through local law enforcement.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM (SSS) AND REQUIREMENT

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion in the Other Personal Services (OPS) or Career Service, or appointment in the Selected Exempt Service (SES) or Senior Management Service (SMS) unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire. 

For more information, please visit the Selective Service website.

If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.