New Harvest Seeks Executive Assistant

For the past five years, we have been advancing innovative food biotechnology at New Harvest. It’s been quite a journey, growing a new organization, a new community, and being at the forefront of a new field and industry. We’re incredibly proud of the work that we’ve done.

Bringing the organization from zero to steady state growth has been rewarding, and now I’m preparing to ramp up into our next phase. At this stage, I need to ensure that I am optimizing my time, and this is why I want to hire you.

For our previous employees, New Harvest has been a launching pad for careers in cellular agriculture. Perhaps this position can do the same for you. Or perhaps you will love being an Executive Assistant and we can work together well into the future! Both possibilities are exciting and important for the field.

I’m not looking for a personal assistant. I’m looking for an individual who is committed to New Harvest, our community, and our mission. Titles can be deceiving in a small organization — an Executive Assistant isn’t just a helping hand; they’re the pacesetter for the team, they’re the foundation of a good standing business entity; they’re the “organize” of “organization”.

The Role

Here’s what we need help with right away:

• Designing, managing, and monitoring systems for bookkeeping, planning, scheduling, and documentation
• Planning internal events, retreats, and meetings with complex logistics
• Coordinating executive communications

Your role will be multifaceted as you work with other members of the New Harvest team, so it’s likely that you will also be:

• Planning community events, such as happy hours and information sessions
• Helping execute our fundraising initiatives
• Helping compile our regular communications, like the newsletter

Depending on your career goals, there will be room to dip your toes into many different aspects of our organization.

The Experience

You will be working closely with me, but there will be countless opportunities to work with the other Directors at New Harvest. You won’t just be conducting administrative duties — you’ll be designing, managing, and monitoring systems for doing those things better. You’ll be building capacity for a non-profit undergoing a growth phase, and a non-profit leader doing the same.

We’re a small team and we’re constantly trying new things — that tends to happen when you’re at a scientific frontier, and you’re intending to do things differently. Sometimes those new things fall to the side. Sometimes they change everything. It’s always a balance of driving forward a long term plan while remaining open to situational opportunities. It will feel like a lot sometimes, maybe most of the time, and you’ll notice that the roles evolve and the work changes every six months or so. If you’re up for learning a lot, all the time, you’ll fit right in.

You’ll thrive at New Harvest if you’re:

• Excited about venturing into the unknown
• Passionate about bringing order to chaos (our QuickBooks aren’t that bad, I promise)
• Confidently ego-free

For us to move quickly and efficiently, on top of complex travel schedules, we have to communicate directly. I give feedback directly, whether that be commending what’s excellent, noting what’s working or challenging what isn’t working at all. I value competence over niceness, and niceness over rudeness. I have a thick skin and I can take feedback well too. If that sounds like your cup of tea, I think you’ll like it here!

The Future

This role can be a springboard or a landing pad in the world of cellular agriculture. I’m looking for someone who will be focused and happy in this role for at least a year — after that, we’ll both have a better sense of where you and the organization want to grow, and I’ll do my best to help you get to where you’re going.

If the thought of growing foods from cell cultures gets you up in the morning and you want to be focused on building the organization that is making it happen, hop on board and let’s do this together.

The Details

New Harvest is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages people from diverse backgrounds to apply for positions within our organization.

Here’s the full job posting with information on how to apply. The position is based in New York City.

See you soon!