Jobs › DRW

Executive Assistant to the CEO

DRW · Chicago, IL · $100,000–$200,000 a year · Administrative Support

Posted Sep 30, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This role supports the CEO across business and personal affairs. How do you learn how a new executive operates in the first few weeks?

What they are checking: Deliberate effort to understand an executive's style and preferences so support fits them.

Tell me about a time you anticipated an executive's need before they asked.

What they are checking: Proactive thinking, which the posting describes as central to making the most of the CEO's time.

Tell me about a process you refined to make an executive's work run more smoothly.

What they are checking: Continuous improvement mindset, which the posting names as part of the role.

How do you build strong relationships with senior leaders who need time with the CEO?

What they are checking: Ability to coordinate with senior people diplomatically as a gatekeeper and partner.

Describe a time you made a mistake that affected an executive's schedule. What did you do?

What they are checking: Ownership, quick recovery and honest communication when something goes wrong.

What would you do

The CEO's calendar has three requests for the same hour, all from senior people. How do you decide?

What they are checking: Judgment about priorities and when to decide versus when to ask the executive.

How do you decide which emails and messages to bring to the CEO's attention and which to handle yourself?

What they are checking: Ability to filter communications thoughtfully without blocking anything important.

You're handling something personal for the CEO and a family member calls with a sensitive request. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Discretion and sound boundaries when business and personal affairs overlap.

About the work

Walk me through how you'd plan a complex international trip with several meetings in different cities.

What they are checking: Detailed travel planning skill, including backup plans and time zone management.

How do you keep confidential information secure when you have access to almost everything?

What they are checking: Concrete discretion habits, which are essential for someone close to a CEO.

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The full job description

As published by DRW.

DRW is a diversified trading firm with over 3 decades of experience bringing sophisticated technology and exceptional people together to operate in markets around the world. We value autonomy and the ability to quickly pivot to capture opportunities, so we operate using our own capital and trading at our own risk. Headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, we trade a variety of asset classes including Fixed Income, ETFs, Equities, FX, Commodities and Energy across all major global markets. We have also leveraged our expertise and technology to expand into three non-traditional strategies: real estate, venture capital and cryptoassets. We operate with respect, curiosity and open minds. The people who thrive here share our belief that it’s not just what we do that matters–it's how we do it. DRW is a place of high expectations, integrity, innovation and a willingness to challenge consensus. The Executive Assistant (EA) to the CEO is a strategic, high-touch role supporting the CEO across his business and personal affairs. Working in close partnership with the CEO, the EA helps him make the most of his time by understanding how he operates, anticipating needs and continuously refining the processes that support his work. Key responsibilities include managing complex scheduling and travel, prioritizing communications, coordinating with senior leaders and external partners, and tracking open items. The ideal candidate is a strategic systems thinker who is exceptionally organized, discreet and service-oriented. They adapt to the CEO's working style and thrive amid rapidly changing priorities in a fast-paced environment What you will be working on: Strategic Executive Support & Time Optimization • Act as a trusted partner to the CEO, anticipating needs and proactively removing friction from day-to-day operations. • Develop a deep understanding of how the CEO works, including his preferences, priorities and rhythms. Use it to continuously refine the processes and routines that support him, proposing improvements and adapting to his working style. • Help protect the CEO's time by anticipating conflicts and competing demands and bringing forward the information he needs to decide where his time goes. • Prepare the CEO for meetings by ensuring materials are complete, accurate, and delivered in advance; highlight key decisions, deadlines, and risks. • Maintain clear documentation of the CEO's preferences, key processes and contacts, so that his support stays consistent and resilient. Complex Calendar, Travel & Meeting Management • Manage the CEO's professional and personal calendar, balancing competing demands across multiple time zones. Anticipate conflicts and surface trade-offs for his decision. • Plan end-to-end travel from the CEO's objectives: itineraries, relevant meetings and logistics, with all arrangements coordinated for smooth execution. • Coordinate internal and external meetings, including scheduling, agendas, materials, and virtual or onsite arrangements. • Maintain a forward-looking view of the CEO's schedule and keep the relevant teams and stakeholders informed of plans and changes, so they can prepare in advance. Communications & Operational Administration • Manage the CEO's inbox by filtering, categorizing and prioritizing incoming communications, surfacing what needs his attention, and responding within agreed guidelines. • Draft correspondence and partner communications for the CEO's review and assist in preparing presentations and briefing materials. • Manage expenses, receipts, invoices and related documentation across business and personal accounts, coordinating with finance and accounting teams as needed. • Handle day-to-day administration, including filing, records and documentation, with accuracy and confidentiality. • Provide hands-on personal assistance as needed, including personal shopping, day-to-day requests and gifting, with professionalism, discretion and sound judgment. Cross-Functional Leadership & External Partner Coordination • Coordinate with senior leaders and teams across the CEO's business and personal operations to align schedules, track deliverables, and keep the CEO informed on key workflows. • Serve as a trusted point of contact for the CEO's internal and external network, representing his office with credibility, discretion and tact • Maintain an organized record of the CEO's key relationships and contacts, including context, history and priorities, to support how he engages his network. • Partner closely with the CEO's private office and personal staff to coordinate schedules, share information and keep his professional and personal priorities aligned.  Skills and Competencies • Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience. • 7+ years supporting C-suite executives or principals, including significant experience supporting a CEO, founder or high-profile individual directly. • Familiarity with financial markets and trading environments is a plus. • A strategic systems thinker who continuously refines processes and knows when to propose changes and when to adapt to the principal's preferences. • Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to handle high volume, competing priorities and last-minute changes. • Energized by a dynamic environment where priorities and schedules evolve constantly, and sees continuous re-planning as part of the job, not a disruption. • Executive-level written and verbal communication, with the polish and judgment to interact credibly with senior leaders and external partners. • Unquestionable discretion and integrity, trusted with confidential information and sensitive relationships. • Service-oriented and low-ego, comfortable operating in the background and measuring success by the principal's effectiveness. • Adaptable and resilient, able to support extended hours during key events, travel or urgent matters. Work Environment • Fast-paced, high-standards environment where the CEO's schedule is continually optimized for impact, and where accuracy, speed and discretion are essential. On-site role based in the Chicago office, with awareness of market hours and international time zones. • Flexibility for evening or weekend availability around travel, key events or time-sensitive matters. The annual base salary range for this position is $100,000 to $200,000 depending on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and relevant skill set. The position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, DRW offers a comprehensive suite of employee benefits including group medical, pharmacy, dental and vision insurance, 401k (with discretionary employer match), short and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, health savings accounts, and flexible spending accounts. For more information about DRW's processing activities and our use of job applicants' data, please view our Privacy Notice at https://drw.com/privacy-notice . California residents, please review the California Privacy Notice for information about certain legal rights at https://drw.com/california-privacy-notice . #LI-DW1

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