The Company

Founded in 1946, HI-LEX is a leading supplier of window regulators, door modules, power lift gate systems, and mechanical control cables primarily serving the automotive industry, but also the power sports, marine, construction equipment, and medical device sectors. Headquartered in Takarazuka, Japan (near Osaka), and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), HI-LEX employs more than 12,000 associates across its global footprint.

In the Americas region, HI-LEX has grown steadily in the region, and now has ten (10) manufacturing facilities across the the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. In the U.S., HI-LEX operates under three divisions: HI-LEX America in Battle Creek, Michigan; HI-LEX Controls in Hudson, Litchfield, and Hazel Park, Michigan; and Daedong HI-LEX of America in Cusseta, Alabama. The company’s automotive center is in Rochester Hills, Michigan which consists of human resources, finance, sales, engineering, testing, program management, and will serve as the home location for the Executive Assistant position.

Position Summary

This position will report to and directly support the President of HI-LEX Controls Inc. & HI-LEX Automotive Center, in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In this role, the associate will perform a variety of critical, confidential and complex administrative tasks to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of executive leadership. The ideal candidate is able to operate with a high-level of discretion, reliability and dedication. Excellent organizational and management skills are required along with the ability to think and act proactively and to prioritize work. Knowledge of MS Office applications is required but even more desirable is a high proficiency in Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc) and other Google-related applications.

Yet this isn’t your everyday administrative role. For the right candidate, routine tasks will evolve quickly into the expansion of responsibilities and challenges. Think of this opportunity as an Executive Assistant role but with inherent growth and development opportunity that aligns with your performance and personal capacity for growth.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Calendar Management: Manage calendar activities for the executive to optimize meetings and focus work periods. Schedule recurring executive leadership meetings as well as ad hoc meetings with customers, suppliers and associates. Develop and maintain annual calendars for budgeting, audit and other key corporate activities.

• Travel Management: Organize, plan and arrange all travel-related activities of the executive according to personal travel preferences and corporate standards. Coordinate travel arrangements with customers, vendors and internal associates.

• Email Management: Screen, filter and process emails on behalf of the executive leader to reduce clutter and maintain focus on highest priority items. Hold information with strict confidentiality and communicate critical information to the executive in a timely manner.

• Expense Management: Establish a systematic method for collecting, processing and submitting business-related expenses of the executive. Utilize the company’s HRIS system to prepare and submit expense reports. Track the recovery of expenses and overall timeliness of reimbursement payments.

• Data Management: Develop an understanding of key organizational data that is critical to the operational success of the company. Standardize and centralize the collection, storage and access of such data within key executive management processes.

• Content Management & Distribution: Support the corporate communication strategy through the design and development of graphics, visual and written content and other necessary information for internal and external presentations. Implement and maintain a centralized set of master files for corporate presentations. Draft emails, corporate letters and executive communications on behalf of the executive.

Organizational Velocity: Optimize the entire workday of the executive to increase throughput in a manner that matches the needs of the company while simultaneously maintaining the timeliness and accuracy of all deliverables. He/she will innovate, pursue, and implement leading-edge programs, modernize processes and establish best practices that enable the President to operate with high velocity.

Education

No degree required. An Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a business, human resources, organizational leadership or related field is preferred.

Functional Experience

4-plus years of experience in providing executive support assistance at a director and/or senior executive level is preferred.

Technical Skills

• Excellent proficiency with using Google Workspace and related apps to manage all work activities.

• Experience in design of presentation slides, graphics, etc utilizing Canva is preferred.

• Plex - experience with plex ERP software application is preferred.

Core Competencies

• Hands-on, working individual with an entrepreneurial spirit.

• Ability to quickly inspire confidence and establish trust, respect, credibility, and rapport with executives and employees.

• Ability to act independently.

• Trusted to manage highly confidential and sensitive matters.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Action-oriented and accustomed to taking action even when the situation may be unclear.

• An initiative-taking and energetic approach, projecting a sense that tasks are being taken care of responsibly.

• Excellent listening skills – including the ability to hear the concerns of an executive leader in terms of the support & processes they require to achieve their goals.

• Perceived as a genuine, thoughtful, and substantive contributor with outstanding strategic ability, excellent business skills, and low ego.

• A sense of urgency to drive velocity at a rate equal to or faster than that of the senior executive.Can shift gears comfortably and handle risk and uncertainty comfortably.

• Can be counted on to push and communicate well to achieve the task at-hand.

• Relates well to all levels of an organization, builds strong relationships, uses diplomacy and tact, and can defuse even high-tension situations comfortably. Has a comfortable and appropriate sense of self.

• Sees ahead clearly, anticipates consequences, and trends, has broad knowledge and perspective, is future-oriented, can articulate possibilities and likelihoods.