Executive Assistant (Antitrust & Competition Economics)

Chicago, IL, United States
Full-time
$90,000-$105,000
Posted Nov 14, 2026

Job description

About Charles River Associates

Charles River Associates is a leading global consulting firm that provides economic, financial, and business management expertise to major law firms, corporations and governments around the world. CRA advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings, and guides corporations through critical business strategy and performance-related issues. Since 1965, clients have engaged CRA for its combination of industry experience and rigorous, fact-based analysis that provide clients with clear, implementable solutions to complex business concerns.

Learn more about our work by reviewing our Services and Industries on our   website .

Position Overview

Our  Antitrust and Competition Economics practice is an acknowledged leader in providing economic analysis, advice, and testimony for antitrust and merger cases worldwide. Clients include government agencies, law firms, and corporations of all sizes. Some of our past merger engagements include work with parties to the Office Depot/OfficeMax and H-P Enterprises/Juniper Networks transactions, and Google Digital Advertising litigation. We tailor our analyses to the facts of each case, employing tools such as merger simulation, upward pricing pressure analysis, econometrics, bargaining theory, or game theory as needed. Whether before a court or a regulatory agency, CRA consultants set a high standard for the clear communication of sophisticated economic analysis in complex cases.

The Executive Assistant provides support to one or more Vice Presidents and consulting staff in several critical areas including client relations, marketing, client development, project setup and administration. This role is a critical connection to our clients and across our project teams and must communicate professionally while seeking opportunities to expand their impact.  A successful Executive Assistant picks up new skills quickly and demonstrates initiative, proactivity, creativity, responsiveness, and keen attention to detail. Typical responsibilities include:

•Provide administrative support: maintain calendars; handle routine correspondence; coordinate detailed travel arrangements; answer telephones, process expense reports, invoices, check requests and time sheets in a timely manner; organize internal and external meetings and social events; and provide administrative backup for other executive assistants;

•Provide project support: oversee project billing/collections, conflict checks, and retention letters; proofread and edit reports; format expert reports and other deliverables; oversee project folder organization; transfer and maintain files;

•Provide marketing and business development support: coordinate social media, communication campaigns, and customer relationship management database, format and edit presentations, research and develop client briefing documents;

•Organize client outreach and maintain client opportunity list; coordinate regular update meetings with Vice Presidents to discuss progress and re-prioritize as necessary;

•Provide certain substantive support for casework (e.g. research industry and company background);

•Act as a liaison with corporate departments (Financial Administration, Marketing, Human Capital, Information Technology, etc.) and other practices;

•Support local recruiting and onboarding efforts: greet candidates and escort to interviews, welcome new hires and coordinate onboarding activities and security access;

•Coordinate logistics for meetings/team building events;

•Other administrative duties as assigned.

Desired Qualifications

•Bachelor’s degree preferred, ideally in a discipline incorporating significant research and writing;

•At least 3 years’ relevant work experience in a support role desired (although not strictly required), experience in professional services (consulting, law, finance) strongly preferred;

•Prior experience with client communication and/or sales/marketing;

•Experience with financial reporting (exposure to Oracle preferred);

•Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook);

•Energetic self-starter with strong interpersonal skills including a cooperative and professional attitude;

•Display good judgment in a fast-paced environment;

•Demonstrate excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail;

•Organized, flexible and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously;

•Outstanding written and oral communication skills;

•Ability and willingness to maintain client, corporate and court-ordered confidentiality at all times.

•Availability to work outside of normal business hours for time-sensitive matters such as approaching deadlines

•Facility with the use of AI and/or openness to learning to use AI to enhance the productivity of work efforts

To Apply

To be considered for this position, we require the following:

•Resume – please include current address, personal email and telephone number;

•Cover letter – please describe your interest in CRA and how this role matches your goals.

Career Growth and Benefits

•CRA’s robust skills development programs , encompassing both formal and informal programs, encourage you to thrive as an individual and team member. Training includes technical training, presentation skills, internal seminars, and career mentoring and performance coaching from an assigned senior colleague. Additional leadership and collaboration opportunities exist through internal firm development activities.

•We offer a comprehensive total rewards program including a superior benefits package, wellness programming to support physical, mental, emotional and financial well-being, and in-house immigration support for foreign nationals and international business travelers.

•When we ask our employees what they find rewarding and enjoyable about building their careers with CRA, they often describe the interesting and challenging work, culture of learning and intellectual rigor, sense of collegiality, and environment where ideas and initiative are rewarded.

Work Location

CRA creates a work environment that enables our colleagues to benefit from being together in the office to best deliver on our promise of career growth, mentorship and inclusivity. At the same time, we recognize that individuals realize a range of benefits when working from home periodically. We currently expect that individuals work in the office five days a week.

Responsible AI Use in Recruiting

We believe that recruiting is fundamentally a human process, and we are committed to a hiring process that is consistent, transparent, and people-focused. While AI and other technology-enabled tools help our team operate more efficiently, we strive to provide every candidate with a personalized, thoughtful, and high-touch experience. As CRA invests significant human effort to find qualified members for our teams, we expect candidates to invest corresponding human effort to learn about CRA, prepare thoughtful application materials, and engage with our interviewers. Read more about appropriate hiring manager, recruiting team, and candidate AI at CRA on our website .  

Our Commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River Associates is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Salary and other compensation

A good-faith estimate of the annual base salary range for this position is $90,000-$105,000. Starting pay within this range varies based on factors such as education level, experience, skills, geographic location, market conditions, and other qualifications of the successful candidate. This position is eligible for overtime pay. CRA offers a comprehensive benefits package, subject to eligibility requirements, which includes: medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; life and disability insurance; paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays); paid parental leave; wellness programs and employee assistance resources; and commuter benefits.