A strong virtual assistant job description states the task scope, required tools, weekly hours and pay rate. Keep it to one page, focus on outputs over inputs, and skip vague phrases such as "must be a team player". The template below covers every section you need.
A virtual assistant job description does one job: tell the right person or service exactly what you need. This guide covers every section, with a copy-paste template you can adapt in ten minutes.
What a virtual assistant job description needs to cover
| Section | What to include | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Role title | Plain English, not jargon | Remote virtual assistant — admin and inbox |
| Task list | 5–10 specific, recurring tasks | Sort inbox daily, book meetings, update CRM |
| Tools required | Software the assistant must use from day one | Gmail, Google Calendar, HubSpot, Slack |
| Hours | Weekly hours and any fixed overlap window | 10 hours a week, 9–11 am EST Mon–Fri |
| Pay or plan | Rate or plan; do not leave it blank | $12/hr pay-as-you-go or from $5.62/hr dedicated |
| Communication method | How tasks are sent and returned | Tasks by email or client portal; updates in Slack |
| Output standard | What "done" looks like | Inbox at zero by 10 am; calendar with 30-min buffers |
Virtual assistant job description template (copy-paste)
Adapt the sections in brackets to fit your situation.
Role: Remote Virtual Assistant — [Admin / Bookkeeping / Ecommerce] Hours: [X] hours a week, [days and time zone overlap if needed] Pay: [Rate or plan — e.g. $12/hr pay-as-you-go, or $5.62/hr dedicated plan] Tasks (recurring) 1. [E.g. Sort and triage inbox each morning; flag action items] 2. [E.g. Schedule and confirm meetings; send agendas] 3. [E.g. Enter receipts and invoices into QuickBooks] 4. [E.g. Research and add leads to CRM] 5. [E.g. Prepare weekly summary report] Tools you will use from day one - [List each tool, e.g. Gmail, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, Notion] What "done" looks like - [E.g. Inbox at zero by 10 am each weekday] - [E.g. Receipts entered by Wednesday each week] How to apply / get started - [E.g. Send a one-paragraph summary of your experience with [tool] to [email]] - [Or: Register at myremoteva.com and share this list at onboarding]
Tips for writing a strong virtual assistant job description
- List tasks, not traits. "Organised and proactive" tells the assistant nothing. "Sort inbox by 9 am and flag anything needing a reply" tells them exactly what to do.
- Give one example of a finished result. For each task, describe what good looks like. "CRM updated" is vague. "Each new contact added within 24 hours with company name, phone and last call note" is clear.
- Name the tools. If you use HubSpot, say HubSpot. A new assistant needs to know on day one, not week three.
- State the hours. Vague hours lead to mismatched expectations. "10 hours a week" is better. "10 hours a week, with an overlap of at least 2 hours during 9–11 am Eastern" is better still.
- Skip the filler. "Must be a team player", "excellent communicator", "fast learner" are in every job post and mean nothing. Replace with a specific task or tool requirement.
Using a managed service instead of posting a job
A managed virtual assistant service such as MyRemoteVA matches you to a trained, reviewed assistant without the hiring process. Instead of posting a job, you share a task list at sign-up. A team lead reviews every task before it reaches you, so you do not manage quality yourself.
Plans start from $5.62 an hour on a dedicated plan or $12 an hour pay-as-you-go. Use the free cost calculator to see the cheapest plan for your hours, or the VA vs employee tool to compare the full cost of a remote assistant against a local hire. The free task brief templates replace the job description entirely — they are formatted for handoff, not for posting.
Remote assistant job posting: what to add for a remote role
A remote assistant job posting follows the same structure as the template above, but adds three things: the time zone overlap you need, how daily check-ins happen, and the access setup (shared password manager, limited logins or read-only permissions). If you are unsure what to include in a VA job description beyond the standard admin list, the remote-specific addition is the tools and access section. Write the VA job post in plain language: if you would not say it in person, cut it.
Helpful next steps
- How to hire a virtual assistant
- Free task brief templates (8 SOPs)
- What can a virtual assistant do?
- How to work with a virtual assistant
- Virtual assistant pricing
Frequently asked questions
What should a virtual assistant job description include?
Task scope (specific, not generic), required tools and software, weekly hours, pay rate or plan, time zone overlap needed, and how to apply or send a brief. Avoid vague phrases. The more specific the task list, the better the quality of applicants or service match.
How long should a virtual assistant job description be?
One page is enough. A good virtual assistant job description lists 5 to 10 specific tasks, the tools used, the expected hours per week and the pay or plan. Candidates or services do not need an org-chart or a company history — they need to know exactly what the work is.
Do I need a job description if I use a managed VA service?
Not a formal one, but a task brief does the same job. A managed service matches you to a trained assistant based on your task list and time zone. The free task brief templates at myremoteva.com/templates give you a ready-made format that replaces a job posting entirely.
What pay rate should I put in a virtual assistant job description?
For a managed service such as MyRemoteVA, the rate is set by the plan: $5.62 an hour on a full-time dedicated plan, or $12 an hour pay-as-you-go. If you are hiring a freelance VA directly, check current market rates on the platform you are using and state a range rather than a fixed figure.
What is doing this yourself costing you?
Doing it yourself: $2,165 a month of your time.
The same hours at our $12/hr pay-as-you-go rate: $520. Dedicated plans start at $5.62/hr.
Simple maths from the numbers you enter. It assumes a VA can take on those hours.
Start for $1Written by the MyRemoteVA team. Search-trend figures come from Google Trends. Prices shown are our current plans. Last updated October 17, 2026. Questions or corrections? Contact us.