Chief of Staff

The Carroll School•Lincoln, MA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief of Staff is a strategic partner to the Head of School and a key connector between the Head, the Board of Trustees, and the senior leadership team. Reporting directly to the Head, this person helps translate the school's strategic priorities into coordinated action and ensures the Head's time and attention are directed where they matter most. The ideal candidate is a sophisticated, discreet, and highly credible leader who can anticipate issues before they surface, synthesize complex information into clear recommendations, and move projects forward across and among teams. They exercise sound judgment on urgent and sensitive matters, know when to act, escalate, or delegate, and build trust with trustees, school leaders, employees, and families. Carroll is a close, relational community, and this is an in-person role.

Requirements

5+ years of progressively responsible experience in a chief of staff, executive office, board relations, or comparable strategic role; independent school, nonprofit, or other mission-driven setting strongly preferred
Demonstrated ability to work as a trusted partner to senior executives and boards
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
Unwavering discretion and sound judgment in handling sensitive information.
Proven ability to lead projects from inception to completion across a complex organization; highly skilled user of project management and similar productivity technologies
Success leading cross-functional teams
Comfort with ambiguity, change, and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed, including board and community events
Bachelor’s degree required

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor, offering candid perspective, context, and recommendations on priorities, decisions, and communication
Manage the Head's agenda and time strategically, aligning their calendar with the school's top priorities
Prepare the Head for high-stakes meetings, conversations, and presentations with briefing materials, background research, and talking points
Anticipate emerging issues and opportunities, and flag them early with options for how to respond
Act as a confidential first point of contact for urgent and sensitive matters, using judgment to resolve, escalate, or route to the right person
Serve as the primary liaison between the Head, the Board Chair, and trustees, ensuring clear, timely, and consistent communication
Partner with the Head and Board Chair to set agendas and shape board meeting content, so that time is spent on strategy and governance rather than reporting
Coordinate materials and logistics for all board and committee meetings, special sessions, and retreats, and ensure thorough follow-through on decisions and action items
Lead implementation and maintenance of board management tools and the trustee portal
Partner with the board secretary to ensure accurate minutes and institutional records
Partner with the senior leadership team to keep strategic priorities aligned, deadlines met, and cross-departmental work coordinated
Lead special projects and strategic projects on behalf of the Head, from scoping through completion, collaborating with offices across the school
Serve on cross-departmental committees and working groups as directed by the Head
Provide leadership, guidance, and support to campus administrators across all buildings, fostering a sense of belonging and building a strong collaborative community
Help shape and support the Head's engagement with families, employees, donors, alumni, and external partners
Partner with Advancement, Admissions, Communications, and other teams on events and community-wide moments, ensuring the Head's role is well-prepared and purposeful
Manage the budgets for the Head's office and the Board of Trustees
Oversee the operations of the Head's office, including calendar, travel, and event logistics, directing or supporting administrative support as appropriate