Chief of Staff

Environmental Defense Fund•Washington, DC

2d•$210,000 - $260,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This is a rare opportunity for a senior leader who wants to operate at the intersection of organizational strategy, institutional leadership, and mission-driven impact. EDF is navigating a pivotal moment — a more complex political environment, a more competitive talent market, and a deliberate effort to build an institution that can lead at scale. The Chief of Staff will be a central figure in that work, with real influence over how it unfolds. EDF has spent fifty years punching above its weight. This role helps determine whether the next fifty look the same. Reporting to the President, the Chief of Staff serves as a strategic partner to the President, Executive Director, and Executive Management Team, acting as an extension of executive leadership and maintaining alignment across the organization. Functioning as EDF’s connective tissue, the Chief of Staff establishes the infrastructure and executive office operating cadence that enables effective leadership, board engagement, and organizational alignment. This is not a coordination role; the Chief of Staff operates as a proxy for leadership priorities, a trusted thought partner to the executive team, and a force multiplier for the organization’s most consequential work. The role requires exceptional judgment, discretion, and strategic foresight to proactively identify institutional challenges, navigate complex and sensitive situations with a diverse array of stakeholders, and the range to move fluidly between high-stakes strategy and complex execution. The successful candidate will bring intellectual rigor, diplomatic problem-solving skills, and the ability to elevate EDF’s impact and mission delivery in close accordance with its values.

Requirements

Minimum of 15+ years of progressively senior experience, including meaningful time in a Chief of Staff, senior leadership, or senior advisory role within a complex, high-stakes organization — within an advocacy, policy, philanthropy, or comparable environment.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Demonstrated ability to operate at the intersection of strategy and execution, with a track record of getting consequential things done in matrixed organizations.
Intellectual curiosity and the appetite to engage seriously with hard problems across a wide range of domains including science, policy, finance, fundraising, communications, talent, and organizational design.
Exceptional judgment, political acuity, and the instinct to know what needs escalation and what needs resolution.
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write in the executives’ voices and prepare materials for board-level and major donor audiences.
Strong financial and business acumen, with the ability to engage substantively on organizational and budget decisions.
Exceptional credibility, discretion, and interpersonal range to work effectively with trustees, major donors, senior executives, and staff at all levels.
Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competency, inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across all cultures and backgrounds.

Nice To Haves

A Master’s degree in relevant field may substitute for up to 2 years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and Executive Director, helping to shape priorities, navigate complex decisions, and support their focus on the highest leverage priorities.
Participate actively in organizational strategy, bringing a cross-functional vantage point to bear on how EDF sets direction, allocates resources, and positions itself for long-term impact.
Proactively identify opportunities for short- and longer-term successes.
Engage directly in hard problems — synthesizing ambiguous information, pressure-testing ideas, and contributing original thinking to the organization's most consequential choices.
Anticipate issues before they reach the President and ensure executives are operating with clarity, alignment, and momentum.
Support cohesion and connection across the Executive Management team.
Drive follow-through on organizational priorities, managing commitments and ensuring execution doesn't fall through the cracks of a matrixed structure.
Represent the President and Executive Director’s perspectives and priorities internally and externally with credibility and discretion.
Ensure we have well-informed and engaged boards across all entities, and that EDF is well positioned for the future as term limits change trustee membership.
Oversee the Vice President of Board Governance, who leads board relationship infrastructure, including meeting design, agenda development, trustee engagement, and governance committee support.
Engage with the VP of Board Governance, with the President, Board Chair, and Governance Committee Chair to cultivate a strong, diverse board, managing a pipeline of prospective trustees and stewarding existing relationships, including working closely with an external consultant.
Engage directly with major philanthropists, senior civic leaders, and trustees at the highest levels, with the authority and judgment to represent the Executive Office as a principal.
Play a leading role in shaping and advancing EDF's organizational culture, working in partnership with senior leadership to ensure the internal environment reflects EDF's values and ambitions.
Leverage a unique cross-organizational vantage point to identify cultural strengths, gaps, and opportunities that may not be visible from within any single function or program.
Work closely with the SVP of Marketing and Communications, to advise and support internal communications strategy, helping the President, Executive Director, and Executive Management Team communicate with clarity, consistency, and resonance across a complex, distributed organization.
Effectively plan for and manage the Executive Management Team weekly meetings and in person retreats.
Manage the rhythm and agenda of the executive team, ensuring the right issues get the right attention at the right time with the right preparation.
Identify structural and operational friction that impedes decision-making and work across the organization to resolve it.
Identify and support risk management across the organization.
Lead and oversee special initiatives that require cross-functional coordination, serving as the connective tissue between the Executive Office and the broader organization.
Participate in advancing EDF’s Organizational Effectiveness and Culture (OEC) goals, so people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in ways that align with EDF values.
Engage with trustees, donors, public officials, and senior external partners — including major philanthropists, senior government officials, and peer organization leaders — with the authority and judgment to represent the Executive Office credibly.
Support reputation management and relationship stewardship with key constituencies across EDF's global platform.