Chief of Staff

NeighborWorks America • Washington, DC

3d • $150,000 - $197,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief of Staff serves as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to the Chief Executive Officer, advancing organizational priorities through executive counsel, cross-functional leadership, and enterprise-wide coordination. The role provides strategic analysis, decision support, and leadership of key initiatives to support effective execution of organizational goals. Acting as an extension of the CEO, the Chief of Staff represents executive priorities, facilitates collaboration among senior leaders, and strengthens organizational alignment.

The position provides executive oversight of Resource Development and Communications & Marketing through their respective Senior Vice Presidents, who retain responsibility for their divisions’ strategic direction and day-to-day operations. The Chief of Staff supports Board governance activities and leads the effective operation of the Office of the CEO. Through performance monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and organizational change leadership, the role advances accountability, organizational effectiveness, and mission impact.

The position is hybrid, requiring two days each week in the office, and may be based at the Kansas City, New York City, or Washington, D.C. corporate offices. It may be remote eligible for candidates who are not within a reasonable distance of those offices. Travel is up to 20%. The work is fast-paced and involves extensive computer usage.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or a related field, and/or relevant work experience.
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in organizational leadership, strategy, or executive-level advisory roles.
• At least 10 years of experience advising senior executives, leading enterprise-wide initiatives, or managing complex cross-functional efforts in a nonprofit, government, corporate, or similarly complex organizational environment.
• Demonstrated executive leadership in guiding, developing, and empowering others; fostering accountability and high performance; and achieving results through strategic influence and collaborative leadership.
• Demonstrated experience advising executive leadership on strategic, operational, and organizational matters.
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives, strategic planning efforts, or enterprise-wide projects.
• Experience working with governing boards, executive leadership teams, and external stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, including the ability to assess complex issues and develop practical solutions.
• Ability to advise, influence, and collaborate with senior executives and diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive correspondence, presentations, briefings, and reports.
• Strong organizational, project management, and implementation skills, with a focus on execution and accountability.
• Knowledge of governance practices and experience supporting executive leadership and boards of directors.
• Ability to build effective relationships and foster collaboration across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism, discretion, and integrity.
• Knowledge of organizational performance measurement, strategic planning, and change management principles.
• Sensitivity to racial, gender, sexual orientation, and cultural differences.
• Effective, respectful, and timely communication with internal and external stakeholders; effective listening and willingness to seek and accept feedback.
• Analytic, thoughtful, and strategic thinking, including consideration of NeighborWorks’ mission, objectives, and goals and the organizational impact of decisions and behavior.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and other business productivity tools.

Nice To Haves

• Experience overseeing programs, departments, or organizational functions.
• Experience in a mission-driven or nonprofit organization.
• Professional certifications in project management, change management, leadership, governance, or related disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, providing strategic analysis, recommendations, and decision support on organizational priorities and critical business matters.
• Assess risks, opportunities, competing priorities, and organizational impacts to support informed decisions.
• Conduct research, environmental scanning, and strategic analysis for planning and organizational effectiveness.
• Anticipate emerging issues and prepare the CEO for decisions, stakeholder engagements, and strategic discussions.
• Represent the CEO and Executive Office in meetings, presentations, stakeholder engagements, and other delegated forums.
• Serve as a proxy for the CEO, advancing organizational priorities and facilitating decisions within delegated authority.
• Build and maintain relationships with executive leaders, board members, funders, community partners, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate Executive Leadership Team coordination, cross-functional collaboration, and accountability for strategic priorities and commitments.
• Monitor key initiatives, identify barriers, and recommend corrective actions.
• Provide executive oversight for the Resource Development and Communications & Marketing divisions, aligning them with organizational strategy and goals.
• Provide strategic direction and executive oversight to division leaders, establish priorities, align resources, and ensure accountability for leadership effectiveness, divisional performance, and organizational results.
• Foster collaboration and integration across functions.
• Develop executive communications, including correspondence, speeches, presentations, briefing materials, and stakeholder messaging.
• Prepare analyses, recommendations, and decision-support materials for the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors.
• Ensure communications are clear, consistent, and aligned with organizational priorities and executive messaging.
• Support the CEO’s engagement with the Board of Directors and committees by preparing meeting materials, briefings, and presentations.
• Coordinate Board-related communications, track action items, and facilitate follow-up on Board directives and priorities.
• Serve as a liaison among the CEO, Board members, and executive leadership on governance and strategic matters.
• Lead the effective operation of the Office of the CEO, aligning priorities, information flow, communications, and decision-making processes.
• Coordinate executive activities, issue resolution, and follow-through to support organizational objectives.
• Establish processes that promote efficient execution of CEO and organizational priorities.
• Lead CEO-sponsored, cross-functional enterprise change initiatives to improve organizational effectiveness, operational performance, and strategic alignment, and to advance executive collaboration, accountability, and measurable results.
• Partner with executive leaders to implement transformation efforts and organizational improvements.
• Develop and monitor performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to measure progress against strategic objectives.
• Evaluate organizational performance, identify improvement opportunities, and recommend actions that support accountability and results.
• Oversee budget planning, resource allocation, and financial performance for assigned functions, aligning resources with organizational priorities and responsible stewardship.

Benefits

• 401(k) match of up to 12%.
• 11 paid holidays.
• Generous leave, including 40 hours of paid volunteer time.
• Industry-leading benefits.
• Staff Training and Education Program (STEP) supporting continued learning and professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive