Interim Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives

Umoja Community Education Foundation•Sacramento, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Umoja Community Education Foundation (UCEF) is seeking an exceptional executive leader to serve as its Interim Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives. This is a limited-term executive leadership appointment, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. The role is a trusted strategic partner to the CEO, responsible for translating organizational vision into coordinated action and helping to shape the next chapter of the organization. UCEF is a statewide nonprofit organization focused on advancing culturally responsive, equity-centered student success across California's educational institutions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; Master's or other advanced degree preferred.
Eight to twelve years of progressively responsible executive leadership, strategy, consulting, or Chief of Staff experience.
Demonstrated success partnering directly with CEOs, presidents, executive directors, or executive leadership teams.
Exceptional analytical, organizational, communication, and project leadership skills.
Outstanding judgment, discretion, political acumen, and executive presence.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives without relying on formal authority.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education, nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, public policy, organizational development, or statewide initiatives is strongly preferred.
A strategic thinker who enjoys transforming vision into execution.
A systems thinker capable of connecting people, priorities, and organizational outcomes.
Highly organized and execution-oriented.
Comfortable operating in complex and evolving environments.
Skilled at building trust, influence, and alignment across diverse stakeholders.
Passionate about educational opportunity, equity, and systems change.

Responsibilities

Translate CEO priorities into enterprise-wide implementation plans, timelines, and performance measures.
Monitor progress toward Umoja's Strategic Plan and Executive Leadership Team priorities.
Identify organizational risks, bottlenecks, competing priorities, and capacity challenges requiring executive attention.
Lead CEO-directed strategic initiatives spanning multiple departments and functional areas.
Prepare executive analyses, presentations, briefings, and recommendations for CEO and Board decision-making.
Facilitate Executive Leadership Team coordination, alignment, and accountability.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO on organizational effectiveness, executive priorities, and strategic opportunities.
Help maximize executive effectiveness through thoughtful planning, prioritization, and follow-through.