TITLE:                                                     CHIEF OF STAFF   

DIV/DEPT:                                             OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

LOCATION:                                              RICHMOND, VA (PREFERRED) OR WASHINGTON, D.C.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:                       PRESIDENT/CEO

SUMMARY

The Chief of Staff (COS) role is to enable the organization’s strategy and operations for success in a complex, global environment.   A member of the CEO Management Team, the COS closely monitors and facilitates the organization’s moving and inter-connected parts, enabling the CEO and Vice Presidents to work more effectively and efficiently across the organization, both domestically and globally.   This is not an administrative role; it is a highly strategic and facilitative one that requires the COS to be part analyst and decision framer, part counselor and resource and part project manager and change agent. The position requires a combination of focus and agility, as well as a willingness to play an active, behind-the-scenes role to ensure the organization stays ahead of the curve. The role requires a highly resourceful individual with strong emotional intelligence, self-motivation and strong analytical skills.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Remain alert and responsive to any child safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Child Safeguarding Policy.
2. Orchestration of projects, operations and/or commitments directly involving multiple divisions and/or offices of ChildFund. This position primarily focuses on ensuring alignment, coordination and collaboration among relevant stakeholders and, when such alignment is absent, recommending mitigating approaches. While this responsibility envisions the COS “going deep” in a relatively limited number of areas, s/he would also need to understand the breadth of major projects/operations occurring within the organization.
3. Proactive identification of issues that could impact the successful execution of the CEO’s agenda and the organization’s strategy and annual operating plan. Ensuring the CEO’s time is used wisely, this responsibility involves elevating those issues about which the CEO should be aware and framing/positioning ideas to resolve the problem/mitigate the risk. This is among the most challenging and important aspects of the job. By working with key stakeholders, the COS will need to focus on the underlying causes to issues, identifying blockers to progress, and creatively developing alternative means of resolving issues and making progress.
4. Preparation for board and CEO Management Team meetings. This responsibility is not about logistics and more about content and the COS’ judgment about the appropriateness of the agenda and the sufficiency of the intended preparation. This may mean querying and pushing back on issues and assisting in their preparation for meaningful board and CEO Management Team discussion and decision making.
5. Development of draft communication on behalf of the CEO to both staff and the board. In addition, the COS should also be able to accurately reflect the CEO’s position in internal meetings to help drive understanding of her views, though the role does not entail devolved responsibility to act for the CEO unless so specified.
6. Oversee the work of the Manager, Internal Communications
7. While carrying out all responsibilities, the COS must promote an organizational culture within ChildFund which brings alive the vision, mission and values of the organization for our supporters, children/community and employees, including serving as a champion for creating the employee “ChildFund Experience”.
8. Oversee the recruitment, management and development of staff in the Office of the President, including the executive and administrative assistants and the strategy/planning manager. For the latter position, oversee his/her work in managing the annual planning process and quarterly strategic reviews.
9. Develop and oversee the budget for the Office of President, including all costs centers. Ensure expenses are kept in line with budget and all organizational purchase and travel policies are adhered.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Results/action-orientation; project management skills
• Highly-developed communications skills (written/verbal), emotional intelligence, and interpersonal savvy
• Tact, diplomacy, and perseverance
• Organizational and political agility
• Strong negotiation, collaboration and teamwork skills
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity and trust
• Able to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
• Strong strategic and analytical skills, including financial analysis; ability to process qualitative and quantitative data

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

This role provides direct access to the inner workings of ChildFund and to highly sensitive information. The successful candidate will be discrete, high-energy, agile-minded, strategic, proactive, a direct communicator, highly-organized and committed to the vision and values of ChildFund. In addition, the following requirements will generally define the successful incumbent:

• A minimum of 10 years work experience, including significant experience in NGO setting.
• Applicable/transferable experience: private sector roles in business operations, strategy or consulting; similar experience in the public sector.
• Experience working successfully with a board, preferred.
• Mission-driven; passionate about ChildFund and related constituencies.
• Good understanding of self and strong personal presence.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills
• Willingness to work hard and take direction—but also creatively solve problems for which the answers aren’t always obvious.
• Willingness to travel in the US and internationally
• Fluency in written and spoken English required; professional proficiency in French or Spanish preferred
• Knowledge of ChildFund and key stakeholders desirable but not essential.

EDUCATION                                         

• MBA, or related advanced degree required.

ChildFund International is committed to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of children with whom it is in contact and to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for children.

DISCLAIMER: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.

EOE/M/F/D/V

Required Skills Required Experience

Applications, assembled as a single PDF file, should contain a complete resume, cover letter describing research interests and goals, full list of publications, copies of up to three relevant scientific papers, and the names and contact information of three references (expected to provide letters of recommendation). Submit the PDF file to russos@bu.edu. Qualified applicants should apply as soon as possible, indicating their first availability. The initial appointment will be for one year.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.