Chief of Staff

Title:  Chief of Staff  

Reports to:  President  

FLSA Status:  Exempt  

Salary Range:  $189,509 - $214,667

Location:  Remote 

Tentative Start Date:  As soon as possible 

 

About Race Forward

Race Forward's mission is to catalyze movement building for racial justice. In partnership with communities, organizations, and sectors, we build strategies to advance racial justice in our policies, institutions, and culture. Race Forward imagines a just, multiracial democratic society free from oppression and exploitation, in which people of color thrive with power and purpose.
 

Since 1981, Race Forward has brought a systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity.  In 2017 Race Forward united with the Center for Social Inclusion to become the new Race Forward.  

Employment at Race Forward is contingent upon a new employee submitting on their start date: (1) proof they are up-to-date on their vaccinations; or (2) an application for an approved exemption as an accommodation due to:  (i) a medical reason; (ii)  a sincerely held religious belief; or (iii) other exemption recognized by applicable state law. Up-to-date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines. Employees may request an accommodation in good faith without fear of retaliation.  Accommodations will be granted where they do not cause Race Forward an undue hardship, pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others, or prevent an employee from performing the essential functions of the employee’s job. Exemption application forms are available from Human Resources at [email protected].

Position Summary

 

The Chief of Staff reports directly to the President and works closely with and on behalf of the President and the Senior Leadership Team, coordinating a wide range of complex activities and responsibilities. The Chief of Staff is the President's primary liaison and represents the President before a variety of internal and external constituencies. They will provide leadership and overall project and relationship management for key strategic projects between the President's Office and others within and external to Race Forward. The Chief of Staff carries primary responsibility to provide the President with strategic counsel and guidance. They serve as a member of the executive and senior leadership teams, participating in the formulation of organizational strategy, guiding the development of strategic and leadership interventions.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

 

  • Triage issues on the President's behalf, negotiating solutions to complex problems, and handling confidential and sensitive issues;
  • Provide the President with timely and balanced views of current and emerging issues/problems and suggest options for dealing with them;
  • Interact with executive and senior leaders on advancing the President's goals and objectives;
  • Coordinate meetings and briefings with disparate stakeholders and the President, participating as required, and managing follow-up;
  • Coordinate implementation of strategic planning priorities, including strategic calendering process, working in close collaboration with the Executive Leadership Team, to ensure sufficient attention is directed to key strategic priorities and key internal and external constituencies;
  • Ensure that the President is well informed and briefed in advance of meetings and other engagements;
  • Develop and/or review items for the President's signature, formulating recommendations and presenting options, and drafting responses;
  • Provide leadership and mentoring in creating an atmosphere of excellence and teamwork among all staff within the Office of the President, and executive and senior leaders;
  • Represent the President in meetings, on standing and ad-hoc committees, and in external meetings as needed;
  • Supervise administrative support staff in the Office of the President to ensure that efforts are aligned;
  • Provide creative and strategic thought partnership to senior leaders;
  • Define goals that lead to supporting Office of the President priorities;
  • Problem-solve with executive and senior leaders on crisis issues as they arise;
  • Collaborates with the Chief Operating Officer on board and committee engagement ensuring critical matters are prioritized and managed accordingly; and
  • Foster connections and collaboration with all Race Forward Offices.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

To perform successfully in this role, incumbent should possess skills identified below:

  • Strong understanding of the racial justice movement, including Race Forward's mission, vision, and programmatic work;

  • Understanding of organizational development and change management;

  • Ability to manage complex projects with multiple moving pieces, stakeholders, and deadlines;

  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills;

  • Ability to form and maintain strong collaborative partnerships with members of the SVP team, Senior Team, Board of Directors, donors, organizational partners and other strategic stakeholders;
  • Ability to exercise discretion, sound judgment and the highest professional ethics;
  • Strong interpersonal and relational skills, adept at facilitating large groups towards a common goal;
  • Ability to communicate and effectively share information with senior leadership and other audiences;
  • Able to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment; and
  • Highly advanced levels of ingenuity and analytical skills are required to evaluate alternatives and develop new approaches to resolving problems and assess ambiguous and/or changing facts or conditions affecting the work group, division, or organization.

 

Qualifications and Experience 

 

  • 10-15 years of experience in senior management within the nonprofit sector; specific experience working with philanthropy, social justice movements and organizational development;
  • Demonstrated skills in the principles and practices of effective management including: team leadership; collaborative leadership; change management; continuous quality improvement initiatives; delegation; implementation; establishing goals, objectives, and standards; supervision; and evaluation of programs and of individual performance;
  • Thorough knowledge of the racial justice ecosystem to understand priorities, issues, motivations, and constraints;
  • Excellent consulting, relationship building, and strategic thinking skills; 
  • Excellent ability to establish mission and goals at the macro-level and to lead members of the executive and senior leadership teams to develop goals in alignment with mission;
  • Excellent political acumen and ability to navigate complex organizations;
  • Sophisticated leadership abilities to establish goals and motivate and influence others to achieve;
  • General knowledge of financial analysis and reporting techniques, human resources and risk management planning, and accounting and payroll;
  • Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and project planning skills;
  • Advanced written, verbal, and presentation skills for influencing and facilitating sustained change;
  • Highly developed diplomacy, influential, and interpersonal skills to work effectively across the organization at all levels; and
  • Thorough knowledge of the legal constraints and opportunities for diversity and racial equity interventions.

 

Additional Information

 

  • Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting/standing.
  • Light work that includes moving objects up to 20 pounds.
  • Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

 

How to Apply

 

External Applicants: To apply for this position, please click the link below. To ensure full consideration, please be sure to include both a cover letter and resume with your application.

https://raceforward.isolvedhire.com/jobs/ 

 

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Race Forward is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.  In keeping with our commitment, Race Forward will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.  Accordingly, if reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].

EEO Statement

 

Race Forward provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.