Chief of Staff

Are you someone who can see the big picture while also being able to see how each part of an organization contributes to the overall success/vision?  Are you a big picture strategist with the operational acumen to turn that strategic vision into action?  If you answered yes to those questions, then this is an outstanding opportunity for you.  We are searching for a Chief of Staff to work at the intersection of strategy and operations within an organization committed to creating meaningful change. The Chief of Staff will be positioned to make significant contributions to both our immediate organizational success and the broader progressive movement

 

As Chief of Staff, you will be in the mix of it all. Here is how you will make your impact (but isn’t limited to):  

Executive and Organizational Leadership 

• Organize executive team meetings with relevant, timely, as well as long-term discussions and decision points
• Manage confidential information and sensitive organizational matters
• Serve as a trusted advisor on organizational strategy and operations
• Provide strategic and analytical counsel to the executive director
• Serve as a liaison between executive leadership and internal/external stakeholders
• Represent the organization  in key meetings and strategic discussions
• Serve as a backup to the Executive Director as needed and represent the organization in internal and external forums
• Provide executive-level administrative oversight to ensure the smooth day-to-day functioning of the organization

Organizational Progress & Efficiency 

• Monitor progress against organizational priorities and adjust strategies as needed, considering how changes affect the organizational ecosystem
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across all departments
• Design and facilitate executive meetings, board sessions, and strategic planning retreats
• Ensure productive meeting outcomes through strong facilitation and follow-through
• Facilitate clear, consistent communication and information flow across all organizational levels
• Coordinate cross-departmental initiatives and strategic impact

Relationship & Project Management 

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key external partners, donors, and allies
• Lead and oversee high-level projects from conception through execution, ensuring projects serve the organization’s holistic strategic vision
• Represent organizational interests at conferences, coalition meetings, and strategic convenings
• Navigate diverse stakeholders to advance shared objectives
• Manage sensitive communications and high-level negotiations
• Manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail

Team Supervision, Leadership, and Development 

• Provide strong leadership, supervision, and guidance to Operations, Power Building, and Strategic Initiative staff, driving the departments to achieve organizational priorities
• Promote staff growth, collaboration, and skills-building across teams, using clear structures to ensure accountability and follow-through
• Build strong relationships with staff across the organization while fostering a collaborative team culture
• Adapt management practices to support individual team members while advancing organizational priorities.

Finance, Fundraising, and Administration 

• Foster financial awareness and accountability within the leadership team
• Participate in fundraising, proposal development, and related reporting

Other duties may be assigned as needed to support organizational priorities.

People’s Action Institute is headquartered in Chicago, IL, and also has an office in Washington, DC.  This can be a remote position, with a preference for candidates based in Chicago or the DMV area, in which case the position will be hybrid. We do not pay relocation expenses.

Travel Requirements (Yes/No): Yes 

For candidates based outside of Chicago: This role requires travel up to 1–2 times per month for meetings, events, and staff stepbacks.

For candidates based in Chicago: This role may require travel up to 6–12 times per year, primarily for meetings and events.

The ideal Chief of Staff should have the following experience and qualifications: 

Qualifications (Who you are/ What you bring):

• Solution-Driven Mindset: Proactive approach to identifying challenges and implementing effective solutions
• Strategic Thinking: Excitement for and capability in developing interventions with long-lasting impact
• Understanding of the value of strong operations in achieving organizational goals
• Comfort with ambiguity and skill in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Strong attention to detail with exceptional organizational, time management, analytical, and problem-solving skills
• Strong commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice and their intersections, both inside and outside the organization

Experience (What you have done):

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience at a progressive political organization, firm, or movement organization
• Significant experience in leadership, operations, or management roles, preferably in dynamic organizing environments
• Demonstrated track record of managing competing priorities in fast-paced settings
• 5+ years in a leadership and management role.
• Exceptional Communication Skills: Experience to articulate complex ideas clearly across diverse audiences and contexts
• Strong Facilitation Skills: Experience to bring together diverse stakeholders around a shared vision
• Experience toggling between different delegation and management techniques based on situational needs
• Understanding of the value of strong operations in achieving organizational goals
• Experience organizing diverse stakeholders into cohesive, action-oriented groups
• Experience in adjusting quickly to diverse needs, shifting priorities, and varying levels of urgency

Status: Full-time, Regular, Exempt, benefits-eligible

Union Position (Yes/No): No

Salary Range: Chief Level-  Level H – $133,939 – $184,875

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Operations Director, Power Building Director, and Strategic Initiatives Directo

Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Medical on the first day of employment, and Dependent Care Flex Spending Account after 90 days, 401(k) plan after 30 days, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, 4 floating holidays (Presidents Day, May Day, Indigenous People’s Day, Veterans Day, 10 paid holidays plus the last two weeks of the year that includes Christmas Eve/Christmas Day as well as, New Year’s Eve, and you accrue two weeks of vacation your first year of employment.

Here at People’s Action/Institute, we are committed to providing an equitable and intentional hiring process for all of our candidates. Our process of hiring for full-time and part-time positions consists of three rounds. The first round will be conducted by our HR staff, the second round will be conducted by a hiring committee that includes staff from different parts of the organization or volunteers that have a stake in the position and the hiring manager for the position. Before anyone moves to the final round, you will complete a project meant to evaluate your skills for the position. Anything that you submit or complete for the project will be used to evaluate you for the position you are applying to. After you complete the project, if you advance to final interviews, we will also request references from our finalists. Our final round will be conducted by the hiring manager and their supervisor.

We believe in fair compensation for your work – no matter where you live. Our salary scale for full-time and part-time employees is comparable to salaries you would find in Chicago, IL, where our headquarters is based. It is based on your months/years of work experience. While we do not determine education as a factor in whether we hire someone to work for People’s Action Institute, we do factor in any relevant higher education experience that you have. To further counter pay inequities and inequality on the team, we have a non-negotiable compensation practice and provide opportunities for advancement for full-time employees based on performance evaluation. Your starting pay reflects where you sit within our salary scale and is based on the information that you provide us on your resume. PAI continues to monitor wages through triennial compensation analysis to ensure that we continue to offer our prospective and current employees fair wages.

People’s Action/Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer; womxn, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQI people are strongly encouraged to apply.