Chief of Staff

ABOUT NATIONAL SKILLS COALITION

National Skills Coalition (NSC) fights for a national commitment to inclusive, high-quality skills training so that more people have access to a better life, and more local businesses see sustained growth. Since 2000, through expert analysis and technical assistance, broad-based organizing, targeted advocacy, and cutting-edge communications, NSC has changed hundreds of state and federal skills policies that have changed thousands of lives and grown local businesses and economies.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief of Staff (COS) reports directly to the CEO, serves as a vital member of the Executive Team, and undertakes diverse roles encompassing executive office operations, board liaison duties, and special cross-departmental projects. The COS's primary focus is to support the CEO, Board, and Executive Team in achieving NSC's mission by focusing on critical organizational needs and enhancing the CEO's effectiveness, ensuring the CEO can focus on the most impactful tasks and decisions. As the board liaison, the COS organizes board meetings, supports core committees of the board, and provides board members with comprehensive administrative and logistical support. The COS also oversees cross-departmental special projects related to evaluation, event strategy, DEI, staff capacity, strategic plan implementation, field engagement, strategic investments, and other initiatives as assigned by the CEO.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CEO Support

• Work closely with the Operations Associate to manage the CEO’s schedule, including coordinating and confirming meetings and appointments, preparing materials, and arranging logistics. The goal is to maximize the CEO’s effectiveness while considering the needs of both internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the CEO, Executive Team, and Operations Associate to plan and organize many of the organization’s meetings, focusing on engaging NSC staff and promoting the organization's mission and values.
• Enhance the CEO's internal meetings by improving meeting preparation, setting clear agendas, gathering necessary materials, and following up afterward.
• Enhance preparation and follow-up for the CEO's meetings and appearances, develop a tracking plan to maximize their benefit to NSC, prepare the CEO for external engagements (e.g., conferences, symposiums, philanthropic partner events, and other occasions), work with Managing Director of Communications to promote these events, and follow up to ensure their effectiveness for NSC's mission.
• Ensure efficient operation of Executive Team and Joint Executive Team/Managing Director (“Leadership Team”) meetings and related activities thorough preparation, organization, next-step management, and support-system implementation.
• Work with COO to prepare, execute, and monitor the Executive Office’s annual budget in furtherance of the guidelines and strategy set by the CEO.
• Enhance Executive Team’s and Managing Directors’ ability to raise critical issues with the CEO and receive timely responses, guidance, and decisions.
• Achieve appropriate and efficient use of NSC staff and resources at conferences in furtherance of NSC’s mission and Strategic Plan.
• Where appropriate, represent NSC and/or the CEO at external meetings and presentations, capturing major takeaways and ensuring appropriate follow-up.

Board Liaison and Support

• Work closely and effectively with the NSC Board of Directors to support their engagement, provide administrative and logistical support, and address their requests.
• Collaborate with the NSC Board Chair and CEO to establish agendas for Executive Committee and full board meetings, as well as with other committee chairs to support their agendas.
• Organize and implement board meetings and their pre- and post-activities and materials in furtherance of the guidelines and strategy set by the CEO.
• Implement enhanced board member tracking and engagement to increase their efforts in support of NSC and its mission.
• Support and organize the efforts of all board committees and its Chair as staff liaison, coordination of the nominating process, and facilitation of periodic review and updating of bylaws, charters, and board policies.
• Facilitate board communications such as periodic CEO updates, board actions such as preparation of board resolutions, board minutes, and board reporting such as annual conflict of interest disclosures and facilitation of government filings.

Cross-Functional Initiatives

• Work with CEO and Executive Team to design and lead a range of special cross-functional initiatives, including but not limited to:
  1. Evaluation. Design and implement an organization-wide evaluation plan in collaboration with an evaluation consultant, the CEO, and the Executive Team, creating proper methods for staff and board input and manageable evaluation tools to collect, synthesize, and report findings. Also, lead the assessment and enhancement of the organization's contact management and database systems to ensure they effectively support organizational goals, streamline communication, and improve decision-making.
  2. Events Strategy. Develop and oversee an event strategy approach that ensures consistency across the organization, engages key departments, optimizes cost efficiencies, and provides guidance and support to staff who are planning and executing these events.
  3. Racial Equity and DEI. Develop and execute a comprehensive racial equity and DEI plan for NSC by collaborating with a consultant, the CEO, the Executive Team, and staff to gather input and monitor the plan’s implementation and effectiveness over time.
  4. Staff Capacity. Work with CEO and COO to design and lead the implementation of a comprehensive staff capacity plan, including assessing current staffing needs, identifying skill gaps, developing strategies for recruitment and development, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and growth objectives.
  5. Strategic Plan Implementation. Implement and monitor progress on a new 3-year strategic plan by establishing milestones, tracking key performance indicators through the creation of a digital KPI dashboard, coordinating with relevant teams, and regularly reviewing and adjusting strategies to ensure alignment with organizational goals and successful execution.
  6. Field Engagement. Work with CEO and Chief Strategy Officer to inform NSC’s field engagement and partnership plans and their implementation for managing speaking engagements, partnerships, and collaborations across NSC by identifying key opportunities, setting goals and guidelines, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, tracking engagement outcomes, and adjusting strategies to enhance organizational visibility and impact.

Innovation and Strategic Investments

• Collaborate with the CEO and Executive Team to identify, evaluate, and plan for potential large-scale funding investments and business opportunities with organization-wide growth implications.
• Lead the research and analysis of market trends to inform strategic decision-making across the organization.
• Facilitate strategic discussions and brainstorming sessions with the CEO, Executive Team, and staff to explore new opportunities and drive innovation.
• Work with CEO and Executive Team to design comprehensive business plans in alignment with the organization's mission and strategic goals.
• Work with CEO and COO to create detailed financial models and projections to assess the viability and impact of potential opportunities.

QUALIFICATIONS

 Minimum 10 to 15 years of relevant management experience in a nonprofit organization, preferably in the workforce or fields adjacent to NSC’s mission.

 Ability to anticipate needs, adjust plans, and resolve issues proactively.

 Strong ability to set priorities, manage multiple tasks, and organize time efficiently.

 Experience liaising with high-level stakeholders, including board members, executives, philanthropic partners, and other decision-makers.

 Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including diplomacy with internal and external stakeholders.

 Strong commitment to NSC’s mission and strategic goals.

 Knowledge of and/or willing to quickly become proficient in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) Outlook, and virtual meeting platforms (Zoom, Teams, and third-party applications)—and ability to learn new systems appropriate to this position

 Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently, manage diverse projects, and maintain high standards of accuracy, discretion, and confidentiality.

 Experience working effectively with diverse individuals and groups.

CORE COMPETENCIES

 Strategic Thinking: Develop and implement long-term strategies aligned with the organization's mission, and effectively solve problems.

 Leadership: Inspire and manage teams to achieve organizational objectives.

 Communication: Convey ideas, policies, and decisions clearly both internally and externally through excellent verbal and written skills.

 Project Management: Efficiently manage multiple projects, set priorities, meet timelines, and utilize project management tools.

 Financial Acumen: Support organizational budgeting, financial planning, and fundraising strategies to align with CEO interests and the strategic plan, and to ensure financial sustainability.

 Relationship Building: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders

 Organizational Skills: Ensure efficient daily operations with exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.

 Adaptability: Remain flexible and adapt to changing circumstances and the evolving needs of the nonprofit sector.

ORGANIZATIONAL CORE COMPETENCIES

• Collaboration, Partnership and Coalition Building The ability to work cooperatively and inclusively with others, cultivate positive and trusting relationships, and generate necessary buy-in to achieve shared goals among partners
• Communication The ability to understand audiences and communicate productively, effectively, and inclusively
• Project Management and Goal Execution The ability to effectively manage time, resources, and priorities to achieve desired project and task outcomes and strategic goals
• Racial Equity and Inclusion The ability to create, maintain, and improve a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and partner community where all can thrive
• Problem-Solving and Strategic Thinking The ability to anticipate and respond to problems that may not have obvious answers with creativity and a solutions-oriented mindset and to see the big picture and anticipate opportunities, environmental changes and challenges to guide the organization toward its objectives.