Chief of Staff to the Attorney-in-Chief and CEO

The Legal Aid Society (LAS), the nation’s largest and oldest public defense and civil legal services provider, is seeking a highly driven and experienced Chief of Staff (COS). Reporting directly to the Attorney-in-Chief and Chief Executive Officer (AIC/CEO), the COS will act as a key advisor, primary confidant and thought partner, and be responsible for executing key initiatives. The COS will play a central role in supporting the AIC/CEO in driving their agenda forward and leading cross-functional strategic work across LAS to execute on these priorities. The COS will also serve as a primary liaison for the AIC/CEO with both internal and external stakeholders.

The COS is a member of Legal Aid’s executive leadership team and will also work in close partnership with the executive leadership team, other senior leaders in the organization, the Board of Directors, unions and other staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversee Priorities, Processes, and Planning

• Facilitate annual and multi-year strategic planning efforts and translate organizational priorities into concrete, actionable executive priorities. Responsible for managing successful outcomes, including developing and implementing systems and structures to track and hold leaders accountable for progress and ensure alignment of priorities across the Practices and Operations/Administration
• With broad discretion and decision-making authority on behalf of the AIC/CEO, lead and/or monitor cross-functional, organization-wide projects or initiatives from conception to completion. This work includes proactive identification of potential roadblocks, creative problem-solving, consultation with key stakeholders to gain consensus and buy-in, consistent communication channels with affected parties, development of metrics, and tracking of project progress and outcomes
• Serve as a trusted sounding board for the AIC/CEO, providing perspective and strategic advice. Participate in confidential discussions within leadership teams, offering expert opinions / guidance on strategy and operational effectiveness
• Identify areas of inefficiencies or gaps in the AIC/CEO’s office and create systems, processes and workflows to address

Communication, Relationship, Board Support, and Culture

• Provide oversight and coordination around internal and external messaging, working closely with Communications, Human Resources, and Development. Includes drafting messages on behalf of the AIC/CEO and providing feedback on all widely circulated or sensitive communications.
• Facilitate the resolution of matters requiring the AIC/CEO’s attention by drafting sensitive or high-level correspondence
• Works closely with the AIC/CEO to foster an employee culture aligned with LAS’ values and mission, including developing and implementing strategies to promote positive culture and support related efforts at both the micro and macro level
• Provide support to the AIC/CEO on board relations, including content and scheduling of quarterly meetings, and supporting various board committees and partner with the Development team on engaging the Board of Advisers as thought partners for the CEO
• Support the AIC/CEO to develop and maintain strong relationships with the Boards, elected officials, advocates, and other key external stakeholders
• Represent LAS and the AIC/CEO at meetings and events as needed

Administrative Oversight and Coordination

• Supervise the AIC/CEO’s Executive Assistant and provide oversight and support to ensure this role is effectively executing on administrative responsibilities.
• Support Executive Assistant in ensuring the AIC/CEO’s calendar operates efficiently, maximizes time, ensures key meetings are scheduled, and that the AIC/CEO is briefed and prepared for successful meetings.
• Lead preparation for high-priority meetings, ensuring AIC/CEO is appropriately prepared and serving as a proxy for AIC/CEO as needed. Preparations may include collecting, editing, and synthesizing information from various departments and drafting briefings and presentations.
• Tracking outstanding issues or questions for the AIC/CEO and ensuring resolution.

Team Development and Supervision

• Supervise a small number of other staff that may include a Senior Project Manager and Events Coordinator
• Schedule employee hours, assign work, approve time off and remote work schedule requests in accordance with LAS policies and procedures
• Attend leadership meetings, participate in leadership trainings, and utilize current employment policies, practices and guidance as provided by leadership and Human Resources
• Conduct management and supervision practices that affirmatively support equity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Supervise direct reports in setting performance standards, provide routine feedback as well as coaching/counseling, and issue disciplinary action as needed
• Identify and provide training and development opportunities and ensure mandatory trainings are completed.
• Lead organizational and culture change for the unit

Professional Development and Other Duties as Assigned

• Participate in continuous professional development
• Continuously learn about forms of bias in the workplace and demonstrate affirmative behaviors that support an inclusive work environment
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 7+ years of relevant work or educational experience in a related field for large, complex organizations; nonprofit and social justice experience preferred

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience working in nonprofit, social/racial justice organizations and/or working in NYC government
• Experience managing a high-functioning team
• Experience working with unions
• Experience planning and executing events or large projects/initiatives

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Position Based Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Track record of success with project management and coordination of high-profile, complex projects across multiple departments
• Resourceful problem solver with strong analytical skills to diagnose, explain, and fix issues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the poise, confidence, and gravitas to represent the AIC/CEO’s agenda in internal or external meetings
• High levels of emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills to build collaborative relationships across all levels of the organization and with key internal and external stakeholders
• Commitment to handling sensitive information and plans with discretion and confidentiality
• Experience fostering an environment for teamwork and building strong internal and external relationships by earning the support and trust of others and building shared consensus
• Possess strong analytical skills to the crux of an issue and communication skills to clearly articulate and distill complex topics into actionable decision points

Supervision Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed
• Ability to manage the work including: assessment of work process and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevate issues as needed
• Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable
• Ability to create and implement effective communication plans
• Ability to provide meaningful performance feedback for professional development including having difficult conversations and resolving sensitive employee issues
• Pursue continuous learning on forms of systemic oppression of marginalized identities and establish team norms and management practices using an equity mindset and informed by inclusive practices

Organizational Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to The Legal Aid Society’s mission to secure the right to equal justice for all New Yorkers
• Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships
• Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect
• Commitment to The Legal Aid Society’s mission and values

Physical, environment, travel, and other duties required: 

• Mostly sedentary, significant time using a computer and monitor; communicating and meeting using video.
• Requires occasional or frequent physical movement to perform essential job functions which may include, bending, reaching, pulling, pushing, standing or walking for long periods of time, accessing small spaces.
• May or will require travel within NYC, across the five-borough region
• Ability to lift 10 pounds on an occasional/routine basis

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The salary range represents a good faith estimate of the range we expect to pay for this role. The actual salary offered may vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, as well as collectively bargained salary steps for unionized roles.

Salary Range: $185,000 - $205,000

The Legal Aid Society offers a generous benefits package including health insurance, paid vacation, disability, and life insurance, and more.

Click here to read more about benefits.: https://legalaidnyc.org/culture-benefits/benefits-of-working-at-the-legal-aid-society/

Higher Education and Loan Forgiveness

The Legal Aid Society is a qualified employer for the purposes of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness. This position allows an employee to take advantage of PSLF and other State and Federal loan forgiveness programs. Additionally, employees who are New York residents may be eligible for assistance from New York state to assist with loan repayments, depending on years of practice. To learn more, click the links below.

studentaid.gov

hesc.ny.gov/loan-forgiveness-programs

WORK AUTHORIZATION

All applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship for a work visa or permit. We are currently unable to sponsor employment visas or permits. (However, for citizens of Canada and Mexico, LAS will provide a letter documenting employment status that is needed to obtain a TN visa.)

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be completed online via the career portal. We do not accept emailed applications. Submit the following documents as a combined PDF:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

For technical difficulties or questions regarding this posting, please email jobpostquestions@legal-aid.org.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, The Legal Aid Society prohibits discriminatory employment actions against and treatment of its employees and applicants for employment based on actual or perceived race or color, size (including bone structure, body size, height, shape, and weight), religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity (one’s internal deeply-held sense of one’s gender which may be the same or different from one’s sex assigned at birth); gender expression (the representation of gender as expressed through, for example, one’s name, choice of pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, or body characteristics; gender expression may not conform to traditional gender-based stereotypes assigned to specific gender identities), disability, marital status, relationship and family structure (including domestic partnerships, polyamorous families and individuals, chosen family, platonic co-parents, and multigenerational families), genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre-employment conviction record, credit history, unemployment status, caregiver status, salary history, or any other characteristic protected by law.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

The Legal Aid Society is committed to a work culture of zealous advocacy, respect, diversity and inclusion, client-oriented defense, access to justice and excellent representation. We are dedicated to building a strong professional relationship with each of our clients (people), to understanding their diverse circumstances, and to meeting their needs. Our ability to achieve these goals depends on the efforts of all of us and our ability to build strong relationships with our colleagues. Every member of our community is expected to continuously learn about the dynamic, evolving, and emerging field of knowledge of identity, bias, and systemic forms of oppression and participate in productive efforts to dismantling bias in all forms.