Groundwork Collaborative
Chief of Staff
Groundwork Collaborative, Washington, DC, United States
POSITION OVERVIEW
Title: Chief of Staff
Company: Groundwork Collaborative
Reports to: Executive Director
Oversees: Executive Assistant to the ED and Operations Team
Location: Washington D.C. This a hybrid workplace, with Mondays and Wednesdays in the office and three days remote, as well as the occasional need to work in person for events and special projects.
Overtime Status: Exempt
ABOUT GROUNDWORK COLLABORATIVE
Launched in 2018, the Groundwork Collaborative is driven by the idea that We Are The Economy: when all of us are doing well, that is when our economy thrives. We fight for progressive economic policy and narrative change that builds accountable public power, breaks up concentrations of private power, and affirmatively centers people too long left out of prosperity. We understand that taken together, these actions will lead to a stronger and more resilient economy.
Groundwork’s unique structure – part strategic communications, part think tank, and part issue advocacy organization – allows us to drive narrative and policy change with credibility, expertise, and impact. We work with four core audiences – the media, policymakers, economic policy experts, and grassroots organizations. We use targeted policy campaigns, timely research, and messaging to build a community across the progressive movement to advance a truly inclusive economic worldview.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief of Staff will serve as a key partner to the Executive Director (ED), optimizing time management, enhancing team culture, and driving strategic initiatives. This role is crucial in ensuring that the ED's time is focused on high-impact activities, strategic priorities, and Groundwork’s future. Working closely with the Executive Assistant, the Chief of Staff will act as a gatekeeper, anticipating needs, managing workflows, and stepping in as a proxy when appropriate. Additionally, the Chief of Staff will foster a collaborative environment, aligning team efforts and improving information flow to keep decision-making and execution on track. This individual will be both a strategist and an executor, translating high-level vision into practical steps and delivering results that advance the ED’s goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Salary
Salary Range of $175,000 - $200,000 + Generous Benefits Package including five weeks of vacation and personal leave, two week-long office closures, additional time off for floating and federal holidays, zero-premium health insurance, a generous HRA, a retirement match of up to 6%, up to 16 weeks parental leave, and health club and cell-phone reimbursements, among other benefits. This position is not in the bargaining unit.
To apply, please submit your materials via Prime Chief of Staff, our recruiting partner for this role.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Title: Chief of Staff
Company: Groundwork Collaborative
Reports to: Executive Director
Oversees: Executive Assistant to the ED and Operations Team
Location: Washington D.C. This a hybrid workplace, with Mondays and Wednesdays in the office and three days remote, as well as the occasional need to work in person for events and special projects.
Overtime Status: Exempt
ABOUT GROUNDWORK COLLABORATIVE
Launched in 2018, the Groundwork Collaborative is driven by the idea that We Are The Economy: when all of us are doing well, that is when our economy thrives. We fight for progressive economic policy and narrative change that builds accountable public power, breaks up concentrations of private power, and affirmatively centers people too long left out of prosperity. We understand that taken together, these actions will lead to a stronger and more resilient economy.
Groundwork’s unique structure – part strategic communications, part think tank, and part issue advocacy organization – allows us to drive narrative and policy change with credibility, expertise, and impact. We work with four core audiences – the media, policymakers, economic policy experts, and grassroots organizations. We use targeted policy campaigns, timely research, and messaging to build a community across the progressive movement to advance a truly inclusive economic worldview.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief of Staff will serve as a key partner to the Executive Director (ED), optimizing time management, enhancing team culture, and driving strategic initiatives. This role is crucial in ensuring that the ED's time is focused on high-impact activities, strategic priorities, and Groundwork’s future. Working closely with the Executive Assistant, the Chief of Staff will act as a gatekeeper, anticipating needs, managing workflows, and stepping in as a proxy when appropriate. Additionally, the Chief of Staff will foster a collaborative environment, aligning team efforts and improving information flow to keep decision-making and execution on track. This individual will be both a strategist and an executor, translating high-level vision into practical steps and delivering results that advance the ED’s goals.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Ensure the ED's highest and best use of time
- Attend meetings and events alongside or on behalf of the Executive Director, ensuring timely follow-up on all action items.
- Provide consistent and relevant briefing information to the Executive Director.
- Anticipate the Executive Director’s needs and proactively prepare solutions.
- Lead and develop the EA to align closely with the Executive Director’s priorities.
- Review and ensure quality standards are met before work reaches the Executive Director.
- Ensure "quality control" of information and communication to reduce reactivity.
Operations Oversight
- Champion the organization's culture, fostering a positive, collaborative environment.
- Manage the day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth and efficient functioning.
- Foster a collaborative and tightly-knit team that is aligned on goals and strategic objectives.
- Introduce necessary structures, processes, and tools to improve alignment and facilitate information sharing.
- Connect the dots across initiatives and projects, ensuring that relevant information reaches the right people and that key stakeholders are included in important conversations.
- Act as a communication bridge, clarifying and reinforcing the Executive Director’s messaging to ensure clear, two-way information flow between the Executive Director and the team.
- Oversee the hiring process, ensuring alignment with organizational culture and values, and work closely with teams to attract, evaluate, and onboard top talent effectively.
Deliver results on behalf of the Executive Director
- Translate the Executive Director's visions into actionable steps, secure stakeholder buy-in, and manage strategic projects to completion without direct Executive Director involvement.
- Implement and teach a standardized decision-making process to foster consistency and clarity in decision-making.
- Drive strategic execution across the organization.
- Conduct research and monitor industry innovations and emerging trends.
- Demonstrate a strong ability to leverage data and information for problem-solving and decision-making.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
- 10-15 years of professional experience, with a background in both supporting a senior executive and managing teams.
- Experience on Capitol Hill, in legal, and/or in human resources is a plus, but not required.
- Skilled in designing, refining, and knowing when to introduce process changes.
- Effective in planning, coordinating, and overseeing cross-departmental projects to meet objectives.
- Proficient in developing and implementing initiatives aligned with organizational goals.
- Experienced in hiring, performance management, and team development.
- Proficient with platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, and Trello to ensure smooth communication and collaboration.
- Builds strong relationships and navigates communication effectively to drive initiatives forward with diverse stakeholders.
- Works to protect the Executive Director’s time by synthesizing information, anticipating needs, enhancing efficiency, delegating, and acting on her behalf as needed.
- Embraces a supportive, behind-the-scenes role, focused on assisting the Executive Director.
- Maintains high enthusiasm and resilience, prioritizing quality and values even in ambiguity, setting pace and focus for the organization.
Salary
Salary Range of $175,000 - $200,000 + Generous Benefits Package including five weeks of vacation and personal leave, two week-long office closures, additional time off for floating and federal holidays, zero-premium health insurance, a generous HRA, a retirement match of up to 6%, up to 16 weeks parental leave, and health club and cell-phone reimbursements, among other benefits. This position is not in the bargaining unit.
To apply, please submit your materials via Prime Chief of Staff, our recruiting partner for this role.
#J-18808-Ljbffr