Chief of Staff with Groundwork Collaborative

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.

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.

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.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Chief of Staff’s responsibilities will encompass three primary areas:

• 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 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

• 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
• Act as a communication bridge, clarifying and reinforcing the Executive Director’s messaging
• Oversee the hiring process, ensuring alignment with organizational culture and values

• Translate the Executive Director's visions into actionable steps, secure stakeholder buy-in and manage strategic projects
• Implement and teach a standardized decision-making process
• Drive strategic execution across the organization
• Conduct research and monitor industry innovations and emerging trends
• Demonstrates a strong ability to leverage data and information for problem solving and decision making

• 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
• Skilled in designing, refining, and knowing when to introduce process changes
• Effective in planning, coordinating, and overseeing cross-departmental projects
• 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
• Builds strong relationships and navigates communication effectively
• Works to protect the Executive Director’s time by synthesizing information, anticipating needs, and enhancing efficiency
• Embraces a supportive, behind-the-scenes role
• Maintains high enthusiasm and resilience

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.