Chief of Staff

NeighborWorks America; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 197,000; Full time

Job summary

NeighborWorks America seeks a Chief of Staff to the CEO to act as a strategic advisor and trusted partner, advancing organizational priorities through executive counsel and cross-functional leadership. You will coordinate with senior leaders, support board governance, and oversee the Office of the CEO to drive accountability and mission impact.

The role emphasizes executive communications, performance monitoring, and collaboration across Resource Development and Communications & Marketing to

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in organizational leadership, strategy, or executive-level advisory roles.
• At least 10 years advising senior executives and leading enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Experience advising governance boards, executive leadership teams, and external stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including executive correspondence and reports.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, providing strategic analysis and decision support.
• Lead cross-functional Executive Leadership Team coordination and organizational change efforts.
• Provide strategic oversight for Resource Development and Communications & Marketing divisions.
• Prepare analyses, recommendations, and briefing materials for the CEO and Board.
• Support Board governance activities and manage the Office of the CEO.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive advisory

Board governance

Change management

Communication

Education

Master’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

DC Corporate Office
Washington, DC 20002, USA

*This role will be hybrid, requiring two days each week in office, and can be based out of any of our Kansas City, MO; New York City, NY; or Washington, D.C. Corporate Offices. If you are not within a reasonable distance from one of these offices, the position can be remote eligible.*

NeighborWorks as a Company and an Employer

At NeighborWorks® America, our people are humble, passionate and creative. We lead with empathy, encourage curiosity and embrace ambiguity. For over 45 years, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp., a national, nonpartisan nonprofit organization known as NeighborWorks America, has worked to make every community a place of opportunity. Our network includes nearly 250 organizations in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

NeighborWorks America offers grant funding, peer exchange, technical assistance, evaluation tools and access to professional learning as the nation’s leading trainer of housing and community development professionals. NeighborWorks network organizations provide affordable homes, owned and rented, financial counseling and coaching, community building through resident engagement, and collaboration across health, employment and education. If our mission inspires you, read on to learn more about how you can support our work.

Caring for communities starts with caring for our internal community, our staff. Picture yourself in a collaborative and diverse hybrid environment surrounded by colleagues who challenge, encourage and inspire you. This opportunity offers an impressive total rewards package that includes a 401(k) match of up to 12%, 11 paid holidays, generous leave (including 40 hours of paid volunteer time) and industry-leading benefits. Start your career with NeighborWorks America and take advantage of our Staff Training and Education Program (STEP), designed to support continued learning and professional development. Our benefits are designed to support staff holistically, enabling them to give their best in both work and life.

We are a mission-based organization committed to fostering a high-performing culture guided by our core values:

• We hold ourselves and each other accountable.
• We act with integrity.
• We lead with curiosity.
• We pursue excellence with courage.
• We respect, honor and celebrate each other.
• We collaborate with purpose.

Work at a Glance: Align People, Priorities, and Performance.

Position Summary:

The Chief of Staff serves as a strategic advisor and trusted partner to the Chief Executive Officer, advancing organizational priorities through executive counsel, cross-functional leadership, and enterprise-wide coordination. The role provides strategic analysis, decision support, and leadership of key initiatives to ensure effective execution of organizational goals. Acting as an extension of the CEO, the Chief of Staff represents executive priorities, facilitates collaboration among senior leaders, and strengthens alignment across the organization. The position oversees Resource Development and Communications & Marketing through their respective Senior Vice Presidents, who retain responsibility for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of their divisions. The Chief of Staff supports Board governance activities and manages the effective operation of the Office of the CEO. Through performance monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and organizational change leadership, the Chief of Staff helps drive accountability, organizational effectiveness, and mission impact.

• Strategic Counsel and Executive Partnership
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, providing strategic analysis, recommendations, and decision support on organizational priorities and critical business matters.
  • Assess risks, opportunities, competing priorities, and organizational impacts to support informed decision-making.
  • Conduct research, environmental scanning, and strategic analysis to support planning and organizational effectiveness.
  • Anticipate emerging issues and ensure the CEO is well prepared for key decisions, stakeholder engagements, and strategic discussions.
• Executive Representation and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Represent the CEO and Executive Office in meetings, presentations, stakeholder engagements, and other forums as delegated.
  • Serve as a proxy for the CEO, advancing organizational priorities and facilitating decisions within delegated authority.
  • Build and maintain effective relationships with executive leaders, board members, funders, community partners, and other key stakeholders.
  • Facilitate Executive Leadership Team coordination, cross-functional collaboration, and accountability for strategic priorities and commitments.
  • Monitor progress on key initiatives, identify barriers, and recommend corrective actions.
• Organizational Leadership
  • Provide executive oversight for the Resource Development and Communications & Marketing divisions, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and goals.
  • Provide strategic direction and executive oversight to division leaders, establishing priorities, aligning resources, and ensuring accountability for leadership effectiveness, divisional performance, and organizational results.
  • Foster collaboration and integration across functions to advance organizational objectives.
• Executive Communications
  • Develop executive communications, including correspondence, speeches, presentations, briefing materials, and stakeholder messaging.
  • Prepare analyses, recommendations, and decision-support materials for the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors.
  • Ensure communications are clear, consistent, and aligned with organizational priorities and executive messaging.
• Board Governance and CEO Office Support
  • Support the CEO's engagement with the Board of Directors and Board committees through preparation of meeting materials, briefings, and presentations.
  • Coordinate Board-related communications, track action items, and facilitate follow-up on Board directives and priorities.
  • Serve as a liaison among the CEO, Board members, and executive leadership on governance and strategic matters.
• CEO Office Management
  • Lead the effective operation of the Office of the CEO, ensuring alignment of priorities, information flow, communications, and decision-making processes.
  • Coordinate executive activities, issue resolution, and follow-through to support achievement of organizational objectives.
  • Establish processes that promote efficient execution of CEO and organizational priorities.
• Organizational Change, Performance, and Accountability
  • Lead CEO-sponsored, cross-functional enterprise change initiatives that improve organizational effectiveness, operational performance, and strategic alignment driving executive collaboration, accountability, and measurable results.
  • Partner with executive leaders to implement transformation efforts and organizational improvements.
  • Develop and monitor performance metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to measure progress against strategic objectives.
  • Evaluate organizational performance, identify improvement opportunities, and provide recommendations to support accountability and results.

Nature of Work Contacts:

Maintains frequent contact with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, Board members, employees, and external stakeholders, including funders, community partners, government agencies, consultants, and vendors. Interactions are focused on strategic planning, governance, organizational leadership, stakeholder engagement, decision‑making, and advancement of organizational priorities.

Fiscal Responsibilities:

Provides oversight of budget planning, resource allocation, and financial performance for assigned functions, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and responsible stewardship of resources.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

(a) Education: Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Communications, Nonprofit Management, or a related field and/or relevant work experience.

(b) Experience:

• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in organizational leadership, strategy, or executive-level advisory roles, including at least 10 years of experience advising senior executives, leading enterprise‑wide initiatives, or managing complex cross‑functional efforts within a nonprofit, government, corporate, or similarly complex organizational environment.
• Demonstrated executive leadership experience guiding, developing, and empowering others, fostering a culture of accountability and high performance, and achieving organizational results through strategic influence and collaborative leadership.
• Demonstrated experience advising executive leadership on strategic, operational, and organizational matters.
• Experience leading organizational change initiatives, strategic planning efforts, or enterprise‑wide projects.
• Experience working with governing boards, executive leadership teams, and external stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, with the ability to assess complex issues and develop practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to advise, influence, and collaborate with senior executives and diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, critical‑thinking, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and exercise sound judgment in a fast‑paced environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive correspondence, presentations, briefings, and reports.
• Strong organizational, project management, and implementation skills with a focus on execution and accountability.
• Knowledge of governance practices and experience supporting executive leadership and boards of directors.
• Ability to build effective relationships and foster collaboration across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, and consensus‑building skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism, discretion, and integrity.
• Knowledge of organizational performance measurement, strategic planning, and change management principles.

(d) NeighborWorks America Staff are expected to demonstrate excellence in the following:

• Sensitivity to racial, gender, sexual orientation and cultural differences
• Effective, respectful, and timely communications with internal and external stakeholders
• Listening effectively, seeks and accepts feedback
• Analytic, thoughtful and strategic thinking
• Considering the mission, objectives, and goals of NeighborWorks and demonstrating an understanding of the impact of her/his/their decisions and behavior on the organization

(e) Technology:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and other business productivity tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience overseeing programs, departments, or organizational functions is preferred.
• Experience in a mission-driven or nonprofit organization is preferred.
• Professional certifications in project management, change management, leadership, governance, or related disciplines are desirable.

Working Conditions:

(a) Travel: Up to 20% travel, as require

(b) Physical/ Sensory Demands: Fast paced working environment, extensive computer usage.

(c) Hybrid Work Environment- Requires two days in the office; Remote eligible

Salary Range: $150,000-$197,000

The salary offered for the role will be based on a variety of factors, including geographic location, internal equity, and the candidate’s qualifications/professional experience.

Special Provisions: N/A

Requisition Close Date: November 3, 2026, 5 p.m. ET

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is strictly prohibited as candidates seeking employment with NeighborWorks America engage in our interview process. Prohibited uses of AI include but are not limited to, drafting and submitting misleading resumes, using or referencing AI‑produced answers during any portion of our interview process, or using an AI notetaking tool. Candidates are welcome to take notes, but using AI is not permitted. Prohibited use of AI during the interview process will result in immediate disqualification. In compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, NeighborWorks America will consider reasonable accommodations requested by candidates seeking employment with our organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.