The Chief of Staff reports directly to and supports Teach For America, D.C. Region’s Executive Director (ED) with all of her responsibilities as she works to expand and deepen the impact of Teach For America, D.C. Region. The Chief of Staff will help develop and execute strategy in conjunction with the ED on the following major work streams:
- Articulate a vision for and manage Strategy, Talent & Operations (STO) team toward effective implementation of an impactful, sustainable, joyful and cross-functional regional operation including strategy, talent and team development and communications
- Design and coordination of cross-functional regional vision and strategy
- Build relationships and liaise with critical stakeholders and strategic partners (e.g. TFA D.C. Region Board of Directors, TFA national, local and state partners, and other external partners)
This position provides an unparalleled opportunity for individuals with superior organizational, critical thinking, communication, and relationship-building skills to help the ED maximize Teach For America's current impact and future growth in this region. Due to the high-stakes nature of this position, the chief of staff must demonstrate exceptional judgment, professionalism and poise.
Management of Strategy, Talent and Communications Functions
Develop a vision for a strategic, joyful and sustainable regional team, including managing a multi-person team. Set clear priorities, measurable goals, and aligned strategies to:
Strategy (35%)
- Support the Executive Director in designing, managing, executing and assessing annual planning process including strategic planning, quarterly goals, strategizing to address gaps and serving on Regional Management Team and as lead strategic advisor to the Executive Director
- Articulate the direction and support the development and execution of systems and structures for our regional strategic plan and improved cross-functional coordination, collaboration and communication including managing regional operations (team meetings, regional calendar, rituals) and team budget, events and logistics (with the Associate, Events), regional responsibilities and executive support including scheduling, travel coordination, reimbursements and special projects (with the Associate, Executive Support)
- Support the Executive Director in organizing members of the D.C. regional team, board members, partners, and community members to build continuity between regional team priorities and external engagement
- Manage Board meeting logistics, coordination, project management and support governance functions
- Lead a wide range of cross-functional projects (e.g. Teach For All site visits, selection, national strategic planning, audit and compliance management, coordination with national and legal teams)
- Manage the relationship between the region and the national risk and compliance, procurement, administration, and workplace development teams
- Develop and implement the vision and strategy for the D.C. Region’s team-wide culture, integrating our commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) in practice.
Talent (30%)
- Co-lead process of setting vision and direction of ideal and manage the execution of staff experience including recruitment, selection, onboarding, support/development/retention, offboarding, transition planning and bench building for regional staff through collaborative engagement with regional team and national supports
- Set the tone for the positive, inclusive, high-performance culture that ensures we live into our Core Values and results orientation. You cultivate the behaviors, habits, rituals, team processes, and interactions that lead to strong regional and team culture
- Manage, coordinate and facilitate programming, internal and external professional development opportunities for regional staff members including Elevate, and highlight organizational and external opportunities for professional development
- Manage the design and implementation of our team-wide DEI Learning Series in partnership with the Human Assets (HA) team and relevant external partners
- Manage the relationship between the region and the national HA and Labor Relations, People Partners and Talent Recruitment teams
Communications (25%)
- Set vision and direction for communications, including managing the execution of internal and external communications (e.g. STO blasts, streamlining and maximizing internal communication aligned to our strategic plan/staff constituency), digital engagement and regional brand strategy
- Lead regional ad-hoc Strategic Communications board committee
- Position the Executive Director, Chief Impact Officer, and Chief of Development and Finance to engage in external and internal visibility opportunities to strengthen Teach For America’s brand and build awareness around the region’s work and progress
- Participate in external and internal visibility opportunities to strengthen Teach For America’s brand and build awareness around the region’s work and progress
- Manage the relationship between the region and the national Marketing & Communications and Public Partnerships team. (e.g. REGAL)
Regional Team Responsibilities (10%)
- Support, attend and/or participate in regional team activities including but not limited to: corps member selection and matriculation, corps members and alumni professional development including 4 Saturdays and regional pre-service (one week in June), functional teams meetings and retreats.
The ideal candidate will have the acumen and finesse to handle complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, mixing long-term projects with the urgency of immediate demands. They must possess exceptional judgment and communication skills, and must be able to collaborate with and achieve actionable results through others, the ability to build strong and sustainable relationships, and the capability to interact within all levels of the organization. The ideal candidate is a culture leader who models TFA core values.
At Teach For America, we believe it's particularly important to foster the leadership of individuals - at all levels - who share the racial and economic backgrounds of the students with whom we work. Our staff is diverse and we are thrilled to have individuals representing all racial backgrounds working here.
- Minimum 6-8 years professional work experience (team management, coordinating strategic priorities, high stakes relationship management, experience with Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness)
- Superb planning and project management skills, with a keen attention to detail
- Exceptional judgment, strong initiative, and a quick learner
- Ability to be flexible and take an optimistic approach to work with an orientation towards being proactive, solutions-focused and helpful
- Poise, confidence, and maturity interacting with key stakeholders, with the ability to build strong relationships and work with people at all levels of the organization
- Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesize large amounts of data and information
- Strong communication skills, including written communications
- Experience planning and facilitating learning and development including but not limited to Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness work
- Demonstrates deep commitment to Teach For America's mission, core values, and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusiveness
- Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Work Demands
- Limited travel is required
By joining staff, you join a network of individuals committed to pursuing equity for all students and developing themselves as professionals in the process. We as an organization value the longevity of our employees and offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits plan. The salary for this position is also competitive and depends on your prior work experience. Please be advised, you will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail after you begin the application process.