Chief of Staff

Who We Are:

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a 501(c)(4) organization, is the premier coalition of more than 240 organizations that promotes and protects civil and human rights in America. The Leadership Conference has coordinated national lobbying efforts on behalf of every major civil rights law since 1957. To learn more about The Leadership Conference, please visit www.civilrights.org.

The Leadership Conference Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, builds public will for federal policies that promote and protect civil and human rights in the US. Founded in 1969 as the education and research arm of The Leadership Conference, the Education Fund’s campaigns empower advocates to push for progressive change in the US. To learn more about the Education Fund, please visit www.leadershipconferenceedfund.org.

About the Role:

In May 2022, civil rights attorney and activist Maya Wiley took the helm of both the Leadership Conference and its Education Fund, with a vision to save, as well as strengthen democracy in a turbulent and changing landscape and build on the legacy of this powerful coalition platform and its public education arm. Under Maya’s leadership, both entities are building on their strengths as multi-issue, diverse entities with a growing coalition and growing audiences. The Leadership Conference and Education Fund is also increasing proactive and forward-looking campaigns, strengthening the field’s ability to do the same, bridging the federal, state, and local work as fundamental rights are increasingly contested in all arenas. The Chief of Staff is a senior management-level position, reporting directly to the President & CEO in a dynamic, fast-paced, and high-stakes environment in which collaboration, innovation, goal-oriented project management, and nimble, priority-driven discipline and communications are valued.

The Chief of Staff will work closely with the President & CEO, supporting the President & CEO’s management of the Senior Staff and the management and operations of the Office of the President & CEO, ensuring priorities and strategic agenda are being tracked, met and reported to the Office of the President, serving as a sounding board, and overseeing the implementation of key work-streams on behalf of the President & CEO. The Chief of Staff will work to ensure that the President & CEO’s time is strategically directed and that they remain appropriately informed about important issues impacting the organization. This person may also be asked to accompany or represent the President & CEO at internal and external meetings.

This position reports to the President & CEO and is not part of the collective bargaining unit.

 What you will do:

Direct Support

  • Ensure effective and efficient tracking and reporting of priorities and strategic agenda to the President & CEO, including overseeing and improving internal tracking and reporting systems and their implementation.
  • Guide and support the effective collaboration of the Senior Leadership Team, including developing meeting agendas, supporting information flow, and identifying opportunities and trouble-shooting challenges.
  • Strategically manage the President & CEO’s time by working with the executive office to address external opportunities and assess their fit against priorities.
  • Act as gatekeeper to the President & CEO’s availability to ensure involvement in projects or decision-making processes occur at key times.
  • Prepare the President & CEO for meetings and speeches by managing the development of briefing materials and talking points.
  • Follow up on contacts made by the President & CEO and support the cultivation of new relationships that serve the strategic priorities of the Leadership Conference and support positive ongoing relationships, including assuring that meeting requests to the Special Assistant to the President are curated based on priorities.
  • Create and edit acknowledgment letters and other written communications from the President & CEO to principal stakeholders in partnership with the appropriate departments when necessary.
  • Serve as a liaison between staff, the Senior Leadership Team, department leads, and the President & CEO.
  • Keep the President & CEO abreast of The Leadership Conference’s culture, including staff well-being, project statuses, new proposals, and planning.

Organizational Strategic Planning

  • Support the collaboration of the Senior Leadership Team to ensure that the organization’s strategic direction is consistent in determining and prioritizing organizational and programmatic strategies.
  • Ensure effective tracking and reporting of the implementation of strategic initiatives from development through successful execution.
  • Support and communicate with the Senior Leadership Team on decision-making, program management, and initiative implementation.
  • Manage large cross-functional projects by identifying and bringing together the internal stakeholders necessary to help drive them and ensure broad buy-in and adoption.
  • Work with the President & CEO to set strategic priorities and identify areas requiring planning and attention, tracking metrics to monitor progress and impact.
  • Assess the efficacy of current processes and establish organizational procedures for optimized efficiency and productivity in areas to include:
    • Regular reporting and ad hoc communication between organization senior leaders and the President & CEO;
    • Meeting and event preparation for the President & CEO, including the development of written briefing material and talking points;
    • Cross-functional collaboration; and
    • Executive decision-making.

Perform other duties as necessary and related.

 What you will bring:

  • A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study or related field; A Master’s Degree in a relevant field, including but not limited to Non-Profit Management, Political Science, Public Policy, or Law Degree preferred.
  • A minimum of 10 years experience in a leadership/management role.
  • Commitment to The Leadership conference mission and a record of engagement with civil rights and social justice issues.
  • Experience in strategy building and program implementation. Experience in developing or managing advocacy campaigns is highly valued.
  • Management-minded and a strategic planner.
  • Highly experienced with project coordination and management.
  • Able to successfully organize, lead, and direct teams.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and a knack for relationship-building and collaboration across varying departments.
  • A proven track record of implementing institutional policies, programs, and activities.
  • Detail-oriented and data-driven.
  • Proven problem solver who can make clear-headed decisions while under pressure.
  • Ability to analyze and compile large data sets and present effective reports.
  • High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Internet research skills.
  • Impeccable time management and multi-tasking skills.
  • The ability to work in a high-paced environment.
  • Flexibility with work schedule to meet the demands of the role.
  • Ability to work comfortably in a diverse environment.
  • Open, motivating, collaborative, and approachable working style and demeanor.
  • Capacity to lead via influence with an approach that attracts and inspires others.
  • Flexible, adaptable, and able to prioritize and multi-task when necessary.
  • Demonstrated integrity and excellence in their work.
  • Self-confident, self-sufficient, and self-directed.
  • A problem-solver who is resilient in the face of conflict.

What We Offer:

The Organizations offer its employees a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, and generous personal leave and vacation time. Employees can also take advantage of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and a retirement savings account.

Salary Range – $206,700 – $244,775, dependent on years of related experience.

To apply, please visit our Career Center and submit your resume and cover letter.

Telework Policy:

Staff may work from the office or remotely until March 1, 2025, which is when our updated telework policy will take effect. The policy will be implemented in three phases.

The first phase begins March 1, 2025; staff members will be required to work in-person from the office at least two days per month. The second phase begins September 2, 2025; staff members will be required to work in-person from the office at least one day per week. The final phase begins January 1, 2026; staff members will be required to work in-person from the office at least two days per week.

All positions are subject to the telework policy summarized above. (A more detailed description of the telework policy – to include how in-office workdays are to be scheduled – is available upon request from People & Culture.)

Please note staff members are exempt from working in-person if they have received medical accommodation or their position is designated as temporarily or permanently remote.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace

The Leadership Conference and The Education Fund are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.

Splash Statement
Join the fight Project 2025: What’s At Stake for Civil Rights