Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice (LDSJ): Chief of Staff

LOCATION

SALARY

COMPANY

DEPARTMENT

EMPLOYMENT TYPE

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Summary

Organization: Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice

Position: Chief of Staff

Hours: Full-time, exempt, generally, 9:00am-5:00pm ET. Some weekends and evenings may be needed. Location: This position will be expected to work in-person in New York City, dependent on public health guidelines (currently a hybrid work schedule, with 3 days in the office, subject to change). The office is located on the City College of New York campus, and this position will be part of the staff team of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership.

Pay and Benefits: The salary range is $165,000-$175,000 for this position. This position will be an employee of the CUNY Research Foundation, which provides a comprehensive benefits package.

Position Description

Two schools at the City University of New York (CUNY) – the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at City College of New York and the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies – established a national center to recruit, develop and connect diverse leaders for social change who can imagine and implement visionary solutions for the enormous challenges we face in the 21st century. Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice (LDSJ) sees a compelling opportunity in the abundant talent of the emerging generation, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), women and LGBTQ leaders and meets a vital need for a scaled initiative that prepares leaders early in their careers in social justice traditions, ideological perspectives, literature, and history to achieve power in all sectors.

The flagship programs of LDSJ are intensive cohort programs for early and mid-career participants that will provide a broad, ecumenical curriculum to give leaders a grounding in the history and theory of social change, in addition to real-world practice and experience. Leaders in the cohorts will participate in paid internships, have options to connect to degree-granting academic programs, and have access to robust wrap-around services, including mentorship, career services, and community building.

LDSJ is hiring a ** Chief of Staff** (CoS) to support the Executive Director in developing and executing their vision for the organization. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Chief of Staff manages the organization-wide internal processes, financial systems, and protocols, as well as supports and guides the senior management team in its efforts to manage the work, maximize productivity and efficiency, and maintain a strong organizational culture. The CoS is a senior leader within LDSJ. This includes operating as one of the chief problem-solvers in the organization, a key team-builder of the senior management, an excellent internal organizer, and a project manager.

Core responsibilities:

• Support the Executive DirectorSupports LDSJ’s Executive Team and Advisory Board by ensuring they are kept informed of key programmatic updates, coordinating and driving Advisory Board activities, and facilitating relationship-building between Advisory Board members and the Executive Director.

• In partnership with the Executive Director, organize and support the Senior Management Team so that they work collaboratively and effectively to manage the organization. This includes facilitating regular meetings, convenings, information sharing, systems, protocols, etc.

• Serve as a thought partner and sounding board to the Executive Director, other senior leaders, and a resource for all staff to voice ideas, suggestions, and/or concerns.

• Support the OrganizationIn collaboration with the Executive Director, oversee cross-functional, organization-wide projects and initiatives - including but not limited to annual planning processes, annual budget processes, staff communication systems, performance evaluation processes, staff resourcing plans, facilitation of healthy working relationships with key institutional players (CCNY, CPS, and SLU) and other projects as assigned.

• Organize convenings of and communications between senior staff and cross-organizational bodies to ensure strong internal coordination and alignment, surface questions and concerns; ensure the right makeup of cross-organizational bodies, with an eye toward equity and inclusion.

• Refine and maintain internal communication processes, systems, and norms to ensure that staff have the information they need and have clear ways of providing feedback on organizational decisions, and work is managed and executed transparently.

• Oversee and supervise the organizational infrastructure team members: Operations, Development and Finance, and Communications. Work to ensure our operational and financial systems, policies, and processes are aligned with LDSJ’s mission, culture, and values.

Qualifications:

• 10 years of leadership and management experience in similar organizations and/or political or advocacy campaigns, at least 5 years in senior leadership roles.

• 5 years of experience in people and project management, building organizational infrastructure, with a track record of creating and implementing systems and processes that are linked together to support people in achieving their goals.

• Inclusive, consultative decision-maker with demonstrated commitment to listening to team members and changing course when needed based on feedback.

• Systems thinking and sound political judgment with experience running large projects.

• Strong relationship and team building skills, with experience leading cross-functional and cross-org teams, bringing people together to drive results. Ability to design and run meetings that support healthy dialogue and drive resolution.

• Low-ego, high emotional literacy, highly self-aware, and strong listening skills. Able to hold composure and manage people during stressful or challenging situations. Experience managing conflict while holding neutrality and/or objectivity.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong problem-solving skills.

• Enthusiasm for working at a public university.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity based on race, gender, and class; demonstrated cultural competency skills and ability to connect with people from historically marginalized identities.

• Experience with Google Workspace.

The salary range for this position is $165,000-$175,000 annually. This position will be expected to work in-person in New York City, dependent on public health guidelines (currently a hybrid work schedule, with 3 days in the office, subject to change). The office is located on the City College campus, and this position will be part of the staff team of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. The Chief of Staff will be an employee of the CUNY Research Foundation, which provides a generous and comprehensive benefits package. The anticipated start date for this position is October 1, 2025.

How to Apply

To apply, please send your resume and cover letter (PDF) via the Movement Talent Opportunity Board application portal by clicking the "Apply To This Job" button:

https://recruitcrm.io/apply/17526827268840064057snI

Deadline to apply: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the application portal will be kept open until the position is filled.

Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership

The Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership includes all the social science departments at CCNY as well as most of the core leadership development and public service programs of the College. Graduating the most CCNY students annually, the Colin Powell School promotes the values of service and engagement. The School supports a faculty of more than 250 tenure, tenure-track, and adjunct professors dedicated to the highest standards of research and to the university’s democratic and public obligations; the School is committed to disseminating research in usable forms, especially that which furthers equality, prosperity, stability, and peace for all people—in Harlem, in New York, and around the world.

CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies

The CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Labor Studies and Urban Studies that are designed to meet the needs of working adults as well as traditional-age college students who seek to learn more about the challenges confronting poor and working-class populations in the workplace and in the community. It also collaborates with other units of CUNY to offer a range of college-credit programs designed to give workers the academic and technical skills they need for professional advancement. Its faculty includes distinguished scholars in the social sciences as well as expert practitioners in government, labor, and public service. In addition to its academic programs, SLU sponsors research; organizes forums and conferences; and publishes a national journal, New Labor Forum: A journal of ideas, analysis, and debate.

EEO Statement

The Colin Powell School is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to equity and inclusion and strongly value the experiences of historically marginalized people and encourage them to apply. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.