The Foundation
We are the largest nonprofit fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve. We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities. As a workplace, weโre committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.
The TeamThe Communications Division, led by the Chief Communications Officer (CCO), oversees the foundationโs global communications strategy. The division brings together internal and external communications to advance the foundationโs mission to create a more equitable world.
The Office of the CCO (OCCO) ensures resources are aligned against insights and strategic priorities. We foster an inclusive, innovative, and high-integrity culture and efficient enabling environment in line with the values of One Global Foundation and Impact First. We advance the Communication Divisionโs vision through clear processes and operations, ensuring close coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
Your Role
The Director, Chief of Staff (CoS) will serve as the closest advisor to the Chief Communications Officer (CCO), help support the CCO in building a division-wide strategy that is approved by the CEO, and understood clearly by other key partners (within the Division and across the org). The CoS will help ensure the CCO stays aligned around the goals and priorities of the team, has oversight of strategy performance and allocation of financial & human resources. The CoS is also responsible for implementing cross-cutting change and project management and division-wide business processes.
Reporting to the Chief Communications Officer, the CoS will sometimes lead special projects on behalf of the CCO. The CoS will often act as communication liaison in internal meetings across the organization (Offices of the Presidents (OoPs), CEO office, Global Policy and Advocacy, etc.) and may represent the CCO in key endeavors both internally and externally to the foundation.
What Youโll Do
Provide strategic counsel to the Chief Communications Officer (CCO)
Act as a trusted advisor to the CCO, providing advice on the strategic direction of the division, sharing intel (both internal and external) on our team's impact, raising concerns directly around projects or personnel issues. This person must be a truth-teller and be prepared to interrogate ideas and plans that the CCO is putting forward.
Help the CCO stay focused on agreed priorities, and help teams understand the CCOโs priorities, so the whole org is working well together to implement the communications agenda.
Amplify the CCOโs vision and leadership approach by being a proxy to the CCO in meetings, including making decisions on behalf of the CCO to ensure seamless execution of the communications vision and priorities.
Support all aspects of the CCOโs internal and external engagements, including time allocation, travel logistics, staffing, meeting logistics, communication strategies, and learning agendas.โ
Division Strategy
Lead the Annual Planning process to prepare the CCO for the Division Strategy Review, ELT discussions and Chair meetings in the fall. This work will require managing a lot of inputs across the division, and working hand in hand with the DDSPM, the DD of MLE and our finance and HR partners. This work will require preparing the memos and presentations needed at each step along the way. The position will need to bring the CCO along the journey, as well as the Directors and the broader team.
Provide ongoing recommendations to improve the Communications divisionโs overall strategic planning and delivery, helping lead the evolution of our Communications strategy and planning processes. โ
Lead the divisionโs rhythm of business; specifically, manage cadence, preparation, and actions following strategy and performance review meetings, leadership team meetings, all staff meetings, retreats, and regular tactical meetings.
Division Operations
In close collaboration with the Communications Division Deputy Director of Strategy, Planning and Management (DDSPM), the CoS will partner with centralized Finance, Human Resources, and Enterprise Business Management to manage โ and continuously improve our approach to โ annual planning, division-wide resource allocation, headcount and workforce planning, and professional development.
Serves as a member of the Chief of Staff Community of Practice, contributing to cross-foundation culture shaping, change initiatives, and discrete projects and ensuring streamlined communication and prompt-interdivisional problem solving.
Partner with our DDSPM to ensure coordination and execution of divisional norms and operational efficiencies.
In partnership with CET and CLT, identifies, facilitates and, where appropriate, leads pivotal initiatives and special projects that require cross-division and cross-foundation coordination or otherwise lack clear ownership.
Manages the Measurement & Insights and the Strategy, Management, & Planning teams.โ
Division Culture
Lead engagement with the Communication Executive Team and Communication Leadership Team, including determining the best use of leadership team meetings (CET and CLT), team retreats, and ongoing team culture work.
Support change management activities within domain-specific or foundation-wide initiatives, with an emphasis on successful implementation for staff.
Accountable for integration and driving progress against DEI organizational goals and division commitments.โ
Foster enabling conditions for talent to thrive and be accountable for inclusive team culture. โ
Model and coach equitable decision-making, inclusive behaviors, and actions; escalate issues in a timely fashion.โ
Your Experience
A Bachelorโs degree or equivalent demonstrated experience.
Advanced knowledge and experience working in communications or marketing background, deep understanding of audience research and insights.
Experience building communications strategies and presenting strategies to senior leadership.
Experience using quantitative and qualitative data to present options for decision making, highlighting tradeoffs, and proposing recommendations.
Experience working in a role requiring collaboration both internally in a complex organization and externally with outside organizations.
Experience communicating with a wide range of audiences, establishing trust and credibility with individuals from diverse backgrounds and levels.
Advanced knowledge of strategic planning principles and processes, including strategy development, performance assessment, and resource allocation.
Advanced knowledge of team management principles and best practices, including knowledge of how to simultaneously manage multiple teams.
Advanced knowledge of the foundationโs work from both programmatic and operational perspectives.
Advanced knowledge of the global context surrounding the foundationโs initiatives.
This role is anticipated to include up to 30% domestic and international travel
*Must be able to legally work in the country where this position is located without visa sponsorship.
The salary range for this role is $293,200 to $454,400 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $319,500 to $495,300 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidateโs job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.
Hiring Requirements
As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
Candidate Accommodations
If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request here.
Inclusion Statement
We are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion โ of voices, ideas, and approaches โ and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.
All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.