Department: CEO Office

Location: Hybrid - Preferred based in NYC

Job Type: Permanent Full-time

Salary: $150 – $180k USD

The Opportunity:

WES is seeking an experienced individual to work as Chief of Staff executing strategic initiatives and programs that support the delivery of our operations, strategic plan, and future growth. This role provides a unique opportunity to collaborate closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), providing strategic thinking, driving organizational planning and alignment, acting in an advisory role for important decisions about the organization, and instilling an elevated level of efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusion across the organization.

The Role:

The Chief of Staff reports directly to the CEO, Esther Benjamin, and works with the wider Executive Leadership Team, department leaders, and staff across the organization. You will also have engagement with external partners and collaborators. You will provide direct support to the CEO on the external and internal initiatives, action items and deliverables to support CEO performance and effectiveness. You will be a trusted advisor, triaging problems and managing escalations, enabling the CEO to ensure their time is spent where it is most needed. You will effectively drive tactical actions, executing on immediate operational needs and supporting the CEO in translating the strategic vision into action. You will be a champion and rally the team on driving business priorities, managing through from conception to execution.

Your Experience:

You will understand and align to the mission of WES and the unique opportunities, challenges and ways of working needed within a social enterprise organization. You will deeply understand organizational structures and operations with experience at operating across a matrixed environment and multiple geographies. You have a strong track record of delivering against actions, with a can-do attitude. You will be an effective influencer and adapt at building strong, positive relationships. You will possess strategic change management skills to effectively design and implement initiatives. You will have natural problem solving and strong analytical skills, be able to ‘connect the dots’, be a fast thinker, and a good decision maker.

Your Responsibilities:

• Support the CEO in managing, monitoring, and executing strategic initiatives, programs, and special projects.
• Support the management of Board and Committee meetings including organizing, administrative Board communications, meeting preparation, and recordkeeping. An Executive Assistant provides scheduling, logistical, and other support for the CEO and Chief of Staff.
• Prepare the CEO for external and internal events, programs, and meetings, including coordination of logistics in partnership with the Executive Assistant, and development of content for public speaking engagements and appearances, in collaboration with the Director of Communications and relevant other staff.
• Serve as a strategic partner for the Executive Leadership Team in organizational planning, topics for prioritization, meeting management, project management and communications.
• Carry out planning and directing of program, operational, administrative activities as required and on behalf of the CEO.
• Represent the CEO in meetings when they are unable to attend. Capture key takeaways and ensure the CEO is briefed and the appropriate follow up is completed.
• Build effective relationships with the Executive Leadership Team and their staff to ensure the CEO is fully informed on matters of significance across all departments and programs.
• Execute and manage highly prioritized projects and programs.
• Build linkages and synergies, as appropriate, between organizational departments and divisions, teams, and individuals.
• Serve as a connector who is aware of every key project and can connect the dots across the organization.
• Proactively identify issues that are challenging the organization, identifying actions and initiatives to positively address these.
• Work ‘behind the scenes’ to identify resolution methods, solve problems, drive action, mediate disputes, and deal with issues prior to being brought to the CEO.
• Manage and improve systems to enable the CEO to work more efficiently and create clear processes by which vital information is issued.

What you’ll bring:

• Significant experience and qualifications in strategy execution, project management, or business operations at a senior level within the public sector, nonprofit organizations, or for-profit businesses. Multisector experience preferred.
• BA or BSc qualification or equivalent level experience.
• International experience, working outside the US and Canada.
• Experience supporting a Board of Trustees or Board of Directors.
• Experience leading and executing large-scale, organization-wide projects.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Strong results in strategic change management, program management and execution.
• Strategic mindset and a critical thinker.
• Able to work with and influence a wide range of people and with cross cultural teams, gaining rapport whilst managing and aligning expectations.
• Willingness to travel.

Bonus points for:

• MBA, Masters in Public Administration (MPA), Non-Profit Management, or related fields.
• Multisector experience across public sector, nonprofit, or for-profit organizations.

What's in it for you?

Our people are the foundation of our success, and we place a high priority on offering a wide range of benefits that make our team happier and healthier:

• Flexible and supportive work arrangements with generous vacation time, paid parental leave and an ability to work remotely.
• A comprehensive benefits package and 401a/403bk plans that have competitive matching provisions.
• Paid professional development, tuition reimbursement, professional fees reimbursement, student loan repayment, and a focus on skills development.
• A focus on wellness with a suite of wellness activities, corporate gym membership and EAP support.

Our Values:

We look for people who embody our values:

• Opportunity – We open doors so people can build better futures.
• Inclusion – We become stronger, more creative, and more resilient when we embrace diversity.
• Equity – We uphold fairness and justice in our work and actions.
• Enterprising – We are resourceful, inventive, and driven.
• Expertise – We challenge ourselves to be the best at what we do.

EOE Statement: World Education Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, World Education Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.