NAACP

Chief of Staff

NAACP$90K — $130K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business, Public Administration, or related field (MBA, MPA, or JD preferred).
  • 12+ years of senior management experience in high-stakes non-profit, government, or CSR sectors.
  • Proven track record managing a diverse portfolio of 10+ direct reports across various functions.
  • Exceptional emotional intelligence to navigate complex relationships with various stakeholders.
  • Experience in rapid response environments, adapting strategies to changing landscapes.
  • Strong executive-level writing and presentation skills.
  • Personal alignment with the NAACP's mission for equality.

Responsibilities

  • Translate the President & CEO's vision into measurable departmental goals.
  • Serve as the liaison to the National Board of Directors, ensuring transparency and adherence to resolutions.
  • Foster cross-departmental collaboration to create a unified organizational narrative.
  • Represent the President to external partners and stakeholders in their absence.
  • Manage the brand of the Executive Office, ensuring alignment with the NAACP's mission.
  • Proactively identify risks impacting the CEO’s commitments and propose solutions.
  • Oversee communication flows to keep the President informed with necessary data.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work location flexibility (Baltimore, D.C., and remote options).
  • Exposure to high-level stakeholders and decision-makers.
  • Opportunity to influence national and international strategic agendas.
  • Leadership development and capacity-building in a high-profile non-profit organization.
  • Participation in significant events such as the National Convention and NAACP Image Awards.
Full Job Description
POSITION TITLE: Chief of Staff

SUPERVISOR: President & CEO

LOCATION: Baltimore, MD/Washington, D.C./Remote Hybrid

TRAVEL: Moderate

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

  1. A high-visibility executive leader tasked with accelerating the strategic agenda of the President & CEO on a national and international scale.
  2. Serving as a "force multiplier," the Chief of Staff ensures seamless alignment between the Executive Office, the Board of Directors, and key external stakeholders. In a climate of rapid social and political change, the Chief of Staff bridges the gap between legacy civil rights advocacy and modern, digital-first impact.


SCOPE OF DEPARTMENTAL OVERSIGHT

The Chief of Staff provides direct strategic leadership and operational management for five (5) core functions (comprising ten (10) direct reports):

  • Executive Office: Total management of the Office of the President & CEO and the Board of Directors.
  • Events: Oversight of the National Convention, Board Meetings, committee convenings and high-level donor engagements.
  • ACT-SO: Scaling the premier youth program to cultivate the next generation of Black excellence.
  • Community Partnerships: Managing the ecosystem of grassroots and coalition allies.
  • Hollywood Bureau: Driving narrative change and equity within the entertainment industry and providing oversight for the NAACP Image Awards.


EXECUTIVE GOVERNANCE & ALIGNMENT

  • Leadership Council Management: Facilitate and lead the weekly convening of the Leadership Council; establish a rigorous cadence and structure for tracking high-level deliverables.
  • Executive Accountability: Act as the primary "velocity engine" for the C-Suite, holding the President & CEO and other Chiefs (COO, CFO, etc.) accountable for project milestones and tasks on both a weekly and as-needed basis.
  • Strategic Syncing: Ensure that the President is consistently "on track" with long-term commitments, providing the necessary reminders, data, and briefings to prevent operational bottlenecks.
  • Rapid Response Coordination: Serve as the central point of contact for off-cycle, urgent projects that require immediate cross-departmental collaboration among the executive leadership team.


RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

Under the direction of the President & CEO, the Chief of Staff will perform the following duties, to include, but not limited to:

  • Strategic Leadership & Execution


    • Vision Alignment: Partner with the President & CEO to translate his vision into measurable departmental goals.
    • Board Governance: Serve as the primary liaison to the National Board of Directors; ensure transparency, high-level briefing materials, and rigorous follow-through on Board resolutions.
    • Cross-Functional Integration: Break down silos across all departments association wide to create a unified organizational narrative.


  • Operational Advocacy


    • Principal Representation: Serve as the President's designee to external partners, CEOs, and heads of state, moving initiatives forward in the Executive's absence.
    • Brand Stewardship: Manage the "brand" of the Executive Office, staying attuned to departmental impact and ensuring internal culture reflects the NAACP's public mission.
    • Crisis Management: In partnership with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), proactively identify risks and "blind spots" that could impact the CEO's commitments; frame and position solutions to mitigate these risks.


  • Administrative & Project Oversight


    • Committee Designee: Serve as the President's representative for various internal committees.
    • Flow Optimization: Monitor and prioritize the flow of communications into the Executive Office, ensuring the President & CEO is briefed with data-driven facts for all interfaces.
    • Financial Oversight: Work with department leads to prepare and manage budgets for the Executive Office, Board of Directors, Events, Convention, Hollywood Bureau, Community Partnerships, ACT-SO, Image Awards and other areas as needed.


  • Perform any other duties as assigned by the President & CEP or other designee.


QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience

  • Education: Bachelor's degree in business, Public Administration, or a related field (MBA, MPA, or JD preferred).
  • Experience: 12+ years of senior management experience, preferably in high-stakes non-profit, government, or corporate social responsibility (CSR) sectors.
  • Managerial Depth: Proven track record of managing a diverse portfolio of at least ten direct reports across disparate functions (e.g., creative/media vs. administrative/governance).
  • 360-Degree Leadership: Exceptional emotional intelligence with a demonstrated ability to manage up (President), down (Staff), sideways (Peer Chiefs), and around (Board of Directors/Partners) to ensure organizational velocity and mission alignment.
  • Agility: Demonstrated success in "rapid response" environments, with the ability to pivot strategies in response to shifting legislative or social justice landscapes.
  • Communication: Exceptional executive-level writing and presentation skills; ability to serve as a coach and trusted advisor to senior leadership.
  • Commitment: Deep personal alignment with the NAACP's mission to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all people.

About NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is a civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. The NAACP has over 2,200 branches and units across the United States, and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The organization's activities include advocacy, litigation, and education. The NAACP has been involved in many important civil rights cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, which led to the desegregation of public schools in the United States.
Learn more about NAACP
Size
150 employees
Industry

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