Chief of Staff

The Position

The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) seeks a seasoned leader to serve as a key thought partner and strategic advisor to the President & CEO, the Boards of NWLC and the NWLC Action Fund, and the executive and senior teams. The Chief of Staff acts as air traffic controller, problem solver, and connector, working collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to help drive the organization’s success. The Chief of Staff also leads the Office of the President, which currently includes the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging team, the Office of the General Counsel, and additional staff who support the President & CEO. The Chief of Staff is an executive leadership team member and reports directly to the President & CEO.

The Chief of Staff builds and enhances the President & CEO’s positioning and the strategic use of her time in service of the Law Center’s mission and priorities, collaborating with other colleagues to maximize the President & CEO’s engagement with key stakeholders and ensuring seamless preparation, follow up, and integration across the organization. The Chief of Staff is a key partner in organization-wide equity initiatives and organization-wide work on planning and assessment.

This is a full-time, exempt position.

The Organization

The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) fights for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in our society — working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls. We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us — especially women of color, LGBTQIA+ people, and women and families with low incomes.

The National Women’s Law Center Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) affiliate of NWLC, aiming to drive progressive change in our policies and laws so that all women and girls can live, learn, and work with safety, dignity, and equality.

For more than 50 years, we have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women, and we need you with us to continue this fight. Find out more at NWLC.org.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key thought partner and advisor to the President & CEO, focused on building and enhancing the President & CEO’s external positioning, priority stakeholder engagement, and the strategic use of time, skills, and relationships in service of the Law Center’s mission;
• Advise President & CEO and effectively engage with other executive team colleagues on strategic org-wide decision making;
• Together with talented staff in the Office of the President, work to seamlessly integrate with teams across the organization in service of impeccable briefing, preparation, and follow up on the President & CEO’s meetings and speaking engagements;
• Occasionally draft briefings and remarks for the President & CEO;
• Work with the President & CEO to manage relationships with the Boards of NWLC and its affiliates; lead efforts to provide strategic support to and staffing of the Boards and their committees on governance, policymaking, fundraising and other fiduciary duties and to enhance their effectiveness; identify and support other staff in opportunities to engage the Boards and Board committees on strategic issues and to communicate with them as appropriate;
• Collaborate with the President & CEO and other NWLC senior leaders to support and foster the President & CEO’s relationships with key external stakeholders, with particular focus on donor and high-level supporter engagements;
• Collaborate with the President & CEO and other leaders on internal and external communications, meetings and events involving the President & CEO and the Boards;
• Provide strategic advice and work collaboratively with the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging to ensure that their efforts are fully integrated across the organization, particularly with the human resources function;
• Provide strategic advice and work collaboratively with the Vice President & General Counsel and ensure that they are effectively positioned to lead organization-wide risk management and to provide legal advice to the President & CEO, the Executive and Senior teams, the Boards, and the staff, as needed and appropriate;
• Facilitate planning and preparation for meetings of Executive and Senior teams and tracking action items and outcomes;
• Develop and manage the budget for the Office of the President & CEO; and
• Lead other projects or special initiatives for the President and CEO as needed.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate must possess:

• Bachelor’s degree;
• A total of at least 12 years of extensive managerial, supervisory, or team leadership experience (either concurrent or not);
• Proven ability to drive organization processes, stakeholder collaboration, and deliverables and to meet deadlines;
• A deep or wide network of relationships in the social justice movement space and the nonprofit sector more broadly;
• Sophisticated understanding of nonprofit governance and development in social justice movement contexts;
• A versatile, nimble, forward-thinking, solutions-oriented, adaptable approach, with outstanding proactive project management and organizational skills, with demonstrated effectiveness at leading and managing multiple projects or initiatives simultaneously;
• A coaching, collaborative, and learning stance, with a demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate staff, Board members, movement leaders, donors, policymakers, and other stakeholders, fostering a sense of purpose and community and bringing emotional resilience and steadiness in dynamic, diverse environments;
• Impeccable integrity and sound judgment, including the ability to exercise appropriate discretion when dealing with sensitive or confidential matters;
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to travel up to 10% of time, at times with limited notice; and
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and project management software (Asana or equivalent).

Key Relationships

The Chief of Staff reports directly to the President and CEO and works closely with other members of the Executive Team, the Senior Team, and members of the NWLC Board and the NWLC Action Fund Board. Together with the CEO, this position supervises the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging and the Vice President & General Counsel. Additional direct reports include the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and the Associate, Office of Chief of Staff.

Classification

This position is classified as management, and as such is not included in the union-represented bargaining unit, NWLC United, affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union/IFPTE Local 70.

Compensation & Benefits

A salary within the range of $237,982 - $274,116 will be provided to the successful candidate with at least 12 years of experience, consistent with the National Women’s Law Center’s compensation framework. The successful candidate’s salary within this range will be determined by the number years of relevant experience they bring to the role.

The Law Center offers a comprehensive benefits package, and four weeks of annual vacation.

NWLC is a non-profit organization whose headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C. This role is based in D.C. and will be eligible for some telework while also being expected to work in person at least two days a week and as needed. The successful candidate will need to live in or relocate to the DMV (broadly defined as DC, Maryland, or Virginia).

The first 90 days of employment will be considered a probationary period.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter outlining how your professional background is a good fit for this position. Resumes should include exact start and end dates (month and year) of employment, as well as the average number of hours worked per week in each job. Applications accepted until the position is filled.

Applicants will be contacted if selected for an interview. We kindly request that interested parties refrain from calling, emailing, or visiting NWLC’s offices to express interest or check on the status of their application.

The National Women’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities; people of all gender identities and sexual orientations; people of color; and veterans. 

Research indicates members of marginalized groups tend to underestimate their qualifications and apply only if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about NWLC’s mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Reasonable Accommodations

If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email us at NWLCHR@nwlc.org.