Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff

About BrightpointT

he mission of Brightpoint is to advance the well-being of children by investing in families to disrupt the systemic and multi-generational cycle of racial, social, and economic inequality. 

Previously known as Children's Home & Aid, Brightpoint has been serving Illinois since 1883. Brightpoint was founded on the belief that the organization had a responsibility to make brave choices to find homes for children. They have evolved that belief and now recognize that bravery comes from the daily choices families make that serve as the spark that ignites the opportunities for children and youth to thrive. Brightpoint promises to be brave with families and support their brave choices because they know strong families create thriving children.

Brightpoint understands that navigating obstacles such as poverty, trauma, and systemic barriers to equity can make this journey challenging, and as such they offer support through the highs and lows. The work of Brightpoint seeks to dismantle system inequities and create a more even playing field for everyone.

Brightpoint puts families and children at the forefront of every decision they make. With an emphasis on prevention works, they are committed to working with families before small problems become life-altering crises. The Brightpoint team takes a data-driven approach to implement research-based solutions that have demonstrable, long-term positive outcomes and create brighter futures. With a budget of over $95 million and offices located across the state the Brightpoint team is able to serve nearly 30,000 children and families each year, linking them to a network of resources.

To achieve this outcome, Brightpoint offers services and programming in the following areas:

Parent Support

Child Welfare

Mental Health & Wellness

Early Childhood Care & Education

To learn more about Brightpoint's services, visit their website at https://www.brightpoint.org/.

The Opportunity

The Chief of Staff serves as a key advisor to the president & CEO and, as a member of the Executive Team, is charged with driving Brightpoint's strategy while improving overall organizational effectiveness by elevating, accelerating, and facilitating cross-functional, high priority projects, with a particular focus on organizational culture and change management. The Chief of Staff is responsible for building and sustaining an effective support structure for the President & CEO and ensuring strategic alignment across the executive team and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability in achieving Brightpoint's strategic priorities. Working closely with senior leaders of the organization, Brightpoint's Board of Trustees, and external and internal constituencies, the Chief of Staff provides oversight and ensures follow-up on high priority and time sensitive matters including organizational strategy, cross-functional activity, and Board management.

Key responsibilities include:

Advisor to the President & CEO

Strategize with CEO on organizational opportunities and challenges.

Lead the operational effectiveness of the executive office, ensuring alignment with the CEO's vision and goals through proactive planning, coordination, and execution.

Conduct high-level research and synthesize insights across internal and external domains to inform decision-making and provide actionable recommendations to the CEO, Board, and senior leadership.

Partner with CEO and COO to coordinate Executive Team meeting agendas that foster strategic alignment, accountability, and collaborative problem solving.Organizational Strategy and Cross-Functional Collaboration

Provide strategic project management oversight for priority short and long-term programs and initiatives from strategy formulation and development through execution.

Develop relationships with leaders at all levels of the organization for increased efficiency and effective responsiveness into existing work that involves the CEO and help to define new strategies by working with Senior Leadership Team on high priority, special projects.

Collaborate with Executive Team members to assist with high priority initiatives, along with annual goals and ongoing strategic actions where Executive Team members serve as champions of organizational mission and culture.

Expedite critical and highly visible projects, including coordination of resources and external consultants to ensure successful implementation.

Foster productive and collaborative relationships internally and externally on behalf of the CEO.

Prepare the Executive Team for effective decision-making conversations, anticipating and organizing key questions and data that support productive discussions.

Facilitate and lead Senior Leadership Team through crisis management.

Board Management

In close partnership with the CEO, facilitate and lead partnership with the Board of Trustees' strategy development and results.

Partner with the Executive Assistant to the CEO to ensure seamless preparation and execution of Board meetings, including agenda development, materials coordination, and logistical support.

Supervise the Executive Assistant to the CEO & Board Liaison, who coordinates all aspects of Board activities.

Executive Office Management

Supervise the Executive Assistant to the CEO to manage CEO's calendar, email, and travel in accordance with strategic priorities.

Coordinate resources to ensure President and CEO is prepared with appropriate content, messages, and documentation.

Respond to and meet with a broad range of internal and external individuals, frequently related to matters of immediate concern, and coordinate responses, solutions, and follow-up.

Lead high-level talent initiatives and directly supervise a Vice President of People & Culture, with a particular focus on supporting a values-aligned organizational culture, change management, and leadership development.

Leadership Responsibilities

Leads with empathy and kindness, caring enough to give both praise when earned, and hard feedback when needed.

Does the hard right thing, always in service to a greater purpose.

Selects effective leaders, invests in coaching and development, removes ineffective leaders, and prioritizes identifying, nurturing, and promoting high-potential talent.

Recognizes equity is foundational to our work internally and externally and prioritizes building an equitable, antiracist, and inclusive environment.

Collaborates with purpose, actively executing strategy, and learning from others to build, commit to, and reinforce an aligned vision of success.

Candidate Profile

We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experience that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, ideal candidates will display the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Strategic Executive Leadership

The Chief of Staff brings a history of serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, with a demonstrated ability to navigate complexity, shape organizational priorities, and foster alignment across executive teams. They are a systems thinker who leads with clarity and discretion, translating insight into action and ensuring that leadership decisions are grounded in mission, data, and impact. This leader possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills and adapts their approach to effectively engage diverse audiences—including children, families, staff, elected officials, policymakers, and donors—with empathy, professionalism, and purpose.

Cross-Functional Coordination and Implementation

This leader has successfully led cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution in dynamic, mission-driven environments. They are known for their ability to manage complex projects, align diverse stakeholders, and drive measurable outcomes. With a disciplined, results-oriented approach, the Chief of Staff brings strong project management expertise that ensures initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and in alignment with organizational priorities. They thrive in fast-paced settings and contribute meaningfully to Brightpoint's operational excellence.

Board Engagement and Governance Support

The Chief of Staff brings excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills, paired with a high level of diplomacy, discretion, and problem-solving ability. They have a proven track record of developing collaborative relationships and providing sound counsel to institutional partners. In addition, they offer experience supporting nonprofit Boards and executive leadership in advancing governance, strategic planning, and accountability. They understand the nuances of Board dynamics and have facilitated effective trustee engagement through thoughtful preparation, clear communication, and seamless coordination of meetings and materials.

Culture Stewardship and People Leadership

An experienced and trusted leader, the next Chief of Staff is deeply committed to building inclusive, values-aligned organizational cultures. They have supported Senior HR or People & Culture leaders in fostering leadership development, guiding change management, and embedding equity into organizational practices. Grounded in Brightpoint's belief that strong families create thriving children, this leader understands that culture is shaped by daily choices, courageous conversations, and intentional systems. They champion trauma-informed, family-centered approaches and help cultivate a workplace where staff feel supported, empowered, and connected to the mission. The Chief of Staff leads with empathy and integrity, modeling the behaviors that create a thriving, equitable, and resilient organization

Passion for the Mission of Brightpoint

The Chief of Staff will embody the values and mission of Brightpoint and, as a result, will inspire and motivate others to push the mission forward in a collaborative manner. They are excited to catalyze others' commitment to advance the wellbeing of children by investing in families to disrupt the systemic and multi-generational cycle of racial, social, and economic inequality. They will lead by example with an understanding that, at times, empathy is an essential quality. This leader will have an eye consistently focused on the future and how to best adapt the organization to its changing environment while staying true to the mission of Brightpoint. The Chief of Staff is someone who can be trusted without reservation and build a strong sense of community within the greater organization.

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

A master's degree in business administration, industrial/organizational psychology, or a related field from an accredited institution. Candidates with a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of five years of experience successfully leading cross-functional teams in complex organizational settings will also be considered.

Strong understanding of inclusive leadership principles, relationship-based leadership models, and their application in diverse organizational settings.

Demonstrates respect and acceptance of diverse individuals and communities served by, working in partnership with, or employed by Brightpoint including but not limited to race, gender, ethnicity, social-economic status, and LGBTQIA+ populations.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $185,000- $200,218 and includes comprehensive benefits.

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan and Malissa Brennan. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Brightpoint is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action. All employment activities are conducted in an equal and equitable fashion. The Agency prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, disability or handicap, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran status, source of income, and any other legally protected category in the recruitment, selection, hiring, determination of salary level and benefits, promotion, demotion, layoff, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment.

About DSG | Koya

DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms" and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams. Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website.

To apply, visit: https://www.dsgco.com/search/22682-brightpoint-chief-of-staff/ jeid-3085061cf2c1934793fb421f815cb74b