Strada Education Foundation
Position Overview
Join to apply for the
Chief of Staff
role at
Strada Education Foundation .
The Chief of Staff (COS) is a trusted strategic partner to the CEO, enhancing CEO effectiveness by strengthening organizational alignment, tackling special projects, and accelerating progress on priority initiatives. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COS brings strong judgment, synthesis, project management, problem‑solving, and execution skills to support decision‑making, communications, and cross‑functional coordination.
The COS serves as an advisor, integrator, project manager, and communicator – a “utility player” offering clear analysis, anticipating needs, and ensuring the CEO is prepared for the highest‑impact internal and external engagements. The COS will work primarily with the leadership and broader team at Strada to advance this agenda. The role requires exceptional professionalism, interpersonal skills, discretion, and the ability to work fluidly across both strategic and operational tasks.
Working closely with the CEO, the COS develops a strong understanding of both short‑term and long‑term priorities and partners with Strada team members, including the Senior Leadership Team, to ensure effective execution. This includes delegating tasks, tracking and monitoring progress, and personally executing priority actions.
The COS is a member of Strada’s Senior Leadership Team and oversees a small team responsible for the CEO’s key administrative functions (i.e., schedule, internal communications, and event planning), ensuring seamless coordination to enable the CEO to maximize time spent on strategic priorities. The COS shares an executive assistant with the CEO (who oversees office managers at Strada’s headquarters in Indianapolis and its Washington, D.C. hub) and oversees three additional direct reports: the Director of Internal Communications; the Senior Manager of Board Engagement, Events, and Outreach; and an additional shared executive assistant who supports several Strada teams.
The COS is based in Strada’s Washington, D.C. hub, co‑located with the CEO. While Strada maintains a hybrid work environment, the COS will generally be in the office on the days the CEO is present (typically 3‑4 days per week) to support close coordination and real‑time collaboration.
Context Strada Education Foundation supports programs, policies, and organizations that strengthen connections between postsecondary education and employment in the U.S., with a focus on helping those who face the greatest challenges. Our strategic plan centers on five key areas: Clear Outcomes, Quality Coaching, Affordability, Work‑Based Learning, and Employer Alignment. We leverage several impact lever teams to advance our work, including actionable research, catalytic grantmaking, nonpartisan policy solutions, strategic communications, strategic investments, and affiliates (e.g., CredLens). We work collaboratively with hundreds of partners across the U.S., including educators, employers, policymakers, learners, and other nonprofits and trade associations.
Key Responsibilities Area 1: Strategic Advisor (20%)
Develop and maintain a strong understanding of short‑term and long‑term CEO priorities and projects on both the mission and operations sides of Strada.
Serve as a thought partner to the CEO on strategic, operational, and organizational issues.
Maintain regular touchpoints with senior leaders and colleagues to gather insights, identify obstacles, monitor progress, and surface opportunities.
Provide concise synthesis, context, and recommendations to support CEO decision‑making.
Strengthen coordination and communication across teams by clarifying decision rights, facilitating alignment, and improving information flow.
Build trust‑based relationships across Strada to enable collaborative problem‑solving and accurate “pulse checks.”
Protect the CEO’s time by filtering, prioritizing, and routing issues requiring CEO attention.
Area 2: Execution and Monitoring of CEO’s Key Priorities and Projects (25%)
Manage a variety of special projects, large and small, to ensure the CEO can focus on the highest‑impact strategic priorities.
Conduct research, analysis, and structured problem‑solving to inform strategic recommendations.
Convene and coordinate cross‑functional working groups to advance priority initiatives.
Identify operational or strategic barriers and work with stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain momentum.
Ensure follow‑through on commitments emerging from CEO and leadership meetings.
Develop and maintain trackers or dashboards to monitor progress and completion of priorities and projects requiring CEO engagement.
Drive execution by delegating tasks, tracking progress, ensuring clarity of roles and expectations, and personally completing priority actions when appropriate.
Area 3: Executive Communications and Board Support (15%)
Draft and develop high‑quality communications for the CEO, including slide presentations, talking points, memos, and internal updates.
Synthesize complex or diffuse information into clear, compelling narratives for senior internal and external audiences.
Coordinate all aspects of the annual retreat of the Strada Board of Trustees.
Area 4: CEO Meeting Preparation, Prioritization, and Calendar Strategy (10%)
Manage executive team meetings, including agenda setting, preparing materials, clarifying objectives, and ensuring timely and effective follow‑up.
Support prioritization of the CEO’s time, including meetings, speaking engagements, and external participation requests.
Coordinate and review pre‑reads, briefing materials, objectives, and anticipated follow‑up needs to ensure the CEO is fully prepared for key engagements.
Manage information flows to and from the CEO’s team with clarity, discretion, and efficiency.
Area 5: Issue Spotting and Problem Resolution (15%)
Identify and elevate emerging issues, risks, or tensions that may require CEO attention.
Resolve issues that do not require CEO engagement, ensuring only the right matters reach the CEO.
Provide balanced, discreet counsel to the CEO on sensitive or urgent matters.
Respond quickly to unexpected challenges with a calm, solution‑oriented approach and drive toward resolution.
Clarify issues, propose recommended actions, and ensure follow‑through in fast‑moving or high‑stakes situations.
Area 6: Management of CEO’s Direct Team and Key Functions (15%)
Lead and oversee the CEO’s direct team that includes an Executive Assistant, Director of Internal Communications, and Senior Manager of Board Engagement, Events, and Outreach.
Work closely with the Executive Assistant and Senior Leadership Team to optimize the CEO’s schedule and internal operations.
Partner with the Director of Internal Communications to enhance the effectiveness, timeliness, and responsiveness of internal communications.
Partner with the Senior Manager of Board Engagement, Events, and Outreach to plan and execute Board meetings, Strada‑hosted events, and key engagements.
The Person: Qualifications and Experience
: Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or similar advanced degree strongly preferred.
Progressively responsible experience in management consulting, strategy, finance, operations, or similar analytical and cross‑functional work, including leading teams and complex projects.
At least three years of management consulting experience with senior‑level interactions strongly preferred.
Experience working directly with or supporting a CEO or senior executive(s) strongly preferred.
Experience in mission‑driven environments, high‑intensity roles, and/or complex cross‑functional organizations is preferred.
Experience partnering with executive team members at multiple levels to advance initiatives.>
Plus: experience in postsecondary education, workforce development, economic development, and/or economic mobility.
Key Skills & Competencies
Excellent project management skills and the ability to drive multiple high‑profile projects.
Ability to translate strategic ideas into actionable steps and monitor progress.
Strong business acumen, financial skills, and analytical abilities, including proficiency with Excel modeling.
Drive change management and influence across teams.
Well‑honed written, verbal, and creative communication skills.
Hypothesis‑driven problem‑solving, collaborating cross‑functionally.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, judgment, and ability to build trust.
Ability to quickly learn new topics.
Personal Attributes & Values
Passion for Strada’s mission of connecting education with opportunity.
Comfort and alignment with Strada’s values.
Friendly, collaborative, and inclusive approach.
Comfort juggling diverse projects with tight constraints.
Grace, kindness, and composure under pressure.
Strong curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.
Compensation $275,000 - $325,000 a year plus bonus.
The pay range is based on national compensation benchmark data and may vary depending on skills, experience, job‑related knowledge, cost of labor, and geographic location. The exact offer will be determined based on several factors such as the candidate’s individual skills, qualifications, and experience relative to the requirements of the role.
Strada also reviews and considers internal equity when hiring. The range represents the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries across the U.S. and includes potential for future growth.
Mission and Values Alignment Committed to providing equitable pathways to opportunity through PSET, particularly for individuals who have faced significant barriers.
Strategy and Innovation Leadership Adept at operationalizing strategy, communicating initiatives, designing annual plans, monitoring progress, and refining plans.
Strategic Problem Solving Effective hypothesis‑driven problem solving with quantitative and communication skills.
Execution and Operations Leadership Translates strategic ideas into actionable steps, monitors progress, and partners on improvement initiatives.
DEI Commitment Professional experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within an organization.
Relationship Building and Collaborative Capabilities Ability to cultivate positive, mutually beneficial relationships at all levels of an organization and with external partners.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to Strada’s vibrancy. Strada is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workplace‑certified. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color/the global majority, immigrant, bilingual, bicultural individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ and gender nonconforming communities, and others.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, including reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist recruitment but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are made by humans.
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Chief of Staff
role at
Strada Education Foundation .
The Chief of Staff (COS) is a trusted strategic partner to the CEO, enhancing CEO effectiveness by strengthening organizational alignment, tackling special projects, and accelerating progress on priority initiatives. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COS brings strong judgment, synthesis, project management, problem‑solving, and execution skills to support decision‑making, communications, and cross‑functional coordination.
The COS serves as an advisor, integrator, project manager, and communicator – a “utility player” offering clear analysis, anticipating needs, and ensuring the CEO is prepared for the highest‑impact internal and external engagements. The COS will work primarily with the leadership and broader team at Strada to advance this agenda. The role requires exceptional professionalism, interpersonal skills, discretion, and the ability to work fluidly across both strategic and operational tasks.
Working closely with the CEO, the COS develops a strong understanding of both short‑term and long‑term priorities and partners with Strada team members, including the Senior Leadership Team, to ensure effective execution. This includes delegating tasks, tracking and monitoring progress, and personally executing priority actions.
The COS is a member of Strada’s Senior Leadership Team and oversees a small team responsible for the CEO’s key administrative functions (i.e., schedule, internal communications, and event planning), ensuring seamless coordination to enable the CEO to maximize time spent on strategic priorities. The COS shares an executive assistant with the CEO (who oversees office managers at Strada’s headquarters in Indianapolis and its Washington, D.C. hub) and oversees three additional direct reports: the Director of Internal Communications; the Senior Manager of Board Engagement, Events, and Outreach; and an additional shared executive assistant who supports several Strada teams.
The COS is based in Strada’s Washington, D.C. hub, co‑located with the CEO. While Strada maintains a hybrid work environment, the COS will generally be in the office on the days the CEO is present (typically 3‑4 days per week) to support close coordination and real‑time collaboration.
Context Strada Education Foundation supports programs, policies, and organizations that strengthen connections between postsecondary education and employment in the U.S., with a focus on helping those who face the greatest challenges. Our strategic plan centers on five key areas: Clear Outcomes, Quality Coaching, Affordability, Work‑Based Learning, and Employer Alignment. We leverage several impact lever teams to advance our work, including actionable research, catalytic grantmaking, nonpartisan policy solutions, strategic communications, strategic investments, and affiliates (e.g., CredLens). We work collaboratively with hundreds of partners across the U.S., including educators, employers, policymakers, learners, and other nonprofits and trade associations.
Key Responsibilities Area 1: Strategic Advisor (20%)
Develop and maintain a strong understanding of short‑term and long‑term CEO priorities and projects on both the mission and operations sides of Strada.
Serve as a thought partner to the CEO on strategic, operational, and organizational issues.
Maintain regular touchpoints with senior leaders and colleagues to gather insights, identify obstacles, monitor progress, and surface opportunities.
Provide concise synthesis, context, and recommendations to support CEO decision‑making.
Strengthen coordination and communication across teams by clarifying decision rights, facilitating alignment, and improving information flow.
Build trust‑based relationships across Strada to enable collaborative problem‑solving and accurate “pulse checks.”
Protect the CEO’s time by filtering, prioritizing, and routing issues requiring CEO attention.
Area 2: Execution and Monitoring of CEO’s Key Priorities and Projects (25%)
Manage a variety of special projects, large and small, to ensure the CEO can focus on the highest‑impact strategic priorities.
Conduct research, analysis, and structured problem‑solving to inform strategic recommendations.
Convene and coordinate cross‑functional working groups to advance priority initiatives.
Identify operational or strategic barriers and work with stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain momentum.
Ensure follow‑through on commitments emerging from CEO and leadership meetings.
Develop and maintain trackers or dashboards to monitor progress and completion of priorities and projects requiring CEO engagement.
Drive execution by delegating tasks, tracking progress, ensuring clarity of roles and expectations, and personally completing priority actions when appropriate.
Area 3: Executive Communications and Board Support (15%)
Draft and develop high‑quality communications for the CEO, including slide presentations, talking points, memos, and internal updates.
Synthesize complex or diffuse information into clear, compelling narratives for senior internal and external audiences.
Coordinate all aspects of the annual retreat of the Strada Board of Trustees.
Area 4: CEO Meeting Preparation, Prioritization, and Calendar Strategy (10%)
Manage executive team meetings, including agenda setting, preparing materials, clarifying objectives, and ensuring timely and effective follow‑up.
Support prioritization of the CEO’s time, including meetings, speaking engagements, and external participation requests.
Coordinate and review pre‑reads, briefing materials, objectives, and anticipated follow‑up needs to ensure the CEO is fully prepared for key engagements.
Manage information flows to and from the CEO’s team with clarity, discretion, and efficiency.
Area 5: Issue Spotting and Problem Resolution (15%)
Identify and elevate emerging issues, risks, or tensions that may require CEO attention.
Resolve issues that do not require CEO engagement, ensuring only the right matters reach the CEO.
Provide balanced, discreet counsel to the CEO on sensitive or urgent matters.
Respond quickly to unexpected challenges with a calm, solution‑oriented approach and drive toward resolution.
Clarify issues, propose recommended actions, and ensure follow‑through in fast‑moving or high‑stakes situations.
Area 6: Management of CEO’s Direct Team and Key Functions (15%)
Lead and oversee the CEO’s direct team that includes an Executive Assistant, Director of Internal Communications, and Senior Manager of Board Engagement, Events, and Outreach.
Work closely with the Executive Assistant and Senior Leadership Team to optimize the CEO’s schedule and internal operations.
Partner with the Director of Internal Communications to enhance the effectiveness, timeliness, and responsiveness of internal communications.
Partner with the Senior Manager of Board Engagement, Events, and Outreach to plan and execute Board meetings, Strada‑hosted events, and key engagements.
The Person: Qualifications and Experience
: Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or similar advanced degree strongly preferred.
Progressively responsible experience in management consulting, strategy, finance, operations, or similar analytical and cross‑functional work, including leading teams and complex projects.
At least three years of management consulting experience with senior‑level interactions strongly preferred.
Experience working directly with or supporting a CEO or senior executive(s) strongly preferred.
Experience in mission‑driven environments, high‑intensity roles, and/or complex cross‑functional organizations is preferred.
Experience partnering with executive team members at multiple levels to advance initiatives.>
Plus: experience in postsecondary education, workforce development, economic development, and/or economic mobility.
Key Skills & Competencies
Excellent project management skills and the ability to drive multiple high‑profile projects.
Ability to translate strategic ideas into actionable steps and monitor progress.
Strong business acumen, financial skills, and analytical abilities, including proficiency with Excel modeling.
Drive change management and influence across teams.
Well‑honed written, verbal, and creative communication skills.
Hypothesis‑driven problem‑solving, collaborating cross‑functionally.
Exceptional interpersonal skills, judgment, and ability to build trust.
Ability to quickly learn new topics.
Personal Attributes & Values
Passion for Strada’s mission of connecting education with opportunity.
Comfort and alignment with Strada’s values.
Friendly, collaborative, and inclusive approach.
Comfort juggling diverse projects with tight constraints.
Grace, kindness, and composure under pressure.
Strong curiosity and commitment to continuous learning.
Compensation $275,000 - $325,000 a year plus bonus.
The pay range is based on national compensation benchmark data and may vary depending on skills, experience, job‑related knowledge, cost of labor, and geographic location. The exact offer will be determined based on several factors such as the candidate’s individual skills, qualifications, and experience relative to the requirements of the role.
Strada also reviews and considers internal equity when hiring. The range represents the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries across the U.S. and includes potential for future growth.
Mission and Values Alignment Committed to providing equitable pathways to opportunity through PSET, particularly for individuals who have faced significant barriers.
Strategy and Innovation Leadership Adept at operationalizing strategy, communicating initiatives, designing annual plans, monitoring progress, and refining plans.
Strategic Problem Solving Effective hypothesis‑driven problem solving with quantitative and communication skills.
Execution and Operations Leadership Translates strategic ideas into actionable steps, monitors progress, and partners on improvement initiatives.
DEI Commitment Professional experience advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within an organization.
Relationship Building and Collaborative Capabilities Ability to cultivate positive, mutually beneficial relationships at all levels of an organization and with external partners.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to Strada’s vibrancy. Strada is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workplace‑certified. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color/the global majority, immigrant, bilingual, bicultural individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA2S+ and gender nonconforming communities, and others.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, including reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist recruitment but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are made by humans.
#J-18808-Ljbffr