Chief of Staff

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Chief of Staff based in Canada.

This is a senior strategic role supporting the Managing Director and leadership team in a purpose-driven, highly matrixed organization.

You’ll act as a trusted advisor, helping leaders navigate priorities, decisions, risks, and complex cross-functional initiatives.

The role combines executive advisory, strategic planning, organizational integration, project leadership, and operational oversight.

You’ll connect teams and information, translate enterprise priorities into local execution, and ensure critical commitments stay on track.

You’ll also prepare executive and Board materials, oversee reporting and dashboards, and support high-impact strategic initiatives.

Success requires strong judgment, political awareness, communication skills, and the ability to influence without direct authority.

This is an opportunity to shape organizational effectiveness while contributing to work with meaningful social and global impact.

Accountabilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic thought partner to the Managing Director and leadership team, assessing priorities, emerging issues, risks, dependencies, and strategic trade-offs while providing objective analysis and recommendations.
• Act as an organizational integrator across senior leadership, executive stakeholders, the Canada leadership team, Board members, and functional departments to ensure priorities, decisions, information, and materials are coordinated effectively.
• Manage executive and Board-related priorities, including meeting preparation, briefing materials, presentations, reports, correspondence, follow-up actions, and governance logistics.
• Coordinate enterprise-level and Canada-specific strategic planning, ensuring broader organizational priorities are translated into actionable local plans while surfacing Canada-specific opportunities and challenges to enterprise leadership.
• Support the development and execution of the Managing Director’s annual work plan and organizational priorities by coordinating cross-functional planning, monitoring progress, identifying barriers, and supporting leadership decision-making.
• Lead or oversee selected strategic initiatives, special projects, task forces, and working groups, ensuring clear objectives, accountability, timelines, and outcomes.
• Oversee executive reporting, dashboards, and performance information in partnership with Finance, Strategy, and functional leaders to support informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate annual departmental budgeting and resource allocation, including areas involving shared services, shared costs, or cross-entity functions.
• Build strong relationships with organizational and enterprise leaders to keep senior leadership informed of significant operational, stakeholder, organizational, and reputational matters.
• Ensure timely and effective communications from the Managing Director, including announcements, presentations, talking points, speeches, correspondence, and other executive communications.
• Represent the Managing Director at selected internal and external meetings, briefings, and events when delegated, capturing key insights and coordinating appropriate follow-up.
• Provide people management, oversight, and mentorship for administrative staff supporting the Canada organization.
• Oversee consultants, honoraria, and other expenses associated with activities covered by the Canada budget.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, nonprofit management, public policy, organizational leadership, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8-10 years of relevant professional experience, ideally spanning strategy execution, executive advisory, organizational leadership, project or program management, policy, or business operations.
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives involving multiple senior stakeholders while balancing strategic priorities with fast-moving operational demands.
• Exceptional project management, organizational, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work independently, manage upward, and consistently deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, including the ability to assess complex situations, identify strategic trade-offs, interpret qualitative and quantitative information, and apply insights in a broader organizational context.
• Demonstrated experience developing and monitoring executive work plans, organizational priorities, dashboards, performance indicators, or similar management frameworks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing executive correspondence, Board materials, presentations, speeches, briefing notes, decision papers, and PowerPoint presentations.
• Strong interpersonal judgment, diplomacy, resilience, and political acuity, with the ability to build trust and credibility across diverse stakeholder groups and influence without direct authority.
• Experience with inclusive and participatory approaches to strategy development, planning, decision-making, and/or budgeting.
• Strong people management and supervision experience, including the ability to mentor and support administrative professionals.
• Ability to operate effectively in a highly matrixed environment and navigate ambiguity with initiative, sound judgment, and a strong sense of ownership.
• Proficiency in both written and spoken French.
• Experience across multiple sectors is an asset, particularly within public, nonprofit, social impact, regulatory, professional association, or private-sector environments.
• Familiarity with strategy development frameworks, scenario planning, organizational decision-making, performance measurement, and budgeting is considered an advantage.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation: CAD $127,000-$163,000.
• Fully remote: Work remotely from Canada, with eligibility for candidates based in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, or Nova Scotia, as well as candidates willing to relocate.
• Purpose-driven work: Contribute to initiatives that expand educational, economic, and social opportunities for immigrants, refugees, and international students.
• Work-life harmony: Flexible remote work options, flexible scheduling, generous time-off policies, and wellness programs designed to support overall well-being.
• Comprehensive rewards: Competitive compensation, benefits, and recognition programs that acknowledge employee contributions.
• Professional development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, career development pathways, and tuition reimbursement.
• Growth opportunities: An employee-focused environment that encourages continuous learning and supports personal and professional advancement.
• Inclusive culture: A diverse and collaborative workplace with employee-led resource groups, town halls, team activities, volunteer opportunities, and initiatives supporting equity and belonging.
• Meaningful impact: The opportunity to work on programs and organizational priorities that help people build better futures and access global educational and professional pathways.
• Supportive environment: A culture centered on opportunity, inclusion, equity, resourcefulness, innovation, and collaboration.