SVP, Chief of Staff bei United Way of New York City

Position Title: Chief of Staff, President’s Office

Reports to: President & CEO

Department: President’s Office

Organization Summary:

United Way of New York City (UWNYC) works with a coalition of trusted partners to unite community power with citywide possibility. Together, we meet today’s most urgent needs while building transformative solutions for tomorrow — striving for health, opportunity, and prosperity for every New Yorker in every neighborhood. Part of the United Way Worldwide system, one of the world’s most recognized charitable brands, we believe that New Yorkers deserve to thrive where they live and envision a future where all New Yorkers have the resources they need to live long, healthy lives in flourishing and resilient neighborhoods. We strive to model our values in all our relationships, both internal and external: Collaboration, Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, and Superior Performance.

Position Summary

United Way of New York City (UWNYC) is seeking a dynamic and highly strategic Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff (CoS) to serve as a trusted partner to the President & CEO. The CoS will be a member of the organization’s Executive Leadership Team and will play a pivotal role in advancing UWNYC’s mission by managing high-level strategic initiatives, driving political and stakeholder strategy, and maximizing the effectiveness of the Office of the President. The Cos  will supervise a small team supporting the President’s Office and strategic initiatives. 

The Cos will act as an extension of the President & CEO—deepening and coordinating engagement with the Board of Directors, aligning internal and external priorities, and ensuring seamless execution of enterprise-level priorities with a focus on external relations, board engagement, and strategic, cross-functional execution.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Alignment

• Serve as a senior advisor to the President & CEO on strategic priorities, external positioning, and decision-making.
• Translate vision into actionable strategies by coordinating key initiatives across departments.
• Lead special projects, often in cross-functional or cross-sector contexts, with executive-level visibility.
• Represent the CEO internally and externally when appropriate.

Board Engagement

• Serve as a senior advisor to the President & CEO on engagement and coordination of the Board of Directors. 
• Establish process flows, expectations, communication plans, and project plans for Board member engagement, Board meetings, and ongoing coordination between the President & CEO, Board Co-Chairs, Executive Leadership Team, and general Board membership. 
• Track and measure engagement to ensure progress is made in achieving desired results.

External & Political Strategy

• Help drive the President & CEO’s political strategy, including engagement with elected officials, government agencies, and policy coalitions.
• Support the President & CEO’s external engagements—preparing briefings, strategic messaging, and follow-ups with public, private, and philanthropic stakeholders.
• Cultivate and manage high-impact relationships with civic, political, and corporate leaders to advance UWNYC’s influence and policy agenda.
• Ensure alignment of political and public engagement strategies with UWNYC’s mission and impact goals.

Executive Office Operations & Communications

• Oversee the strategic flow of information to and from the President & CEO, including briefing materials, talking points, and executive communications.
• Manage the cadence of key internal and external meetings, ensuring the President & CEO’s time is focused on high-priority engagements.
• Coordinate the President & CEO’s external commitments such as organization Boards, committees, coalitions, commissions, etc. 
• Coordinate with Resource Development, Marketing & Communications, and Community Impact teams to align messaging, fundraising, and thought leadership.

Organizational Stewardship & Culture

• Set agendas and facilitate Executive Leadership Team meetings ensuring strategic topics are covered and meetings are run effectively and efficiently. 
• Act as a culture carrier and thought partner across the Executive Leadership Team, promoting collaboration, accountability, and mission alignment.
• Provide executive leadership in sensitive or high-stakes internal matters when delegated by the President & CEO.

Key Competencies 

Leadership & Vision

• Demonstrates the ability to set a clear strategic vision and align teams toward organizational goals.
• Inspires trust and motivates high performance across diverse teams and stakeholders.

Executive Communication

• Exceptional ability to communicate vision, strategy, and results to multiple audiences including donors, board members, staff, and the public.
• Skilled in public speaking, media engagement, and high-level presentations.

Results Orientation

• Strong focus on measurable outcomes, impact assessment, and data-informed decision-making.
• Demonstrates resilience and agility in achieving results under pressure.

Strategic & Operational Excellence

• Ability to balance long-term planning with day-to-day operational leadership in a complex nonprofit environment.
• Strong track record of developing and executing strategies that drive measurable impact.

Equity & Community Impact

• Deep commitment to advancing equity and social justice, consistent with UWNYC’s mission.
• Ability to engage authentically with community partners, government, and corporate stakeholders.

Collaboration & Relationship Building

• Builds and maintains effective cross-sector partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrates political savvy and skill in navigating sensitive, high-stakes relationships.

Financial & Resource Stewardship

• Proven experience in fundraising, revenue generation, and managing multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Ensures accountability and transparency in financial and programmatic decision-making.

Talent Management & Organizational Development

• Experienced in building, leading, and mentoring diverse teams.
• Fosters a culture of inclusion, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field; advanced degree preferred. Minimum 12+ years of progressively responsible experience in executive leadership roles (e.g., Chief of Staff, Government Affairs, Public Sector Strategy, or Nonprofit Leadership). 
• Strong understanding of the New York City political, philanthropic, and civic landscape.
• Prior experience in Results-Based Accountability, place-based work, health equity, education equity, food & benefits access, or justice & opportunity a plus. 
• Proven experience managing external relations, policy strategy, and cross-sector initiatives at the executive level.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and strategic thinking skills.
• Exceptional political judgment, discretion, and ability to operate in complex stakeholder environments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and high-pressure situations with tact and efficiency.
• Commitment to racial equity, social justice, and UWNYC’s mission of creating opportunities for all New Yorkers.

United Way of NYC Core Competencies for All Staff

• Mission Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to the mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.  This drives their performance and professional motivation.
• Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before processes and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
• Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement
• Results Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good: creating, resourcing, scaling and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact.
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

Salary range:

• The final determination of salary, within this range, will depend on the candidate’s education, skills and experience required for the particular position.

 Additional Requirements:

• Successful Completion of a Background check  
• UWNYC is presently on a Hybrid/In-Person work schedule.

United Way of NYC Core Competencies for All Staff

• Mission Focused: Catalyze others’ commitment to the mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities.  This drives their performance and professional motivations.
• Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before processes and is astute in cultivating and managing relationships toward a common goal.
• Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement
• Results Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good: creating, resourcing, scaling and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact
• Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands his/her role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network.

How to apply:

Please apply on our United Way of New York City career page. No phone calls or faxes accepted. No phone calls or faxes accepted. 

United Way of New York City is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer