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Chief of Staff (Director, Operations Leadership Team)

Employer
Earthjustice
Location
San Francisco, CA or Washigton, DC or New York, NY
Salary
Salary for San Francisco, CA: $151,700 - 168,500
Closing date
Apr 21, 2021

View more

Focus Areas
Environment
Job Function
Administrative / Clerical, Executive / Senior Management
Position Type
Full Time
Degree Level
Bachelors
Experience Level
Executive

Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We take on the biggest, most precedent-setting cases across the country. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health; to preserve magnificent places and wildlife; to advance clean energy; and to combat climate change. We partner with thousands of groups, supporters, individuals and communities to engage the critical environmental issues of our time, and bring about positive change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.

Founded in 1971, Earthjustice has a distinguished track record of achieving significant, lasting environmental protections.  We achieve this by hiring people who share a passion for justice and a healthy environment.  Our headquarters are in San Francisco with offices in Anchorage, Juneau, Los Angeles, Miami, Tallahassee, Honolulu, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Bozeman, and Washington, DC.

We are looking for a dynamic, motivated and organized Director, Operations Leadership Team (OLT) to join Earthjustice’s Operations department. The OLT Director functions as a Chief of Staff to the Senior Vice President of Operations, Earthjustice’s COO-equivalent. The OLT Director partners closely with the Senior Vice President of Operations, along with the Operations Vice Presidents (Finance, General Counsel, Human Resources, IT, and Real Estate and Workplace Strategy), to manage the work of the OLT.  As a member of OLT, the OLT Director sets agendas, keeps the team on task, manages high-priority projects, convenes stakeholders, develops recommendations, and manages information flow to and from the OLT. The position also leads and manages the Project Management Office to oversee and guide key initiatives both within Operations and for other departments.  The OLT Director reports directly to the Senior Vice President of Operations.

This role is based in San Francisco, CA headquarters preferred, though candidates from Washington, DC or New York, NY will be considered.

Responsibilities:

OPERATIONS LEADERSHIP TEAM MANAGEMENT (50%)

  • Works with the SVP-Operations and other team members to set priorities for OLT, scoping projects, tracking their execution, and ensuring their completion.
  • Directs the day-to-day functioning of the group, setting agendas, designing and driving team processes, running effective meetings, and working with SVP to ensure informed, transparent, and timely decision-making.
  • Project manages key leadership initiatives that require significant coordination between OLT members, including timelines, budgets, deliverables, metrics and debriefs; researches and implements new project management tools for OLT
  • Scopes, project manages, contributes to, helps implement, and vets key initiatives of the ELT, ensuring deadlines are met and outcomes achieved.
  • Partners with OLT on change management and organizational design and development initiatives.
  • Drafts or delegates drafting of OLT program and strategy documents and internal communications.
  • In partnership with the Internal Communications team, ensures that the OLT is communicating effectively throughout the organization, and supports staff-wide communications from the SVP.
  • Initiates or delegates initial drafts of policy changes/additions or any key written/verbal communications that come from the OLT as a body or the Office of the President.
  • Supports the OLT communications strategy to all staff. Helps draft memos, documents, and internal communications between OLT and staff.
  • Serves as a point of contact for scheduling meetings and video/conference calls between staff and OLT
  • Tracks and manages dates and deliverables requiring OLT participation such as planning meetings, budget calendars, annual benefits review, performance review process, etc.
  • Project manages key initiatives of the OLT, ensuring deadlines are met and outcomes achieved.
  • Serves as a full member of OLT, which leads strategic planning and management of the Operations Division and prioritizes and coordinates Operations activities to ensure that we achieve our Operations strategic goals.
  • Integrates and builds Operations Division team cohesion through listening and collaborating on proposals that reflect the best thinking of the leadership team and input from stakeholders.
  • Contributes to positive OLT team dynamics and fosters a strong OLT foundation that encourages camaraderie and collaboration.
  • With the support of the Internal Events Team, partners with the SVP and other OLT members to plan and execute OLT retreats.
  • Develops and identifies trainings and initiatives for OLT to contribute to a learning culture.

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT & EVALUATION (Approximately 20%)

  • Serve on OLT and partner with the SVP to develop and execute an Operations strategic plan and goals.
  • Set operational and strategic objectives and priorities for project management, facilities, and meeting planning functions that are in alignment with Earthjustice and Operations strategic plan and goals.
  • Align team functions in accordance with key imperatives that support the current and future scale of Earthjustice, including: optimizing workflows for efficiency; leveraging technology; designing processes and projects that scale effectively; mitigating organizational risk; and adapting to the changing needs of the organization.
  • Contribute to the design of systems, workflows and processes that align with the Operational imperatives above and are responsive to the needs of staff across the organization.
  • Collaborate with OLT to develop, define and monitor key metrics and evaluation methods for all Operations teams and functions.
  • Serve as project manager for overall risk management plan, working closely with General Counsel as project lead.
  • Ensure project risk management practices are attended to by team managers and followed.
  • Undertakes any other duties or projects that may be reasonably required and deals with matters arising in a timely and effective manner.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT (Approximately 20%)

  • Manage and grow PMO team. Develop and support the effective operating of a Project Management Office (PMO), optimizing project management processes, tools, templates and building project management capabilities throughout the organization.
  • Collaborate with team to develop immediate and longer-term vision and goals of the project management PMO, and advance same.
  • Identify and implement systems, processes, and resources necessary to support current and anticipated future project management activities.
  • Build department-wide (and eventually organization-wide) capability in project management standards, best practices, systems, and methods to support delivery of realistic, relevant, project timelines and deliverables.
  • Promote effective project management practices across Operations and Earthjustice.
  • Plan and execute OLT projects that require non-OLT staff resources, supervising those staff to make sure that the project meets deadlines and goals.
  • Work with the internal communications team and other colleagues to maximize staff awareness of and engagement with (as appropriate) organizational projects, meetings and events.
  • Responsible for ensuring budgets are created, tracked and reported on in accordance with organizational guidelines.
  • Create with team a set of metrics for evaluating projects, a learning culture practice for conducting post project reviews, and a mechanism for reviewing implemented projects for any needed improvements.

MANAGEMENT (Essential Functions) (Approximately 10%)

  • Recruits and hires qualified candidates who fit position requirements and the work environment. 
  • Promotes change in terms of the expected benefits, as well as removing or lowering the impact of potential obstacles.
  • Sets clear team direction that aligns with Earthjustice strategy, mission, and vision.
  • Develops staff by identifying and encouraging training and professional development opportunities appropriate to role and creating development plans for all staff.
  • Provides staff with consistent performance feedback – both positive and constructive -- and acts as a coach and mentor.
  • Creates a learning culture, by encouraging debriefing after completion of significant stages of projects.
  • Ensures that any direct reports who have supervisory responsibility are properly executing those functions.
  • Creates a respectful and inclusive work environment for team and models respectful and inclusive behavior.
  • Promptly addresses micro-aggressions and other concerns brought to their attention.
  • Resolves interpersonal conflict among team members and brings in outside facilitators as needed.
  • Communicates regularly with existing employees and encourages staff to raise concerns and to provide ongoing feedback.
  • Creates or identifies strategic opportunities for team building and individual and overall staff engagement with one another in order to strengthen teamwork, interaction and collaboration. 
  • Values and uses individual differences and talents to improve employee satisfaction and the quality of collective work.
  • Celebrates successes and helps team members to understand and manage setbacks.

*Supervisory Responsibilities: Manage the Program and Project Manager and the PMO function.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree and relevant operations or nonprofit experience preferred
  • 3+ years of experience working with senior leadership or executive team
  • 5+ years of experience with project management. Project management training or certification preferred.
  • Experience learning about and adopting newer scheduling, planning, and productivity technologies
  • Prioritize, manage, and complete multiple complex tasks despite time pressure and unexpected challenges.
  • Plan, manage, and execute high-stakes projects with great attention to detail; excellent organization and project management skills a must.
  • Influence stakeholders, partners, and other OLT members to work on projects without having direct authority over them.
  • Maintain the confidence of OLT discussions, and handle confidential and/or sensitive issues tactfully, discreetly, and diplomatically.
  • Work comfortably with the President and Earthjustice executives, trustees and high-profile individuals and organizations.
  • Develops and nurtures relationships with staff across geographies and teams; navigate working with staff across varying degrees of positional power while building trust and unity.
  • Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
  • Think strategically, anticipate challenges, envision growth and embrace change.
  • Contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive work culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
  • Mastery of Microsoft Office, in particular Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
  • Solid writing and analytical skills; ability to listen and communicate clearly and professionally to different audiences including supporters, staff, board, clients and partners.
  • Creative approach to problem-solving; resourceful and committed to a learning culture.
  • Professional, positive and approachable attitude.
  • Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
  • Contributes to recruiting, hiring, developing and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce.

 Management 

  • Ability to effectively manage and lead a diverse team with emotional intelligence (self-awareness and understating of the impact of their behavior) and cultural humility (an understanding of the need for additional learning about different cultures, backgrounds and orientation and implementation of that learning daily management practices).
  • Ability to give and receive regular formal and informal feedback in a timely, constructive, respectful, and consistent manner and to incorporate debriefing into the team’s operations.
  • Strong team mentorship and communication skills
  • Understands the individual and team strengths and areas for development and develops plans accordingly. 
  • Commitment to and experience in developing team skills and talents to meet the evolving needs of an organization.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits that are comprehensive and competitive. 
 

Salary for San Francisco, CA or New York, NY: $151,700 - 168,500

Salary for Washington, DC: $144,100 - $160,100

Interested candidates should submit the following via Jobvite: 

  • Resume
  • One or two page cover letter.

Please reach out to jobs@earthjustice.org if you are having technical difficulties submitting your application. No phone calls, drop-ins, or hard copies.

Earthjustice is driven by a passion for justice, partnership, and excellence. Our core values lead us to seek a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve our mission and to maintain an inclusive environment where all staff are valued and respected. As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to employment practices that ensure that employees and applicants for employment are provided with equal opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other factor that is not related to the position.

For positions located within the City and County of San Francisco Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

For positions located within the City of Los Angeles:We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

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