Job Description
Job DescriptionTHE OPPORTUNITY
The National League of Cities, a non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C., is comprised of elected leaders focused on improving the quality of life for their current and future constituents. With 100 years of dedication to local government's strength, health, and advancement, NLC has gained the trust and support of more than 2,000 cities, towns, and villages nationwide. Together, our mission is to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy, and drive innovative solutions. The Chief of Staff serves as the CEO’s principal strategic and operational partner ensuring organizational priorities are clearly defined, strategically aligned, and consistently executed, while strengthening cross-functional collaboration and operational discipline across the organization. Responsible for managing the CEO’s agenda including organizational priority-setting, strategic planning, and key internal initiatives while supporting high-level decision making through analysis, coordination, and recommendations. The role also functions as a central liaison between the CEO, the Senior Executive Team (SET), and internal stakeholders to ensure clarity, follow-through, and organizational alignment.
Duties and Responsibilities
CEO Partnership & Strategy Execution
Leads the development and management of the organization’s priority framework, ensuring goals are aligned with mission, strategy, and operational capacity.Establishes operating rhythms (dashboards, CEO check-ins, SET routines) that drive accountability, transparency, and timely execution.Tracks organizational performance against strategic and operational priorities; provides regular reporting and decision-ready updates to the CEO.Identifies emerging risks, constraints, and execution gaps; escalates issues and proposes solutions to maintain momentum.Strategic Planning & Organizational Alignment
Manages and drives the organization’s strategic planning process in partnership with the CEO and SET, ensuring clear timelines, stakeholder input, and measurable outcomes.Supports translation of strategic priorities into annual operating plans and cross-functional initiatives.Facilitates alignment between Centers/Departments to ensure shared ownership of organizational priorities and minimized siloed execution.Ensures internal teams understand organizational direction through clear planning documentation and communication support.Cross-Organization Collaboration & Leadership Support
Drives collaboration across departments by coordinating integrated workstreams, resolving barriers, and aligning leadership on shared outcomes.Facilitates SET discussions and meetings to support effective decision-making, accountability, and clarity.Builds internal partnerships that promote communication flow across functions such as finance, HR, IT, programs, and membership.Serves as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the CEO and SET on organizational dynamics, performance, and operational improvement.CEO Decision Support & Executive Operations
Provides direct strategic and operational support to the CEO, including briefing documents, scenario planning, and executive-level research and analysis.Evaluates organizational proposals and initiatives for feasibility, risk, and alignment to enterprise goals; prepares recommendations for CEO review.Coordinates executive-level communications and leadership messaging as requested.Maintains high discretion and judgment in handling confidential information, sensitive personnel matters, and organizational risk.Organizational Initiative Leadership
Leads and/or co-leads high impact internal initiatives on behalf of the CEO (e.g., transformation initiatives, systems change, governance improvements, structure/role clarity, operational process upgrades.Develops project plans, milestones, and success metrics; oversees implementation and cross-functional delivery.Ensures major initiatives are resourced appropriately, supported by stakeholders, and reported clearly to the CEO and SET.Board Relationships & Governance Support
Serves as a key partner to the CEO in managing Board relationships and communications.Supports governance documentation, Board committee coordination, and follow-up actions after Board meetings.Maintains awareness of Board priorities and ensures alignment between governance activities and organizational planning/execution.Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s degree, MBA, MPA, or similar preferred).Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in internal operations, strategic planning, executive management, or organizational transformation.Demonstrated experience managing organization-wide projects and driving cross-organizational alignment.Experience supporting executive leadership decision-making through analysis, strategic briefs, and recommendations.Strong familiarity with governance practices, board relations, or senior stakeholder engagement.Skill in developing high-impact communication (written briefings, executive presentations).Organizational agility and systems thinking with the ability to drive alignment in a complex environment.Strong political acuity and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in a membership organization, association, nonprofit, or public-sector environment with complex stakeholders.Proven experience facilitating strategic planning and translating strategy into operational execution.Experience leading organizational change management initiatives.Working Conditions / Additional Expectations
Requires occasional evening or weekend hours in support of Board meetings, executive travel, and major organization-wide initiatives.Ability to manage sensitive/confidential issues with diplomacy and professional maturity.Represents the CEO’s office with professionalism and integrity across all levels of the organization.
NLC INCLUSION STATEMENT
NLC is committed to fostering a culture that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
NLC is dedicated to ensuring that our hiring practices and workplace policies provide equal access to opportunities, skill development, and merit-based advancement.
By embracing inclusion, we foster a work culture of continuous learning, innovation, creativity, and understanding which are essential to our success supporting cities, towns, and villages.
NLC will take steps to ensure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if a reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Human Resources at hr@nlc.org
WORK LOCATION
This hybrid position is based in Washington, DC, and requires three days on-site at our NLC headquarters.
OUR BENEFITS
Target Hiring Range (165k-200k)Competitive benefits, and retirement packageGenerous paid time off and holidaysHybrid work environment
EOE
PI281634545