Fast Facts

Think Together is seeking a Chief of Staff to serve as a strategic advisor, overseeing operational and financial alignment, and driving efficiency across departments.

Responsibilities: Lead strategic initiatives, oversee budgets, manage cross-departmental projects, and ensure alignment between operations and financial sustainability.

Skills: Exceptional leadership, strategic planning, financial acumen, project management, and communication skills are required.

Qualifications: 10+ years of executive leadership experience, preferably in Chief of Staff roles, with a strong educational or nonprofit background.

Location: The job is located in Santa Ana, CA, with approximately 20% local travel within California and occasional out-of-state travel.

Compensation: $250000 - $250000 / Annually

Overview

Chief of Staff 

Founded in 1997, Think Together partners with schools to change the odds for kids by providing award-winning programs during and outside the school day. We’re one of California’s largest nonprofits working in school districts from San Diego to San Francisco. Whether you’re interested in early learning, elementary, middle or high school, you can invest in your community by working at a local school or working within our home office providing support! JOB SUMMARY: The Chief of Staff (CoS) serves as a key strategic advisor to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and oversees strategic, operational and financial alignment within the Program & Operations Departments. The CoS leads cross-functional collaboration, drives strategic initiatives to maximize efficiency and impact, and ensures financial sustainability through budget oversight in partnership with Finance. The COS supervises the Senior Director of Strategic Projects, provides leadership to the Strategic Projects department, and supervises the Executive Assistant to the COO. Dedicated to the mission of Think Together, the Chief of Staff is a results-driven executive leader, responsible for ensuring operational excellence, setting a strategic vision for growth, and leading teams to meet organizational goals. This role requires exceptional leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to oversee complex, cross-functional projects and drive large-scale initiatives. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Leadership & Financial Oversight • Partner with the COO to set and implement the strategic vision for Program & Operations. • Oversee strategic planning, goal setting and monitoring, and project prioritization to drive organizational growth and efficiency. • Oversee financial strategy, working closely with Finance to analyze budgets, track expenditures, and align resources with strategic priorities. • Manage the strategy, planning, and communications for Executive Team and Board meetings, ensuring alignment between operational goals and financial sustainability. • Support and elevate the strategic projects team to strengthen organizational capacity and drive continuous improvement across all functions Operational Excellence & Cross-Departmental Leadership • Build a culture of operational excellence by implementing best practices and systems to improve efficiency. • Directly supervise the Senior Director of Strategic Projects and oversee the Strategic Projects Department to ensure that project management best practices are consistently applied to cross-functional initiatives. • Ensure operational best practices are integrated across all

Program & Operations departments. • Lead large-scale initiatives that require collaboration across multiple teams. Program & Operations Leadership Team Management • Provide dotted-line oversight to the Program & Operations leadership team (Chief Human Resources Officer, SVP of Regional and Program Operations, VP of Talent Acquisition & Organizational Development, and VP of Program Quality & Compliance) to maintain alignment on priorities and progress on key initiatives. • Directly supervise the Executive Assistant to the COO to ensure effective executive office operations, scheduling, logistics and administrative support • Ensure strategic decisions are executed effectively and key stakeholders are engaged in decision-making. Executive Communications & Organizational Alignment • Develop and oversee high-level strategic messaging for the COO, ensuring organizational priorities are clearly communicated. • Prepare executive-level briefings to senior leadership, staff, board members, and key stakeholders. QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:• Expertise in strategy, business operations, and organizational leadership. • Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale strategic initiatives, design effective organizational and team systems, and drive execution across multiple departments. • Strong financial acumen with experience overseeing budgets. • 10+ years executive leadership experience with exceptional management skills, including developing senior leaders, ensuring accountability, and managing dotted-line relationships. • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience crafting high-level executive communications. • Deep understanding of business operations, organizational efficiency, and project management best practices. • Demonstrates sound judgment, exercises discretion, and ensures confidentiality. • Bachelor’s degree in educational leadership, business, or a related field required; MBA or master’s degree preferred. • In-depth business, education and/or nonprofit leadership experience. • Prior experience in Chief of Staff or similar executive leadership role a plus. • Committed to Think Together’s vision and mission to partner with schools to change the odds for kids. COMPUTER SKILLS: • Proficiency with all Microsoft Office software products (including SharePoint) • Strong Excel skills and comfortable working with data, budgets, and reports

• Highly proficient with PowerPoint design

• Salesforce.com experience a plus. PHYSICAL/WORK ENVIRONMENT: • Moderate Noise (examples: typical office noise) • Stand, Walk, Sit (in general office environment) • Computer Screen visual in performance of role • Lift up to 10 pounds • Approximately 20% of local travel (within California) to offsite meetings and events are required. Some events take place in the evenings and on weekends. Some out-of-state travel is required to attend industry conferences (approximately 2x annually). • Working evenings and weekends is required as needed. • Must pass Live Scan (criminal background check via fingerprinting), provide a clear TB test

COMPENSATION:

• Salary $250K

This is the targeted compensation for the position. A range of factors, including but not limited to; location, skills, experience, will be considered. Actual compensation may vary.

Think Together is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, religious creed, physical disability, mental disability, age for individuals age 40 and over, medical condition (as defined by state law (for example, cancer or genetic characteristics or HIV/AIDS), marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment.