Chief of Staff Position Available In Jefferson, Alabama

Chief of Staff Empower Community School Bessemer, AL Job Details Full-time Estimated:

$88K – $108K a year 1 day ago Qualifications 7 years Slack Trello Microsoft Office Fundraising Organizational skills Senior level Communication skills Senior leadership Stakeholder management

Full Job Description Overview:

Empower Community School influences change in our community by forging collaboration between a diverse group of scholars, educators, families, and partners to educate the next generation of community leaders and advocates. Our personalized approach to learning supports the academic, social, and emotional development of each scholar and prepares them to excel in every endeavor with the courage and ability to advocate for themselves and the community.

Empower unapologetically believes:

Every student can learn and grow in rigorous academic settings with the appropriate support. Schools are a place for equitable collaboration between educators, scholars, families, and the broader community. Empathy, interpersonal skills, and social-emotional development are the foundation of a positive culture. Technology can be an educational equalizer when used for personalized learning, content creation, and community connections. The Chief of Staff is a senior leadership role that works directly with the Executive Director to translate strategy into action, manage day-to-day organizational effectiveness, and ensure key initiatives move forward with clarity and accountability. This individual will serve as a connector across departments and stakeholders, lead internal planning and coordination, and help manage relationships with funders, partners, and the Board of Directors. This role requires a strong strategic thinker and operational executor who is equally comfortable managing cross- functional projects, advising senior leaders, and representing the organization externally. The Chief of Staff will play a central role in shaping Empower Schools of Alabama’s next phase of growth and impact.

Reports To:

Executive Director Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Organizational Alignment Partner with the Executive Director to set annual goals, monitor progress, and align team efforts with strategic priorities. Serve as a key advisor and thought partner to the Executive Director and senior leaders on organizational decision- making and planning. Lead the design and facilitation of leadership team meetings, strategic retreats, and internal communications to drive clarity and collaboration. Coordinate execution of high-priority, cross-functional initiatives that support organizational growth, impact, and sustainability. Operational Planning & Internal Coordination Develop and manage organizational calendars, planning cycles, and meeting structures that support effective decision-making and accountability. Oversee progress tracking across programs, operations, and strategic initiatives, ensuring follow-through on critical tasks and deliverables. Identify and remove barriers to execution across teams; create solutions to improve systems and team efficiency. Serve as the organization’s Human Resource Officer. Supervise or collaborate with operations staff on administrative functions such as hiring, onboarding, and policy development. Fundraising & Development Support Support the Executive Director in planning and executing fundraising strategies, including donor cultivation, stewardship, and grant reporting. Lead or support the development of materials such as grant proposals, funder briefings, decks, and donor communications. Track fundraising pipelines and deadlines; coordinate cross-team inputs for grant applications and reports. Maintain donor and grant records in partnership with the development or operations team. Board Engagement & Governance Serve as the lead liaison to the Board of Directors, working closely with the Executive Director and Board Chair. Plan and execute all Board and committee meetings, including scheduling, logistics, agenda setting, materials preparation, and follow-up. Manage Board communications and documentation, including minutes, resolutions, and onboarding materials. Partner with the Executive Director to strengthen Board engagement and ensure strong alignment between governance and operations. External Relations & Partnerships Represent the organization in meetings with funders, district leaders, and strategic partners when appropriate. Coordinate and support high-level external engagements for the Executive Director, including briefings, talking points, and meeting preparation. Lead special projects or external initiatives that align with Empower Schools of Alabama’s mission and goals. Team Culture & People Development Promote a healthy, mission-driven, and inclusive team culture by modeling organizational values and ensuring alignment across departments. Support recruitment, onboarding, and professional development efforts in partnership with team leads. Foster an environment of transparency, continuous improvement, and collaboration across all levels of the organization.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements At least 7-10 years of relevant professional experience, with increasing levels of responsibility in roles such as Chief of Staff, Director of Human Resources, COO, or senior project/program leader. Proven ability to manage and execute complex projects across multiple teams or functions. Demonstrated experience supporting senior leadership and/or Boards of Directors in high-performing nonprofit, education, government, or mission-driven organizations. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing high-quality executive materials. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders. High level of discretion, emotional intelligence, and judgment, particularly when managing confidential or sensitive matters. A deep commitment to educational equity, public education, and the mission of Empower Schools of Alabama. Preferred Qualifications Experience working within or in close partnership with school systems, education nonprofits, or policy organizations. Familiarity with Alabama’s education and political landscape. Background in grant writing, fundraising strategy, or funder engagement. Proficiency in tools such as Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Slack, CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce or Airtable), and project management platforms (e.g., Asana, Trello, Notion).

Additional Information:

As part of the application process at Empower Community School we ask all candidates to take several brief assessments after the submission of a resume or completion of an online application. For the first assessment, you will click on this LINK. Please enter your contact information. Upon completion of the first assessment, you will receive a link for the second assessment at the provided email address. The link will come from . In the first assessment, There are no right or wrong answers The assessment takes about 5 minutes to complete You should take on a laptop or desktop Make sure that you are in Google Chrome with a stable internet connection Once you complete the first assessment, you will immediately receive a link to the 2nd assessment. Unlike the prior assessment, this is a timed test. Please consider the following There are 50 questions You will have 12 minutes to complete Questions will include three types of questions: numerical, verbal, and spatial-reasoning Please complete the assessment on a laptop or desktop Make sure that you are in Google Chrome with a stable internet connection Ensure that you are in a quiet place where you will not be distracted or disturbed Be in a competitive state of mind. Equal Opportunity Employment Empower Schools of Alabama considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, marital status, veteran or military status, the presence of a medical condition, disability, or any other legally protected status. Non-Discrimination Statement In its efforts to promote nondiscrimination and as required by law, Empower Schools of Alabama does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, disability, age, or any other basis prohibited by law, in providing education services, activities, and programs.