Chief of Staff

General Summary

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, it is the largest professional society for foresters and other forest management professionals and academics in the world. The mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology, promoting professional excellence while ensuring the continued health, integrity, and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity.

Position Overview

The Chief of Staff (COS) provides strategic leadership to our Communications, Events, Professional Development, Credentialing, and Member/Community Engagement, and profession facing programs. This position reports to and supports the activities of the SAF CEO. This position serves as an advisor to and represents the CEO to various stakeholders and committees. The COS will collaborate with the Senior Director, Directors, and Program leads to ensure cross-function implementation of annual workplan. The COS responds to issues addressed to the CEO, communicates on behalf of the CEO, problem-solves and provides triage when the CEO is unavailable, and represents the CEO at meetings, special events, and on projects. This position contributes to the organizational goal of designing and accomplishing the SAF mission in a way that creates social and economic value amongst its members, the broader sector, and beyond.

The Chief of Staff serves as the organizational integrator for the leadership team, ensuring strategic priorities are translated into coordinated action across departments while respecting the authority and responsibilities of senior and department leaders.

This individual supervises Directors of credentialing, professional development, member engagement, communications, and events

Responsibilities:

Leadership (35%):

• Provides key leadership to the coordination of organizational priorities and realization of its program and financial goals.
• Support leadership alignment by ensuring clarity of roles, priorities, and decision authority across the organization.
• Oversees organizational budget in partnership with the CEO and Senior Director of Finance and Operations
• Directs and manages program operations that support SAF, facilitates the co-development and oversees implementation of the strategic plan and roadmap.
• Working with key staff, guide and coordinate the CEO’s and SAF’s annual work plan & reporting.
• Participate on a wide variety of internal and external committees on the CEO’s behalf.
• Function as a liaison with Senior Directors, Directors, Program leads, Board of Directors, volunteer advisory committees, and multiple and diverse internal and external constituencies.
• Support and continue to enhance transparency through dashboards goal progress and attainment.
• Provides review of and signs contracts after ensuring they do not compromise SAF.
• Serve as the operational integrator across departments to improve collaboration and reduce organizational friction.
• Provides review of and signs contracts after ensuring they do not compromise SAF.

Problem Solving (20%): 

• Employs an analytical and creative approach to address problems, while drawing on individual & collective skills, knowledge & experience:
• Advise the CEO on a wide variety of administrative and executive issues, implementation of policies, processes and procedures.
• Work closely with the CEO to foster cross-unit, organization-wide involvement in special initiatives
• Ensure follow-through on decisions and actions of the CEO and Board.
• Track and Report projects assigned by the CEO to Senior Directors and Directors including but not limited to change initiatives, SAF priorities, special projects and crisis management.
• Develop key opportunities that further advance SAF through topical meetings, symposia and other content-based programming that highlights aspects of SAF priorities.
• Drive and support a cohesive approach aligning the Change Management activities including communications planning, training and stakeholder management.
• Coordinate with the Director, Governance and Finance to track, follow-up, and implement actions related to board decisions.
• Support the CEO and leadership team in translating strategic priorities into annual operational plans and measurable outcomes.
• Coordinate leadership team operations, including meeting agendas, briefing materials, action tracking, and follow-up.
• Support leadership alignment by ensuring clarity of roles, priorities, and decision authority across the organization.
• Ensure the CEO is prepared for meetings, public engagements, and leadership discussions with clear briefing materials and recommended actions.

Priorities Management (20%): 

• Work to create an environment where the CEO spends time on the organization’s highest priorities through improved processes and practices:
• Provide oversight of timely preparation of materials and prompt responses to a wide variety of external and internal constituents.
• Manage the CEO’s executive responsibilities and commitments.
• Assist the CEO in carrying out supervisory and management activities such as hiring and onboarding of the CEO’s direct reports, including liaising with the SAF Human Resources team as appropriate.
• Ensure effective implementation of directives and initiatives and professional and timely service to multiple and diverse internal and external constituencies.

Communication (15%): 

• Establishes clear directions through written and oral communications:
• Develops and coordinates agendas for various forums, meetings and engagements.
• Actively promote a community of belonging among staff, volunteer leaders, members, interns, and consultants
• Initiate and respond to standard and routine communications on behalf of the CEO.
• Work closely with the Senior Directors and Communications Director to coordinate CEO-level communications.
• Manage sensitive and confidential information.

Volunteer Management (10%):

• Committee Liaison
  • Leadership Succession Committee
• Committee Support
  • Executive Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Governance Committee
  • Audit Committee

Other:

• Performs other duties as assigned by CEO.

Job Specifications:

• Demonstrated experience in supervision, budgeting, and strategic planning
• A team player who is personable, adaptable, and has an excellent customer service ethic.
• Experience working with sensitive data and protecting confidential information.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Detail-oriented, proactive, self-starter, with a positive, hands-on attitude and a desire to grow and develop in the position, on the team, and within the association.
• Exceptional time management skills and ability to multi-task and handle multiple deadlines at once.
• Desire to take ownership of projects from inception through implementation to completion, following up every step of the way.
• Ability to work both independently and contribute as a team member.
• Ability to meet deadlines, anticipate upcoming requirements, and balance multiple projects, all with attention to detail in a dynamic work environment
• Personable and nimble with a desire and ability to contribute to the continued success of our organization.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong attention to detail, highly organized with excellent multi-tasking skills
• Excellent customer service ethic; adept at developing and maintaining collaborative internal and external relationships; respects differing perspectives
• Able to produce organized and accurate materials quickly
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Ability to travel 20% - 30% to events and conferences

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or in a forestry/natural resource related field and eight years of experience
• A track record of leading and delivering complex projects and partnerships
• Demonstrated ability to work with volunteer leaders and staff at all levels through effective written and oral communication
• Demonstrated skill in gathering information and data to author complex correspondence, reports, policy, financial and planning documents
• Demonstrated strong commitment to the SAF’s goal of creating a positive and inclusive staff, membership, and partnerships
• Demonstrated strong business acumen and analytical skills and ability to contribute to strategic thinking while also being able to accomplish tactical tasks.

Preferred Education/Skills:

• Advanced degree in business administration or a forestry/natural resource related field
• Minimum of eight years experience supporting a senior level executive.
• Minimum of two years within eight in a non-profit, higher education, public or governmental setting
• Knowledge and passion for forests and natural resources is a plus.

Other Duties:

Please note this position description does not cover, contain, or list a fully comprehensive listing of duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee in this role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Reasonable Accommodation

SAF will provide reasonable accommodation to the known physical or mental limitations of a qualified individual with a disability unless doing so would pose an undue hardship on the operation of the business. Telecommuting on an ad hoc basis is available following 90 days of successful employment.

EEO Statement

SAF provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identification or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, SAF complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

SAF expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SAF’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.