Director of Operations / Chief of Staff – Economic Security & Technology

Position description

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Under the guidance to the President, support change management efforts designed to establish the new Department including articulation of its vision, strategy, structure, and culture / values.
• Work closely with President to establish systems for integration, coordination, and collaboration across all department research programs and staff.
• Initiate and lead initiatives to establish, streamline, and improve operations to ensure departmental effectiveness, and promote departmental collaboration
• Track department’s KPI’s across policy impact, fundraising, media, DEI, and other metrics of success.
• Ensure excellence and consistency across department-wide activities, publications, and events.

• Liaise with central Finance & Accounting to oversee EST’s full budget, accounting systems, and processes to ensure accurate and timely record keeping.
• Manage the MOU process on behalf of the Front Office working in close coordination with the research programs with oversight from the President and Vice President.
• Liaise with central Development to improve back-end systems to enable larger grant applications and ensure responsible implementation procedures.
• Liaise with central facilities on office and workstation utilization for staff and visiting fellows.
• Enforce all organizational rules and regulations at the department level. Including compliance with IT security, emergency procedures, contractual obligations with funders, donor transparency, audits, CRM management, consultant and affiliate oversight, CSIS Code of Conduct, and any other formal business transactions or agreements.

• Support the President’s strategic vision for the department by ensuring corresponding milestones are met and that each research program has the resources necessary to participate in this vision.
• Administer the Strategic Initiatives Fund for the department – including the review of proposals, disbursement of funds, and tracking of impact.
• Liaise with other COS’s and the front office to ensure effective communication and alignment on the implementation of center-wide priorities and goals.

• Supports President and Vice President with hiring and oversight of key department roles.
• Assists with staff resourcing and management of collaborative research projects within the department and across other departments.
• Serves as a resource and guide for staff on all administrative and operational matters, as well as during times of dispute or performance issues.
• Liaises with central Human Resources on matters related to hiring and recruitment, ensure positive staff experiences, and coordinate onboarding and offboarding processes. Serve as department Hiring Manager.
• Oversee and approve all Visiting Fellow and affiliate arrangements.
• Establish a positive working environment and culture within the EST Department and across CSIS. Serving as a role model for CSIS’s values of professionalism, integrity, and collegiality.

• To help realize presidential priorities and amplify the President’s research portfolio, work with central External Relations and Government Relations to ensure strategic outreach to key stakeholders– including media, Congress, the Executive Branch, the private sector and investment community.
• Liaise with External Relations on brand management and recognition for presidential priorities, including through the website, Annual Report, and iDeas Lab products.
• Liaise with Executive Education on the development of educational seminars and courses for public and private audiences.

Knowledge, education, and experience

• Bachelor’s degree required with a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience; master’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in change management, budgeting, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), particularly within complex nonprofit environments.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly present information and effectively engage high-level internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven proactive approach to identifying challenges, setting priorities, and implementing effective solutions, with a strong ability to anticipate departmental needs.
• Outstanding organizational, time management, and decision-making skills, with the capacity to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced setting.
• Superior interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships across diverse internal and external constituencies.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on geopolist.com