Chief of Staff

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is a nonpartisan think tank focused on strengthening transatlantic cooperation on global challenges. GMF conducts research and policy analysis on issues such as democracy, security, geopolitics, alliances, the rise of China, and technological change. Through publications, convenings, and partnerships, GMF supports informed policymaking and fosters collaboration among government officials, civil society, and emerging leaders in the United States and Europe. Headquartered in Washington, DC, GMF has offices in Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Belgrade, Ankara, Bucharest, and Warsaw, with additional representation in London and Madrid.

About the Executive Office: The Executive Office serves as GMF's strategic center, supporting the President, Executive Team, and Board of Trustees in advancing the organization's mission and priorities. The office provides leadership across GMF's global programs, partnerships, operations, and external engagement activities.

Working across offices and functions, the Executive Office helps align institutional priorities, support organizational decision-making, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and advance strategic initiatives. The office also plays a central role in board engagement, external relations, executive communications, and the coordination of high-priority institutional efforts.

The Executive Office also coordinates the administrative, operational, governance, and financial affairs of the President’s Office and provides support to the Board of Trustees in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.

The Opportunity & Role

The Chief of Staff to the President serves as a senior leader within the Executive Office and is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the strategic, administrative, operational, governance, and financial affairs of the President’s Office. Reporting directly to the President, the Chief of Staff supports organizational decision-making, strengthens coordination across GMF’s offices and functions, and ensures that institutional priorities are translated into actionable plans and effectively executed.

The Chief of Staff serves as the President’s primary coordinator for cross-cutting institutional priorities, ensuring that organizational goals are clearly communicated, strategically aligned, and effectively advanced across GMF’s programs, offices, and administrative functions. The role provides leadership and oversight for strategic initiatives, executive operations, board engagement, institutional partnerships, and cross-functional coordination, enabling the President to focus on the highest-value opportunities and decisions. Rather, it is a senior coordination and operational leadership role responsible for helping the President and Executive Office manage complex institutional priorities, governance obligations, and organizational execution.

The Chief of Staff is responsible for building and managing the systems, processes, and operating rhythms that support the President’s agenda, facilitate the flow of information into and out of the Executive Office, and strengthen organizational alignment and accountability. The successful candidate will bring significant experience supporting senior executives in complex organizations and possess the judgment, credibility, and leadership skills necessary to navigate sensitive issues, manage competing priorities, and drive institutional progress.

The Chief of Staff may represent the President, as delegated, in meetings with senior internal and external stakeholders and may assess new project ideas, proposals, or institutional opportunities to determine whether they align with GMF’s strategic direction, organizational priorities, and available capacity.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Execution

The Chief of Staff serves as the President’s strategic partner in advancing organizational priorities and ensuring effective execution across the institution.

• Partner with the President to develop, refine, and advance GMF’s strategic priorities and institutional objectives.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner, helping anticipate opportunities, identify emerging risks, and support executive decision-making.
• Drive coordination and accountability for key organizational initiatives, ensuring alignment across programs, offices, and administrative functions.
• Establish and manage systems for tracking priorities, decisions, commitments, and follow-up actions to support execution of the President’s agenda.
• Develop planning rhythms, reporting protocols, and communication processes that improve the flow of information across the Executive Office, leadership team, staff, and key stakeholders.
• Lead special projects and organizational initiatives on behalf of the President, including cross-functional efforts requiring executive sponsorship and coordination.
• Support the President in managing institutional change, fostering alignment, and communicating strategic priorities across the organization.
• Help the President assess new project ideas, institutional proposals, and cross-functional initiatives to determine whether they are aligned with GMF’s substantive direction, strategic priorities, organizational capacity, and resource considerations.
• Advise the President on cross-cutting policy, procedural, operational, and organizational matters that require coordination across multiple pillars, cost codes, offices, or stakeholder groups.

Executive Office Operations and Presidential Support

The Chief of Staff is responsible for establishing and managing the systems, processes, and operating rhythm that enable the President's Office to function effectively and support execution of the President's priorities. The role serves as the central point of coordination for information flow, decision management, executive operations, and cross-organizational alignment.

• Build and lead the systems, processes, and operating rhythms that enable the President's Office to function effectively and support execution of the President's priorities.
• Direct the development and coordination of executive briefings, stakeholder intelligence, and decision-support materials to ensure the President is fully prepared for strategic engagements, governance responsibilities, public appearances, and external meetings.
• Manage the execution of Executive Office priorities and special initiatives, monitoring progress, coordinating stakeholders, and ensuring follow-through on key commitments and decisions.
• Oversee the administration of the Executive Office, including budget management, executive support functions, travel, scheduling, and operational processes.
• Supervise the Executive Assistant and ensure the smooth execution of administrative operations, including travel, scheduling, expenses, and logistics.
• Provide day-to-day leadership for Executive Office operations, including work planning, priority management, internal coordination, process improvement, and resource stewardship.
• Coordinate the administrative, operational, and financial affairs of the President’s Office, ensuring that Executive Office systems and practices support timely decision-making, accountability, and effective organizational execution.
• Oversee Executive Office budget administration, expense management, vendor coordination, and operational planning in partnership with Finance and other teams.
• Supervise Executive Office personnel and coordinate external consultants, vendors, or project-based resources supporting Executive Office priorities, as applicable.
• Serve as a trusted representative of the President in managing sensitive stakeholder relationships, ensuring effective communication, follow-up, and coordination with Board members, donors, government officials, partners, and internal leaders.
• Support the President in fostering organizational alignment, leadership accountability, and a culture of collaboration, service, and high performance.

External Relations, Board Engagement, and Institutional Partnerships

The Chief of Staff supports the President's engagement with the Board of Trustees, donors, policymakers, strategic partners, and other key stakeholders to advance GMF's mission and institutional priorities.

• Partner with the President and Development team to support engagement with major donors, foundations, corporations, and strategic partners.
• Support Board of Trustees engagement on behalf of the President, including meeting preparation, drafting memos and talking points, trustee communications, and follow-up on Board priorities.
• Cultivate relationships with policymakers, partners, and thought leaders to strengthen GMF's network and identify opportunities for collaboration and growth.
• Represent the President and GMF, as appropriate, in meetings, events, and strategic engagements.
• Support the President's participation in major conferences, convenings, and public engagements to maximize GMF's visibility, influence, and impact.
• Accompany the President on select domestic and international travel, ensuring effective preparation, stakeholder coordination, and follow-up on key meetings and engagements.

Decision-Making Authority and Scope

The Chief of Staff operates with a high degree of independence, judgment, and discretion in managing the Executive Office’s priorities and activities. The role is responsible for developing recommendations, coordinating executive decision-making, and overseeing the execution of strategic initiatives on behalf of the President.

The Chief of Staff has authority over Executive Office operations, budget administration, and the supervision of Executive Office staff. The role regularly handles highly confidential information and serves as a trusted advisor to the President on organizational, operational, governance, and stakeholder matters.

Success in this role requires sound judgment, political acumen, and the ability to navigate complex issues involving Board members, donors, government officials, senior leaders, and external partners.

The role is expected to influence and coordinate across the organization through credibility, judgment, relationship management, and operational discipline, rather than through direct line authority over all participating teams.

Knowledge and Skills Needed:

• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, drive execution, and achieve results across complex organizations.
• Exceptional judgment, discretion, and political acumen, with the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics and sensitive issues
• Proven ability to build consensus, influence decision-making, and drive alignment across teams and stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience designing and implementing systems, processes, and operating rhythms that support executive decision-making, information flow, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Strong communication skills, including formal written materials, presentations, speeches and talking points. 
• Understanding of nonprofit governance and experience working with governing boards, executive committees, or trustees
• Experience leading organizational change, managing ambiguity, and guiding teams through periods of growth, transition, or transformation.
• Communicate effectively and diplomatically with staff and external contacts at all levels, while also maintaining confidentiality.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, competing deadlines, and complex stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge of international affairs, philanthropy, higher education, public policy, or nonprofit organizations is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, foster collaboration, and cultivate productive relationships across diverse teams, functions, and stakeholder groups. 
• Unquestionable integrity and a commitment to ethical leadership, accountability, and responsible stewardship of organizational resources and relationships.
• A service-oriented leadership style, with a commitment to supporting the success of others, removing barriers to progress, and advancing organizational goals through collaboration and influence.
• Ability to assess project proposals, institutional opportunities, and operational issues through the lens of strategic fit, resource implications, organizational capacity, and reputational impact.
• Strong understanding of executive office operations, board support, governance coordination, stakeholder management, and cross-functional project execution.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required. An advanced degree in public policy, international affairs, public administration, business administration, higher education leadership, organizational leadership, or a related field is preferred.

Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in international affairs, higher education, philanthropy, public policy, public affairs, government, nonprofit management, executive office operations, or organizational administration.

Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives and leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in a mission-driven organization.

Experience serving as a Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, or comparable senior coordination and operational leadership role strongly preferred.

Demonstrated success in building organizational systems, managing strategic priorities, driving execution, and improving coordination across multiple teams and stakeholders. Experience working with governing boards, donors, senior government officials, and external partners is strongly preferred.

While knowledge of transatlantic affairs and international policy issues is desirable, it does not substitute for demonstrated leadership, management, and organizational effectiveness experience.

Experience managing executive operations, governance support, budget administration, stakeholder coordination, and institutional initiatives is strongly preferred.

Work Environment and Expectations

This role operates in a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly visible executive environment. The Chief of Staff must be comfortable managing multiple priorities, responding to evolving organizational needs, and supporting the President across a range of strategic, governance, and external engagement activities.

The position requires periodic domestic and international travel, including attendance at Board meetings, conferences, donor events, and organizational convenings. Given the nature of the role and GMF's international footprint, occasional evening and early morning meetings may be required to accommodate stakeholders across time zones.

The successful candidate will demonstrate flexibility, sound judgment, and a commitment to service while maintaining appropriate work-life boundaries and supporting a sustainable and effective Executive Office.