Deputy Chief of Staff (Executive Office)

Urban Institute - Washington, DC

Full-time - Mid Level

Washington, DC

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Urban Institute is seeking a Deputy Chief of Staff to support the Executive Office. This role is pivotal in managing the implementation of strategic priorities and ensuring that the Urban Institute lives up to its mission and values. The Deputy Chief of Staff will report directly to the Chief of Staff and will also work closely with Urban's Senior Vice Presidents. This position requires an exceptional communicator who can navigate complex internal dynamics and quickly develop a deep understanding of Urban's work. The Deputy Chief of Staff will be a key member of the Executive Office team, relied upon by Urban's leadership to identify solutions and achieve organizational goals. In this role, the Deputy Chief of Staff will partner with the Chief of Staff to develop and implement strategic priorities that encompass all aspects of Urban's work and workplace. This includes advancing racial equity within Urban's culture, content, and climate. The successful candidate will support institutional strategy development, track the implementation of priorities, and collaborate with colleagues across Urban to ensure effective execution of initiatives. Additionally, the Deputy Chief of Staff will manage Urban's discretionary budget process, ensuring that resources are aligned with strategic priorities and that expenditures yield the intended outcomes. This role also involves optimizing the infrastructure for the development and growth of research and policy programs, leveraging Urban's executive, fundraising, communications, and other capacities. Building effective relationships with centers, business units, and senior leadership across the organization is essential. The Deputy Chief of Staff will serve as a flexible and adaptable advisor to Urban's executive leadership, capable of addressing problems and advancing solutions as needed. This includes advancing key priorities of the President, preparing the President for external partnership engagements, and managing programmatic follow-ups. The role will also involve managing special projects for the executive office as they arise.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Chief of Staff to develop and implement strategic priorities pertaining to all parts of Urban's work and workplace.
• Support institutional strategy development, tracking implementation of priorities and working with colleagues across Urban to ensure effective execution.
• Manage Urban's discretionary budget process to ensure resources are aligned with priorities and expenditures are effective.
• Manage and optimize an infrastructure for advancing the development and supporting the growth of research and policy programs across Urban.
• Build effective relationships with centers, business units, and senior leadership across the organization.
• Serve as a flexible and adaptable advisor to Urban's executive leadership, capable of solving problems and advancing solutions as needed.
• Advance key priorities of the President, including preparing the president for external partnership engagement and managing programmatic follow-up.
• Manage special projects for the executive office as they arise.

Requirements

• Demonstrate a track record of at least seven years of management and/or policy experience, with increasing levels of authority and responsibility over time.
• Establish comfort adapting to rapidly shifting goals and priorities, a commitment to continuous improvement, and the ability to take initiative and work quickly and creatively.
• Have clear general policy knowledge, or specific knowledge of one or more domestic and/or economic policy domains, and the ability to communicate said expertise effectively.
• Display strong organization, relationship management, and communication skills.
• Demonstrate commitment to and experience with principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the institutional and interpersonal levels.
• Exhibit comfort with outcome-based budgeting and knowledge of principles of project management and strategy development.
• Demonstrate experience managing a small team, while working effectively both as part of a group and independently.
• Work successfully on multiple assignments while using strong organizational skills and maintaining close attention to detail.