We Are Hiring: Chief of Staff & Head of Operations

Job Description

Reporting to the President and General Counsel (GC) of Stand with Asian Americans (SwAA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Chief of Staff / Head of Operations will serve as the strategic right hand to the President/GC, helping set organizational direction, drive execution of high-impact initiatives, and ensure that operations and partnerships are tightly aligned with SwAA’s mission.

As Chief of Staff / Head of Operations, your primary responsibility will be to act as a trusted advisor and multiplier for the President/GC’s capacity and vision. You will translate strategy into actionable and measurable outcomes, and coordinate internal operations, programs, and partnership development in service of SwAA’s mission, including strategic planning, leading, and driving of SwAA’s initiatives and programs, optimizing and institutionalizing internal & operational functions, implementing programs, managing partnerships, and developing fundraising strategies. You will continue SwAA’s focused efforts on empowering Asian Americans to fight various forms of discrimination in the workplace.

You will support and lead our team in advancing SwAA’s vision of a society where Asian Americans can live with dignity and belonging, free from discrimination.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Chief of Staff Function

Serve as a trusted advisor and proxy for the President/GC in internal and external forums
Help set organizational priorities and ensure alignment between strategy and execution
Translate the President/GC’s strategic vision into actionable goals and measurable outcomes
Drive execution of high-impact initiatives across teams
Multiply the capacity of the President/GC by ensuring timely follow-through and coordination across stakeholders

Operational & External Leadership

Work in partnership with and support of the President/GC to execute short-term and long-term strategic goals, including the following areas:

Human Resources

Manage personnel with strong and supportive day-to-day leadership and cultivate a supportive work environment, bridging operations across different states
Manage human resources functions, including training, development, compensation and benefits, employee relations, performance evaluation and recruiting
Run payroll, employee benefits, business insurance processes, ensuring compliance with all labor and employment laws and practices
Oversee performance evaluations and compensation review and support recruitment and talent retention strategies

Finance & Technology

Develop and oversee the annual operations plan and budget
Prepare for and execute grants, including grant proposal and grant writing
Implement systems for reporting, measurement and supporting local revenue generation
Managing the accounting system to provide the organization with quick access to financial information and enables strategic budgeting
Monitor financial performance and develop long range financial plans aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities
Review and approve financial transactions, including legal accounting andexpense reports
Manage banking relationships and investment accounts
Oversee monthly and annual financial reporting, including the conduct of an annual audit and federal single audit
Manage the current technology infrastructure and financial systems to support the growth of specific programs and the organization overall

Governance & Compliance

Work with the Board of Directors and present at Board meetings
Liaise with external consultants (e.g., accounting, legal, financial, HR) to ensure organizational compliance with laws
Serves as the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) for grants and Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) agent, as needed

Partnership Development

Build and manage strategic partnerships with organizations, donors, and community stakeholders to advance SwAA’s mission
Lead business development and fundraising efforts — from strategy and proposal development to execution, reporting, and stewardship — ensuring sufficient revenue to sustain operations
Oversee donor, member, and partner engagement, along with fundraising infrastructure, communications, and digital outreach to strengthen SwAA’s visibility and impact
Manage government contracts, restricted funds, and ensure quality and consistency in all fundraising materials and external communications
Identify growth opportunities and priorities in alignment with the President/GC’s strategic vision
Communicate the branded message internally and externally, leveraging digital and social media tools to strengthen SwAA’s visibility and reach

Programs & External Engagement

Oversee strategic communications (SwAA’s website, newsletter, social media, and digital platforms), ensuring content is consistent, engaging, and aligned with organizational strategy
Support public-facing campaigns and thought leadership efforts by developing messaging, drafting communications, and collaborating with external mediapartners
Monitor and increase key impact measurements towards organizational goals
Ensure that programmatic partners renew their engagement with the organization
Develop training tools and curriculum within budget guidelines
Develop scopes of work and manage deliverables for external partnerships
Establish fee schedules and evaluate cost and effectiveness of earned revenue programs
Manage any physical facilities and assets
Identify, select, and work with consultants (e.g., legal, financial, HR) to supplement expertise when necessary

Key Qualifications

As a prerequisite, the successful candidate must believe in the core values of SwAA and be driven by the mission. The candidate should demonstrate a passion for breaking new ground to lead social change.

Beyond that, we are seeking a candidate that has proven experience in scaling a multi-site organization and a demonstrated ability to both lead and build the capabilities of a driven, bright, diverse team.

The successful candidate will have had management experience with a for-profit or non-profit organization. As noted, this is an organization driven by the values of its people, so experience in managing a “values-driven” organization will be highly prized. Additional requirements are:

Mission & Results-Driven—proven track record of exceeding goals and a bottom-line orientation; evidence of the ability to consistently make good decisions through a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; high level of business acumen including successful P&L management; the ability to balance the delivery of programs against the realities of a budget; and problem solving, project management, and creative resourcefulness
Strategic Vision and Agility—ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into the organizational plan
Capacity Building—ability to effectively build organization and staff capacity, developing a top-notch workforce and the processes that ensure the organization runs smoothly
Leadership and Organization—exceptional capacity for managing and leading people; a team builder who has experience in scaling up organizations; ability to connect staff both on an individual level and in large groups; capacity to enforce accountability, develop and empower top-notch leaders from the bottom up, lead from the top down, cultivate entrepreneurship, and learn the strengths and weaknesses of the team so as to put people in a position to succeed
Action-Oriented—enjoys working hard and looks for challenges; able to act and react as necessary, even if limited information is available; not afraid to take charge of a situation; can overcome resistance to leadership and take unpopular stands when necessary
General Management—thorough understanding of finance, systems, and HR; broad experience with the full range of business functions and systems, including strategic development and planning, budgeting, business analysis, finance, information systems, human resources, and marketing
Communication—demonstrated ability to communicate professionally and manage social media, web platforms, and digital communication tools for community engagement, fundraising, and brand-building
Educational Background—Undergraduate degree is required; MBA or similar advanced degree is highly desired
Non-Profit Work—Prior experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, partnerships, or business development is a plus

Compensation

This is an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated professional to assume a pivotal role in the
evolution of a fast-growing, highly respected organization. We are seeking an individual of outstanding
quality with a respected track record. This is a full-time, exempt position reporting directly to the President/GC. The anticipated annual salary for this role will be between $100,000-130,000 (commensurate with experience) payable semi-monthly. You will also be eligible for:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
20 days paid vacation/personal time off
Professional development opportunities

This role will be fully remote. Occasional travel may be required for work-related meetings.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

SwAA is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. SwAA does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

How to Apply

Email hello@standwithasianamericans.com with your resume and cover letter. Application review will begin September 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.