(Chief of Staff) Director, Strategy Execution

WHO WE ARE

Fueled by passion and urgency, the National Kidney Foundation is a lifeline for all people affected by kidney disease. As pioneers of scientific research and innovation, NKF focuses on the whole patient through the lens of kidney health. Relentless in our work, we enhance lives through action, education, and accelerating change.

WHAT WE BELIEVE IN

NKF’s Mission is what we do; our Values are how we do it

• Accountability — Earn and keep trust
• Collaboration — Work as a team
• Communication — Empower with information
• Community — Build stronger community
• Compassion — Lead with care and respect
• Impact — Focus on the mission Your Voice Matters: kidney.org/about/diversity-equity-inclusion

Your Voice Matters: https://www.kidney.org/about/diversity-equity-inclusion

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief of Staff leads the Office of the CEO and exists to multiply the capacity, focus, and reach of NKF’s Chief Executive Officer. Serving as project leader, advisor, and trusted extension of the CEO, this role converts the CEO’s vision and the Board’s strategic plan into disciplined execution, so that the CEO and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) can concentrate on NKF’s highest-value priorities.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief of Staff works in close partnership with the SLT to drive the enterprise operating rhythm, advance the work of the National Board, strengthen interdepartmental collaboration, and ensure that decisions made at the top of the organization translate into measurable results. As NKF enters a new chapter of leadership and ambition, this role is central to taking the organization to its next level of impact.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Strategy Execution & Enterprise Priorities

• Translate the CEO’s vision and the Board-approved strategic plan into a sequenced, measurable execution agenda, and hold the organization accountable for delivering it
• Own the enterprise operating rhythm—fiscal-year planning, quarterly business reviews, goal and target setting, and progress tracking—partnering with senior leadership to keep priorities visible and on pace
• Drive a portfolio of cross-functional initiatives end to end, clearing obstacles, reconciling competing priorities, and ensuring decisions convert into outcomes
• Build the systems, dashboards, and cadence that give the CEO and SLT a single, reliable view of organizational performance and a culture of continuous improvement

Board & Governance

• Serve as the principal staff architect of National Board and Committee meetings, shaping agendas and content, advancing Board initiatives, and ensuring post-meeting commitments are executed
• Steward NKF’s governance practice: bylaw review, Board recruitment and onboarding, affiliate relationship management, and the standardization of Board policies, materials, and minutes
• Safeguard the fiduciary and regulatory standards that govern Board decision-making, ensuring documentation supports sound governance and withstands legal and audit scrutiny.
• Partner with the CEO and Board Chair to strengthen the Board–management relationship and elevate the quality of governance over time.

CEO Decision Support & Effectiveness

• Act as a trusted advisor and independent, data-driven thought partner to the CEO, developing well-reasoned points of view on the issues facing NKF
• Prepare the CEO for high-stakes meetings, decisions, and external engagements with concise briefings, options analysis, and clear recommendations
• Maintain an enterprise “no-surprises” radar, surfacing risks, tensions, and opportunities early so the CEO can act ahead of them
• Represent the CEO’s priorities and decisions across the organization, extending the reach of the office without displacing the leaders who own the work

Cross-Functional & Affiliate Leadership

• Lead or sponsor initiatives that require coordination across departments, building the interdepartmental partnerships and strategies that break down silos
• Partner with the CFO on matters involving NKF Affiliates, ensuring National resources and services are coordinated, responsive, and aligned to Affiliate needs
• Support the negotiation and clear drafting of renegotiated Affiliate agreements so they are mutually beneficial and serve the broader NKF mission
• Convene staff and leaders to build shared resources for Affiliates in priority areas such as planned giving and patient programs

Leadership of the Office of the CEO

• Lead the Office of the CEO as a high-trust, high-performing unit, directing the work of the Executive Assistant and any Office of the CEO staff or interns
• Serve as integration lead for executive transitions and leadership onboarding (including the incoming CEO’s entry, immersion, and first-year priorities.)
• Steward the CEO’s staff-engagement commitments, ensuring leadership presence translates into trust, follow-through, and a closed accountability loop
• Model NKF’s values and protect the confidentiality, judgment, and discretion on which the Office of the CEO depends

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPA, MPH, JD, or related) preferred
• Minimum eight years of progressively responsible experience in strategy, operations, governance, or executive leadership, ideally within a mission-driven national nonprofit or healthcare organization
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution
• Direct experience working with a Board of Directors, volunteers, and executive leadership at a governance level
• Exceptional project- and program-management discipline, with a track record of building systems and driving continuous improvement
• Superior written and verbal communication; able to distill complexity into clear recommendations for executive and Board audiences
• Sound judgment, political acumen, and unimpeachable discretion in handling confidential and sensitive matters
• Fluency with modern collaboration, presentation, data, and board-management tools

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• Accountability — Establishes organizational accountability, driving performance across all levels
• Change Leadership — Delivers or leads large-scale organizational change, setting direction and guiding teams through transformation
• Collaboration — Leads collaborative efforts across the organization and actively builds partnerships with external stakeholders to advance the mission
• Data-Driven Decision Making & Results Orientation — Leverages accurate, comprehensive analytics to guide strategic planning, sets high-impact targets, and ensures delivery on commitments
• Operational Excellence — Leads or delivers large-scale operational improvements that elevate organizational performance
• Stakeholder Engagement — Shapes and directs a broad spectrum of strategic stakeholders to influence policy and advance NKF’s impact
• Financial Acumen — Applies strategic financial judgment in planning, resource allocation, and long-term sustainability
• People Leadership — Sets high-impact goals, develops talent, and ensures teams deliver on strategic commitments
• Innovation — Champions strategic innovation and process optimization that position NKF as a leader in kidney health
• DEI 4A & Cultural Humility — Advances diversity, equity, and inclusion for all, ensuring policies, programs, and services are designed with an equity lens

WORKING CONDITIONS & SPECIAL INFORMATION

This role requires unimpeachable integrity and trustworthiness, with a high degree of tact, discretion, and professionalism. It operates in a fast-paced, high-profile environment and depends on excellent verbal and written communication and the ability to maintain effectiveness under pressure. Standard office technology and collaboration tools are used daily. The position may require occasional lifting of materials up to 25 lbs., overnight business travel, and flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

At the National Kidney Foundation, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity apply to both our workforce and the communities we serve as they relate to kidney health and kidney disease prevention. It is the policy of NKF to provide equality of employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, qualified handicap or disability, national origin, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, age, gender, political affiliation or veteran status, or any other factor or reason prohibited by relevant local, state, and federal fair employment laws.

The Equal Employment Opportunity policy applies to all employment practices of NKF, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, layoffs, transfers, and discipline. Implementation of the Equal Employment Opportunity policy is the shared responsibility of the management of NKF. The National Kidney Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

DISCLAIMER

The statements herein describe the general nature and level of work performed in this position and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. They do not establish an employment contract and are subject to change at the discretion of the organization. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The National Kidney Foundation does not accept resumes from third-party recruitment or search firms; please do not forward resumes to NKF employees, locations, or email addresses, and NKF is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

The salary band listed reflects the range for this position. Actual compensation will be determined based on the selected candidate’s experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors.