Chief of Staff

Job Description

The Chief of Staff serves as the primary strategic and programmatic partner to the President & CEO and provides executive oversight of the YMCA of Yonkers' programs, member services, and community-based initiatives.

This executive leadership role oversees a diverse portfolio that includes youth development, afterschool and summer camp programming, teen services, violence prevention initiatives, workforce development, wellness programming, supportive services, and reentry-focused initiatives.

The Chief of Staff is responsible for strengthening organizational systems, improving cross-functional collaboration, supporting program leadership, and translating strategic priorities into effective organizational execution. Working collaboratively across operations, finance, development, and administrative teams, this leader ensures alignment between program operations, organizational priorities, compliance expectations, and community needs while advancing organizational effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required in Public Administration, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Nonprofit Management, Social Work, Public Health, Criminal Justice, or a related field.
• 7-10+ years of progressive leadership or management experience.
• Strong experience overseeing programs, teams, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex operations and multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Experience working within nonprofit, community-based, government-funded, or mission-driven organizations strongly preferred.
• Experience working with government contracts, grants, compliance structures, and community-based programs preferred.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed programming, workforce development, violence prevention, reentry services, behavioral health-informed models, youth development, or recovery-support initiatives strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting program implementation, fidelity monitoring, and performance outcomes preferred.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and community partnerships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build relationships across departments, stakeholders, and community partners.
• Experience supervising staff and managing cross-functional initiatives.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and organizational management systems preferred.

Essential Functions

• Executive Leadership & Strategic Coordination
• Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the President & CEO.
• Support implementation of organizational priorities and executive initiatives.
• Coordinate cross-functional projects and agency-wide initiatives.
• Assist with organizational planning, change management, and implementation efforts.
• Prepare executive reports, presentations, and organizational updates.
• Ensure accountability and follow-through across departments and leadership teams.
• Program Oversight & Organizational Leadership
• Provide executive oversight of YMCA programs and community-based initiatives.
• Supervise program directors, managers, and senior leadership staff.
• Monitor program performance, staffing structures, participant engagement, and service quality.
• Ensure programs align with organizational priorities, funder requirements, and community needs.
• Lead development of new initiatives, partnerships, and organizational growth strategies.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, and operational consistency across departments.
• Specialized Program Leadership
• Lead implementation and oversight of the YMCA Reentry Hub initiative.
• Serve as Site Administrator for the YMCA SNUG program.
• Coordinate with government agencies, funders, and community stakeholders.
• Support implementation of evidence-based and trauma-informed programming models.
• Compliance, Performance & Organizational Effectiveness
• Oversee government-funded and grant-supported initiatives.
• Ensure timely completion of reports, deliverables, and operational documentation.
• Monitor compliance with contractual, regulatory, and organizational requirements.
• Track organizational metrics, performance indicators, and program outcomes.
• Support continuous quality improvement and data-informed decision making.
• Board & Community Relations
• Support Board of Directors meetings, executive committee meetings, and strategic planning sessions.
• Represent the CEO in meetings and collaborative initiatives as assigned.
• Support stakeholder engagement, external partnerships, and organizational communications.
• Maintain relationships with government agencies, community organizations, consultants, and funders.
• Cause-Driven Leadership Competencies
• Strategic Thinking & Execution
• Program Leadership & Operational Oversight
• Organizational Leadership & Team Development
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Relationship Building & Stakeholder Engagement
• Communication & Influence
• Change Management & Problem Solving
• Project & Performance Management

Required Certifications

• Valid driver's license preferred.
• CPR/AED and First Aid certification preferred or ability to obtain within YMCA-established timelines.
• Any grant-funded or program-specific training required by assigned programs.