Chief of Staff

About this role

Join our team and become a part of something bigger – a force for change in the fight against hunger. The Community Foodbank of New Jersey is more than just a food bank – we champion healthier lifestyles and positively impact social and economic change. Together we can create a stronger, more resilient New Jersey for everyone.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the Chief of Staff serves as a strategic thought partner to the President & CEO and helps drive alignment, coordination, and execution of CFBNJ’s highest organizational priorities. The Chief of Staff works across functions to translate strategy into action, facilitate executive decision-making, monitor progress against organizational priorities, and lead or support complex cross-functional initiatives. The Chief of Staff also partners with the President & CEO and other key staff to support Board engagement related to strategic and organizational priorities and represents the President & CEO and CFBNJ with external partners and stakeholders, as appropriate.
What you’ll do in your role:
Organizational Support

• Partner with the President & CEO to identify, prioritize, advance, and monitor the organization’s highest strategic and operational priorities.

• Collaborate with ELT on a variety of strategic initiatives.

• Lead or coordinate high-priority, complex, and time-sensitive initiatives on behalf of the President & CEO, particularly those requiring cross-functional collaboration or that do not sit exclusively within one organizational function.

• Support effective alignment and coordination across the Executive Leadership Team and Senior Leadership Team, including facilitating leadership discussions, identifying cross-functional dependencies, and ensuring appropriate follow-through on decisions and priorities.

• Serve as the President and CEO’s ambassador at internal and external meetings, as assigned.

• Partner with the President & CEO and other key staff to support Board engagement and communication related to strategic and organizational priorities.

• Analyze and synthesize organizational, network, community, and external data to identify opportunities, inform strategy, and support executive decision-making.

• Partner and participate with stakeholders across the organization to help drive strategic priorities and initiatives.

• Lead or support cross-functional initiatives that improve the accessibility, equity, quality, and effectiveness of CFBNJ’s services to communities and network partners.

• Partner closely with internal teams including: operations, programs, resource development and advocacy to analyze, design, and develop and improve our relationship with our current and potential network partners.
Strategic Planning

• Lead and coordinate CFBNJ’s strategic planning and strategy execution processes in partnership with the President & CEO and ELT.

• Translate strategic priorities into measurable goals, initiatives, timelines, and accountability.

• Establish processes to monitor progress against organizational priorities and facilitate leadership review of results.

• Partner with initiative owners to identify barriers, resolve cross-functional issues, and maintain progress toward established goals.

• Synthesize organizational data, performance information, and emerging trends to support executive decision-making and strategic planning.
External Affairs

• Collaborate with local, state, and national partner organizations to help set policy priorities.

• Work effectively with NJ-based food banks, Feeding America and other key anti-hunger organizations.

• Create and distribute well written and organized written communication both internally and externally.

• Professionally engage with government officials, board members, food bank network leadership, network agencies and other important stakeholders.
Why you’ll love working at CFBNJ:

• Opportunity for Impact: At CFBNJ, your work drives meaningful changes. Just last year, we provided over 90 million meals and 35 million pounds of fresh produce to our neighbors in need.

• Wellness that Works for You: Rooted in our culture of caring, we offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, wellness programs, generous sick/personal time off, 14 paid holidays, childcare resources, and organization-wide engagement days for rest and reflection.

• Professional Development: Grow your career through our Learning Lab, with access to workshops, online courses, and book resources. We also offer tuition assistance and certificate reimbursement for job-related training to support continuous growth.

• Recognition and Belonging: We celebrate great work and grow inspiration with Bonusly, our peer-recognition platform, and foster community through employee resource groups to create space to uplift voices and strength connections

• Retirement Planning: Plan confidently for your future in our 401(k) program, including a 4% company match after one year of service.
What you’ll need to be successful in this role:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, public policy, communications, or a related field— or equivalent professional experience.

• At least 10 years of progressive experience in community engagement, public policy, government relations, or advocacy, preferably in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.

• Strong project management and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines with professionalism.

• Proven ability to collaborate across departments and with external stakeholders; excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Analytical mindset with experience gathering and synthesizing data to support strategy and decision-making.

• High cross-cultural competency and demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse communities.

• Master’s degree or professional certification a plus.

• Experience in anti-hunger advocacy and policy work at the local, state, or federal level is…