Chief of Staff (Job ID: 2026-3846)

About

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to equip decisionmakers with nonpartisan research and policy strategies to create a more prosperous and secure country and world. To advance our mission, we are committed to the following four goals:

• Develop economic growth strategies for a changing world
• Expand economic and social opportunity for all
• Revitalize U.S. democratic institutions
• Advance peace and security worldwide

At the core of our mission is the quality, independence, and impact of our research. We are dedicated to finding bold, pragmatic solutions for societal challenges through open-minded inquiry, diverse perspectives, and holding ourselves to the highest standards of scholastic rigor. Brookings places immense value on creating a supportive and collaborative environment where every individual can do their best work, learn, and grow.

Position Location: This position requires five days a week of in-person work onsite in our Washington, DC office with flexibility depending on the needs of the office.

Responsibilities

The Chief of Staff serves as a close strategic partner to the President and as a force multiplier, ensuring that the President’s time, attention, and leadership are focused on Brookings’ highest value priorities. Reporting directly to the President, the Chief of Staff stewards the effectiveness of the institution’s leadership team, structures decision processes, manages information flow, and stewards strong connection between the executive office and the institution’s functional areas.

• Partner closely with the President to shape priorities, anticipate challenges, and support effective leadership across the institution.
• Work with the Executive Assistant to ensure the President’s calendar, engagements, travel, and preparation reflect institutional priorities.
• Ensure the President is prepared for meetings through high-quality briefings that synthesize context, objectives, and risks/tradeoffs.
• Serve as a trusted thought partner on emerging issues and institutional challenges.
• Serve as the central steward of information flow into and out of the Executive Office.
• Oversee the reflection of the president’s perspective in information and materials circulated by the Executive Office.
• Provide strategic input into internal communications.
• Ensure decisions and follow-up are communicated clearly.
• Filter, prioritize, and synthesize inputs across the institution to focus presidential attention.
• Structure decisions for the President by clarifying objectives, options, risks, and tradeoffs.
• Integrate perspectives from cross-functional leadership into decision-ready materials.
• Reinforce norms on decision discipline and operational authorities.
• Design and facilitate effective Executive Leadership Team meetings and retreats.
• Establish and steward leadership-team norms around decision-making, accountability, collaboration, and information sharing.
• Serve as connective tissue across senior leaders to ensure alignment and risk identification.
• Manage information exchange among Executive Leadership Team members.
• Chair the Brookings Management Team which advises on operational shifts.
• Oversee executive searches for Vice Presidents and other strategic hires with the Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer.
• Partner with the Director of Board Relations to provide strategic direction for Board and committee relations ensuring alignment with governance engagement and the President’s agenda.

Job Details

• Full-time
• Salary: $264,000 - $295,000 a year

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance

Qualifications

• Master's degree in business administration, communications, political science, public administration, or related field
• Experience with stakeholder engagement, non-profit operations management, executive administrative support, and team development
• Strong analysis skills and experience managing budgets in a finance role
• Executive recruiting skills
• Senior-level leadership with cross-functional collaboration and communication skills
• Organizational budget management and strategic communications expertise