Chief of Staff

ABOUT SHELTER

Shelter Youth & Family Services provides emergency housing, community-based services, and support for youth and families in crisis. Founded in 1975, we've grown into a leading voice for child welfare, human trafficking response, foster care innovation, and trauma-informed care in Illinois. With a current budget of $10M and ambitious plans to grow to $15M, our mission is to end the cycle of abuse and neglect by providing safe, healthy, and stable lives for children and families.

Shelter Youth & Family Services is committed to providing safe, inclusive, and supportive resources for youth and families from all backgrounds and identities. We actively strive to create an environment that supports all employees, placing value in contributions from people from diverse backgrounds, and honoring all experiences, perspectives, and unique identities. Our mission is to protect children, strengthen families, and transform communities. Joining us in this role will give you a chance to help fulfill that mission and help the community. Shelter and its facilities are drug and smoke-free environments.

Learn more at shelter-inc.org.

Shelter Youth and Family Services encourages the application of all bilingual applicants to work with our client community. Applicants who can successfully certify their skill level in reading, speaking, and writing in two languages with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may receive an additional salary stipend. Certification testing is set by DCFS.

Job Overview
This position is anticipated to last 12 months and is intended to assist Shelter in growth and transition. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the center of impact-comfortable with ambiguity, proactive in execution, and able to balance strategic vision with discipline to follow-through.

The Chief of Staff will be a trusted partner to the CEO and senior leadership, driving strategic priorities, streamlining operations, and amplifying the CEO's ability to lead effectively at scale. This senior-level leader will act as a cross-functional integrator, project manager, and thought partner-bringing clarity to complex initiatives, ensuring operational efficiency, and creating internal alignment across departments as the agency continues its trajectory of rapid growth.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Executive Leadership & Strategic Support

• Serve as a strategic advisor and gatekeeper to the CEO, helping prioritize, manage, and execute agency-wide initiatives.
• Operationalize strategic plans, tracking progress toward organizational goals, and identifying gaps in execution.
• Prepare the CEO for internal and external meetings, managing key information, materials, and follow-ups.
• Lead special projects that span multiple teams and stakeholders, ensuring successful cross-functional collaboration.
• Create systems and processes that support organizational growth, including performance dashboards, internal communication structures, and executive reporting.

Board & Governance

• Partner with the CEO to plan and execute all Board of Directors meetings and committee work.
• Support onboarding and engagement of new Board members.
• Ensure Board members are equipped with timely information to support strategic decision-making, donor engagement, and external representation.

Advancement & Stakeholder Engagement

• Assist in managing the CEO's donor portfolio, supporting relationship development, stewardship, and strategic communications.
• Coordinate logistics and materials for major donor and stakeholder meetings, including site visits and presentations.
• Track relationships with funders, policymakers, and partners to ensure consistent follow-up and engagement.

Internal Operations & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with leadership across programs, finance, development, and HR to streamline workflows and improve internal communication.
• Lead planning and execution of executive-level retreats, staff engagement efforts, and agency-wide priorities.
• Monitor the pulse of the organization, anticipating barriers and proactively resolving issues that impact alignment and culture.

Marketing, Communications & Brand Strategy

• Oversee Shelter's marketing and communications strategy to ensure brand consistency and alignment with fundraising and policy goals.
• Ensure all external messaging reflects the organization's values, impact, and mission.
• Collaborate with external consultants or internal staff to amplify the visibility of the CEO and Shelter's initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in nonprofit management, public policy, business administration, or related field preferred.
• 10+ years in a leadership, operations, strategy, or project management role, ideally in a high-growth nonprofit or mission-driven environment.
• Deep understanding of nonprofit operations, including fundraising, governance, and communications.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Track record of managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Highly organized, systems-oriented, and solutions-driven.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, evolving setting.
• Emotional intelligence, discretion, and humility required for high-level strategic partnership.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills; a collaborative leader with high emotional intelligence.
• Valid Illinois driver's license, access to reliable transportation, and ability to travel locally for meetings and events.
• Must pass DCFS background check, fingerprinting, TB test, and submit academic transcripts.

Preferred

• Advanced degree in nonprofit management, public administration, or related field.
• 10+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including leadership of a team through a period of organizational growth or change.
• Experience substantially scaling a development department and diversifying its funding model.

CLASSIFICATION STATUS

This is an exempt position.

Attn - Shelter Youth and Family Services encourages the application of all bilingual applicants to work with our client community. Applicants who can successfully certify their skill level in reading, speaking, and writing in two languages with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may receive an additional salary stipend. Certification testing is set by DCFS.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $105,000.00 - $115,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Disability coverage
• Retirement plan
• Paid Time Off and Paid holidays
• Flexible hybrid work schedule
• Professional development opportunities
• Mileage reimbursement for work related travel
• Parental Leave

Application Question(s):

• Have you been or are you willing to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• organizational leadership: 10 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Arlington Heights, IL 60004 (Required)

Shelter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences, including individuals from historically underrepresented communities. We are committed to building a safe and inclusive workplace for all.