Chief of Staff

Job Description

KUOW has an outstanding opportunity for a Chief of Staff to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Chief of Staff plays a central role in advancing KUOW's strategic priorities, strengthening organizational effectiveness, supporting the Board of Directors, and leading critical human resources, people, and culture initiatives. Working across the organization, this position helps translate vision into action by coordinating enterprise-wide planning, facilitating cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring accountability for major initiatives.

The Chief of Staff serves as a key connector among the executive team, Board of Directors, staff, and external stakeholders. Success in this role requires exceptional judgment, diplomacy, the ability to work with sensitive information, project leadership, communication skills, and the ability to influence and align diverse groups around shared organizational goals. Based out of KUOW’s Seattle office, this role is suitable/eligible for hybrid/occasional telework.

The successful candidate will:

• Bring a genuine curiosity and appetite for learning, with a willingness to deeply immerse themselves in the public media landscape to understand its mission, audiences, business model, challenges, and opportunities.
• Help ensure KUOW's strategic plan becomes operational across the organization.
• Build strong partnerships across teams and leadership levels.
• Lead professional development for teams and leadership development across the organization.
• Create clarity, accountability, and momentum around key organizational priorities.
• Strengthen board engagement and governance effectiveness.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and a respected collaborator across KUOW.
• Drive alignment, accountability, and execution across teams by building credibility, fostering strong relationships, and influencing outcomes through expertise, judgment, and effective communication rather than formal authority.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning and Organizational Alignment (25%)
  • Partner with the CEO and executive leadership team to develop, refine, and implement KUOW's strategic plan.
  • Establish processes that translate strategic priorities into measurable goals, initiatives, and organizational outcomes.
  • Lead cross-functional planning efforts and facilitate alignment across departments.
  • Create and manage temporary and ongoing working groups, task forces, and project teams that advance strategic priorities.
  • Monitor progress toward strategic objectives and provide recommendations to leadership regarding opportunities, risks, and resource needs.
  • Drive organization-wide initiatives that strengthen collaboration, effectiveness, and accountability.
• Executive Leadership Partnership (25%)
  • Serve as a thought partner and strategic advisor to the CEO on organizational priorities and emerging issues.
  • Coordinate activities and communications among senior leaders to ensure organizational alignment.
  • Facilitate executive and leadership meetings, including agenda development, preparation materials, decision tracking, and follow-through.
  • Manage special projects, research, and initiatives on behalf of the CEO.
  • Represent the CEO in selected meetings and engagements as appropriate.
  • Support the CEO's engagement priorities with stakeholders, community leaders, donors, public media partners, and University of Washington leaders.
  • Represent KUOW in external meetings and community settings as appropriate.
  • Help strengthen relationships that advance KUOW's mission and strategic objectives.
• Human Resources and Organizational Development (25%)
  • Partner with leadership to foster an inclusive, collaborative, and mission-driven workplace culture.
  • Oversee key human resources processes, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee engagement, and offboarding.
  • Ensure compliance with KUOW and University of Washington policies and applicable employment regulations.
  • Advise leaders on workforce planning, talent development, succession planning, and organizational effectiveness.
  • Support initiatives that strengthen employee experience, retention, leadership development, and organizational culture.
• Board Relations and Governance (20%)
  • Serve as the primary staff liaison to KUOW's Board of Directors and board committees and own KUOW’s board organization software platform, OnBoard.
  • Partner with the CEO, Board Chair, and Governance Committee to support effective board operations.
  • Lead planning and coordination for board meetings, retreats, committee meetings, and board onboarding activities.
  • Prepare board materials, presentations, and governance documentation.
  • Track and facilitate follow-up on board decisions, priorities, and action items.
  • Support strong communication and productive relationships between board members, leadership, and staff.
• Other duties as assigned (5%)
• This position manages 2 employees.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, communications, organizational leadership, human resources, or related field. Five or more years of progressively responsible leadership, strategy, operations, organizational development, human resources, or chief-of-staff experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
• Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation.
• Experience supporting senior executives, governing boards, or executive leadership teams.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong facilitation, project management, and organizational planning skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and navigate complex organizational dynamics.
• Experience building trust and influencing outcomes without direct authority.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in nonprofit, public media, journalism, higher education, mission-driven, or civic organizations.
• Experience supporting a board of directors or governing body.
• Experience and comfort with public speaking.
• Background in strategic planning, organizational change management, or workforce planning.
• Human resources leadership experience.
• Experience working within a complex stakeholder environment.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience.

Working Conditions

• Duties may occasionally require evening and weekend work when necessary to meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to travel when necessary to attend station events.
• Cubicle/Open workspace environment which may result in additional or higher levels of noise and visual distractions.
• Position is suitable/eligible for Hybrid/Occasional Telework.

Additional Application Requirement

This recruitment requires a cover letter. Applications that do not include a cover letter will not be forwarded to the hiring department.

About the Team

KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio is Seattle’s NPR news station. We are an independent, nonprofit news organization producing award-winning journalism, podcasts and events in service to the 3.9 million people in our coverage area. As a self-sustaining service of the University of Washington, our mission is to create and serve a more informed public with a vision to broaden conversations and deepen understanding.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$159,996.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$185,004.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected]. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.