Chief of Staff, People Team

At the American Cancer Society, we're working to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. Our employees and 1.3 million volunteers are raising the bar every single day. We are a culture comprised of diverse backgrounds and experience, to better serve our communities. 

The people who work at the American Cancer Society focus their diverse talents on our lifesaving mission. It is a calling. And the people who answer it are fulfilled.

The Chief of Staff serves as a strategic advisor and trusted thought partner to the Chief People Officer (CPO), helping advance the American Cancer Society's people strategy and organizational priorities. This role drives execution of the People & Organization roadmap through strategic planning, operational leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and enterprise project oversight. Working closely with executive leaders and stakeholders across the organization, the Chief of Staff translates strategy into action, ensuring alignment, accountability, and measurable outcomes that advance ACS's mission and workforce objectives.

This is a work-from-home/remote role. The final candidate must be able to work Eastern Time Zone work hours.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Leads the planning, coordination, and execution of the People & Organization strategic roadmap, ensuring alignment with enterprise goals, organizational priorities, and business objectives. (25%)

• Serves as a trusted advisor to the Chief People Officer by providing strategic counsel, executive-level analysis, recommendations, and decision support on critical workforce, organizational effectiveness, and culture initiatives. (20%)

• Oversees a portfolio of enterprise-wide projects, organizational change, and process improvement initiatives, establishing governance, managing risks, and ensuring successful execution of strategic priorities. (15%)

• Develops executive reporting, dashboards, scorecards, Board and Committee materials, and strategic presentations that provide insights on organizational performance, workforce trends, and progress against key priorities for senior leadership, the Executive Team, and the Board of Directors. (10%)

• Partners with leaders across the organization to drive alignment, facilitate decision-making, resolve barriers, and strengthen cross-functional collaboration in support of enterprise initiatives. (10%)

• Optimizes the effectiveness of the CPO's leadership by supporting prioritization, executive communications, leadership team operations, stakeholder engagement, and follow-through on strategic commitments. (10%)

• Identifies and implements opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness through process optimization, operational excellence, benchmarking, and strategic analysis, enhancing employee experience, efficiency, and business outcomes. (10%)

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EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum Degree Required: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Public Administration, or related field.

• Preferred Degree: Master's degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Organizational Development, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, or related discipline.

• Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or comparable certification preferred.

• Years of Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in human resources, organizational effectiveness, strategy, consulting, project management, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience partnering with senior executives and leading large-scale, cross-functional strategic initiatives.

• Experience developing executive communications, Board materials, business cases, strategic plans, and performance reporting.

• Proven success leading organizational change, process transformation, operating model implementation, or enterprise-wide business improvement initiatives.

• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, mission-driven, or complex matrixed organizations preferred.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY:

• Strong business acumen and expertise in organizational strategy, operating models, workforce planning, and change management, including leading complex transformations and driving adoption of new ways of working.

• Exceptional project and portfolio management skills with demonstrated success leading complex, milestone-driven initiatives.

• Strong process improvement and operational excellence capabilities, including the ability to redesign, simplify, and scale business processes.

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations, executive communications, and actionable plans for senior leaders and Boards.

• Ability to influence and build alignment across diverse stakeholders without direct authority.

• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly visible environment.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, and related collaboration technologies.

• Ability to effectively leverage artificial intelligence, automation, data analytics, and emerging technologies to improve decision-making, enhance organizational effectiveness and drive strategic business outcomes.

• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail while maintaining focus on strategic priorities.

• Experience supporting C-suite executives or executive leadership teams preferred.

• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, mission-driven, or complex matrixed organizations preferred.

• Knowledge of human capital strategy, talent management, leadership development, organizational design, and workforce analytics preferred

 

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to travel occasionally as required to fulfill job responsibilities; roughly 4x/year.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Work is primarily performed in a remote or office environment.

• Requires prolonged periods of sitting and working on a computer.

• Must be able to communicate effectively in virtual and in-person settings.

The starting rate is $160,000 to $170,000. The final candidate's relevant experience/skills will be considered before an offer is extended. Actual starting pay will vary based on non-discriminatory factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, skills, specialty, and education.

ACS provides staff a generous paid time off policy; medical, dental, retirement benefits, wellness programs, and professional development programs to enhance staff skills. Further details on our benefits can be found on our careers site at: jobs.cancer.org/benefits. We are a proud equal opportunity employer.