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The Chief of Staff serves as a trusted partner to the CEO & Founding Principal and delivers firm-wide strategic initiatives in support of meeting our objectives. In this role, the CoS ensures efficient operations for the CEO and the firm, enabling the CEO to deliver on the organization’s mission and partnering with the CEO to ensure the firm’s success. The Chief of Staff will provide comprehensive support to the fast-paced CEO, is able to anticipate needs across the business, think critically, and offer solutions to problems with a high level of professionalism and confidentiality. This role will work alongside the CEO and the leadership team to support critical decision making. The ideal candidate will thrive in ambiguity and a dynamic environment, be highly organized, demonstrate a high level of accountability, able to balance strategic thinking with tactical delivery, possess excellent judgement and diplomacy, be an excellent communicator, and maintain a focus on key priorities against business objectives.
The CoS will successfully oversee complex scheduling for the CEO, manage key projects that will have significant impact on the business, prepare documents, attend meetings, and support internal and external communications. It is expected that the Chief of Staff will collaborate with Senior Leadership in the firm, clients, partners, and other key stakeholders on day-to-day-business and other matters at the discretion of the CEO. The CoS will provide management oversight to administrative staff and any external vendors providing administrative support functions for senior leadership within the firm.
Emotional intelligence, ability to work with people at all levels within and external to the organization, and ability to garner trust of the CEO are essential in this role.
The CoS will partner with the CEO to understand their disability, and to support success in their role. The CoS will be adaptable, empathetic, and able to communicate effectively, ensuring a productive and inclusive working relationship and upholding Karp Strategies’ core values.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Initiative Management
- Manage cross-functional initiatives, change management efforts, and internal special projects on behalf of the CEO.
- Draft internal and external CEO communications, including talking points, presentations, and stakeholder updates.
- Design and operationalize systems to improve knowledge sharing, collaboration, and firm-wide alignment.
- Proactively identify process improvements that enhance the CEO’s effectiveness and firm operations.
- Support quarterly and annual strategic planning processes; track progress toward organizational goals and KPIs.
- Provide high-level administrative support to the CEO, including sophisticated calendar and time management.
- Prioritize and resolve competing scheduling demands and requests to align with firm priorities.
- Ensure the CEO is prepared for meetings by gathering key materials, setting agendas, preparing materials, and coordinating follow-up items.
- Manage the CEO’s inbox, phone line, and signature approvals with discretion and accuracy.
- Coordinate travel, logistics, and expense reporting for the CEO.
- Serve as a liaison between the CEO and internal/external stakeholders; represent the CEO’s voice and priorities with clarity and diplomacy.
- Prepare for, attend, and document high-level meetings; ensure clear follow-through on actions and decisions.
- Collaborate with Business Development, Marketing & Communications, and external vendors to produce materials for events, conferences, and key engagements.
- Compose and manage internal communications, including team-wide updates and cross-functional announcements.
Operations & Oversight
- Oversee administrative staff and vendors (e.g., Virtual EAs); ensure consistency and quality across executive support functions.
- Coordinate executive team meetings, offsites, and firmwide events; manage logistics and materials.
- Resolve operational questions by applying knowledge of organizational priorities and processes.
- Serve as a culture ambassador, embedding the firm’s core values—including diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—into daily work and firm initiatives.
- Provide coaching and professional development to direct reports through regular feedback and performance conversations.
- Support internal learning, training, and team-building initiatives that strengthen team engagement and retention.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- 5+ years of professional experience in fast-paced, mission-driven environments, with at least 3 years supporting a C-suite executive or acting as a Chief of Staff or Strategic Operations Lead.
- Proven ability to balance executive support (e.g., calendar, communications, logistics) with strategic initiative management and cross-functional leadership.
- Strong track record of contributing to a high-performing, diverse, and inclusive culture, with the ability to apply an equity lens to decision-making and planning.
- Demonstrated experience supporting leaders with disabilities, with flexibility, discretion, and empathetic communication.
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities with poise and precision.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft polished materials and communicate with executive presence.
- High emotional intelligence, sound judgment, and discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
- Proactive problem-solver with the ability to anticipate needs, analyze complex situations, and develop thoughtful solutions.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity in a dynamic, entrepreneurial organization with evolving priorities.
- Advanced proficiency in tools such as Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Slack, Zoom, and Adobe; experience with CRM platforms like Salesforce and expense management software is a plus.
- Growth mindset with an eagerness to learn, stretch across functions, and contribute to a collaborative team environment.
Benefits
Karp Strategies offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes the health and wellness of the team and investment in each team member’s professional growth.
- Professional Development: Employees are encouraged to meet their professional goals by participating in membership organizations, attending conferences, and pursuing skills and management training. We offer and support regular training for team members – investing in the team is a central value in our firm..
- Wellness: Employees have access to remote and in-person wellness services, including fitness classes, meditation, a workout studio and exercise bikes, that are offered by Primary.
- Health: We offer medical, vision, and dental benefits and membership to One Medical. Medical costs are shared by Karp Strategies.
- Rest: 25 days of PTO; in addition, staff receive 7 sick / safe days, 9 holidays and support team members to choose flexible hours and remote work.
- Savings: We offer 401k retirement plan match, and access to HSA, FSA, and commuter benefits programs.
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter. We will be reviewing applicants on a rolling basis.
About Karp Strategies
Karp Strategies is an equity-driven, WBE/DBE/SBE-certified urban strategy consultancy founded in 2015 that has become one of the Northeast’s go-to firms for community and economic development planning, stakeholder engagement, and real estate and urban planning. We work to build stronger communities, cities, and economies where people are proud to live and work, and where they can access the means to do so.
Our firm is based in NYC and works on projects around the country, with a focus in the Northeast. We help our clients to make better decisions, avoid project delays, and create shared value for people, businesses, and institutions. We work at the intersection of data, people, and place, understanding that there are multiple ways to approach a problem or opportunity.
We prioritize professional development for all of our team members, including providing stipends to support learning and participation in membership organizations.
Since the firm’s launch in 2015, we have achieved significant growth in revenue, impact, and team size – and are poised to continue this growth over the next several years. Since our founding, our team has engaged tens of thousands of stakeholders across the region and advised on projects with future impact in the billions. The team has approximately 30 transdisciplinary members working across urban planning, resiliency, economic development, real estate, renewable energy, community development, infrastructure, and more.
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