Special Assistant to the President and CEO

About the Fund

Founded in 1940, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) advances social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. The RBF's grantmaking is organized into seven programs. Three thematic programs-Democratic Practice, Sustainable Development, and Peacebuilding-address the interrelated challenges of democratic decline, climate change, and violent conflict. The Culpeper Arts & Culture program, created through the 2008 merger with the Charles E. Culpeper Foundation, supports arts organizations and artists in the New York City region that shape understanding of these critical concerns and the human experience. Pivotal Place programs in China, Central America, and the Western Balkans focus on one or more RBF themes within a specific geographic context that we believe has disproportionate significance for the future of the surrounding regions, ecosystems, or the world.

The RBF strives to be bold, grounded, inclusive, and responsive in our grantmaking to advance the Fund's mission. We deploy the financial assets given to the RBF by the Rockefeller family and others to help our partners in civil society strengthen coalitions, convene people of diverse backgrounds, elevate new and broader perspectives, generate new ideas, and advance systems change. We offer space for convenings and artist residencies at The Pocantico Center to extend our grantmaking impact. We also leverage the Fund and family legacy to access, influence, and collaborate with philanthropic peers, policymakers, and others in the service of grantee work.

Position Summary

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund seeks a Special Assistant to the President and CEO. The Special Assistant serves as a trusted partner, liaison, and force multiplier, helping the President lead effectively across a complex, mission-driven institution. Working at the intersection of strategy, communications, external engagement, and institutional operations, the Special Assistant helps ensure the President has the information, analysis, preparation, and coordination needed to make sound decisions and advance the Foundation's priorities.

This is a highly collaborative role that relies on judgment, relationships, and influence rather than formal authority. The Special Assistant engages substantively with issues important to the Foundation, conducting research and analysis, developing recommendations, preparing briefings and communications, and helping translate decisions into action. They connect people and information across the organization and help identify where greater coordination, clarity, or follow-through is needed.

The Special Assistant also supports the President's external leadership, including public events, meetings, speeches, writing, interviews, and other engagements. They work closely with colleagues across the Fund, particularly the Senior Executive Assistant. They also partner, as assigned, with the Executive Leadership Team to advance projects within their leadership domain. The Special Assistant works very closely with the Fund's Communications team and staff supporting the Board of Trustees.

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Key Responsibilities

External Leadership and Communications

• Conduct and coordinate research supporting the President's external leadership, initiatives, partnerships, and public communications.
• Develop briefing materials, talking points, speeches, presentations, correspondence, and other written materials for internal and external audiences.
• Prepare the President for meetings, interviews, panels, conferences, and other public engagements.
• Prepare concise briefings, options, and recommendations on complex or sensitive issues.
• Partner closely with the Communications team to ensure that the President's external engagement and communications are aligned with institutional priorities and messaging.

Meetings, Events, and Travel

• Help plan and execute key meetings, public events, convenings, and other engagements involving the President, with particular attention to purpose, preparation, participants, and follow-through.
• Coordinate with colleagues responsible for logistics to ensure that events, meetings, and travel are well planned and effectively executed.
• Accompany the President to selected meetings and events locally and internationally, as needed, providing substantive and logistical support before, during, and after engagements.

President's Discretionary Grants & Other Assignments

• Manage the President's discretionary grants (including writing memos, communicating with grantees, grants administration, and keeping track of budgets).
• Meet with grantees, as requested, and report back on outcomes.
• Track and monitor grant payments for the portfolio, coordinating with the President and CEO and/or Grants Management team when payments need to be made, and/or if information from grantees is missing.
• Prepare various reports as requested (e.g., grant status reports, program activity reports, allocations, etc.)
• Maintain and update the President's discretionary grants budget projections.
• Maintain and update information on Giving Data to manage the President's grantmaking efforts.
• Participate in site visits, draft reports, and follow up as requested.
• Respond to unsolicited requests for support.

Internal Liaison and President's Office Operations

• Serve as a trusted liaison between the President's Office and colleagues across the RBF, facilitating the timely exchange of information, questions, guidance, and ideas.
• Build strong working relationships across departments and levels of the organization and help foster effective collaboration around institutional priorities.
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Executive Assistant and other colleagues to ensure that the President's time, information, meetings, and priorities are well coordinated.
• Support effective knowledge management within the President's Office, including maintaining records of key decisions, commitments, relationships, and follow-up.
• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead cross-functional institutional projects and initiatives.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned by the President and CEO.

Skills and Abilities

The successful candidate combines intellectual curiosity and analytical rigor with exceptional writing, strong interpersonal instincts, discretion, and humility, and is action-oriented. They will be comfortable moving between high-level strategic questions and the practical work required to turn ideas into results.

Judgment, Strategy, and Analysis

• Gather, synthesize, and analyze complex information to inform the President's decisions, priorities, and engagements.
• Apply rigorous analysis, original thinking, and sound judgment to priority issues and projects, translating research and competing perspectives into clear recommendations.
• Anticipate emerging issues, opportunities, and potential challenges requiring the President's attention and ensure appropriate follow-through.
• Help connect priorities, decisions, and actions across the Fund, identifying gaps in alignment, coordination, or execution.
• Exercise exceptional judgment and discretion in complex, ambiguous, or sensitive situations, distinguishing what is important from what is merely urgent.
• Bring intellectual curiosity and incisive questioning to a wide range of subjects, with an eagerness to learn and challenge assumptions.
• Bring structure and clarity to complexity while managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and workstreams with strong attention to detail.
• Anticipate needs, identify problems early, and take initiative with limited direction.
• Move fluidly between strategic thinking and hands-on execution, demonstrating ownership, dependability, and follow-through.
• Remain calm, adaptable, and resourceful under pressure.

Relationships and Communication

• Exceptional writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly, concisely, and persuasively.
• Strong listening and people skills, with the ability to engage thoughtfully with diverse experiences, perspectives, and viewpoints.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust and productive relationships with colleagues, senior leaders, trustees, and external partners across sectors, geography, and levels of seniority.
• Ability to facilitate discussions, navigate disagreement, and help groups move toward clarity, decisions, and action.
• Highly collaborative and low ego, with diplomacy, discretion, humility, situational awareness, and sense of humor to exercise influence without relying on formal authority.

Education, Experience, and Knowledge

• Bachelor's degree with at least six years of relevant professional experience, including work with senior leaders, management of complex initiatives, substantive analysis, or operations in demanding environments. An advanced degree (e.g., JD, MPP, MBA, PhD) is preferred, with at least five years of relevant experience.
• Experience in government, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, international affairs, journalism, or consulting focused on mission-driven impact.
• Experience working across cultures, sectors, or geography, including familiarity with international travel and protocol, is a plus.

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Expectations of All Positions

Each employee is expected to:

• Understand and support the philanthropic mission of the RBF.
• Respect and value those who partner with or request assistance from the RBF.
• Manage the resources of the RBF in a manner that maximizes the funds available for charitable activity.
• Advance Belonging and Impact efforts in core responsibilities and institution-wide efforts.
• Respect each RBF employee's contribution and support colleagues in fulfilling their responsibilities.
• Welcome differences in perspectives and points of view and collaborate with colleagues toward shared goals and objectives.
• Commit time to RBF activities and conversations that strengthen the Fund's culture and improve its effectiveness in all work relationships.

Compensation and Benefits

The starting salary for this position is $130,000. The RBF regularly reviews compensation packages and benefits to ensure market competitiveness and internal pay equity. We offer a generous benefits package that includes, but is not limited to:

• Medical, vision, and dental coverage.
• 401(k) plan, in which the Rockefeller Brothers Fund contributes up to 15 percent of employees' pay. Employees become fully vested after three years of employment.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• Health Savings Account with employer contributions of up to $1,500.
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $4,000.
• Upon hire, new staff receive up to twenty vacation days, prorated based on the hire date.

The RBF has adopted a hybrid-remote model. This role will have the option to work from home, if desired, with the expectation of reporting to the RBF's New York City office (475 Riverside Drive) at defined intervals or when requested by a manager. For the first six months, the incumbent will be required to work in the office at least three days a week.

This is a three-year renewable appointment consistent with New York State's at-will employment doctrine.


Application Process

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund is an equal opportunity employer and invites applications from candidates regardless of race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or religion. To apply for the Special Assistant to the President and CEO position, please use this link.


The application deadline is October 9, 2026.

For additional information, please visit our website at