Chief of Staff

Job Description

Job Description

WHO WE ARE

Third Plateau is an impact consultancy partnering with philanthropy, nonprofits, and communities to build the infrastructure of change. We are one of Fast Company's Best Workplaces for Innovators!

 

OUR APPROACH
Third Plateau is built on a simple premise: creating lasting social good requires more than good intentions. Society’s most complex challenges are deeply rooted, interconnected, and resistant to quick fixes.

Philanthropists, foundations, and nonprofit leaders know this and are up for the challenge, bringing their passions and ambitions day in and day out. To realize that potential, they’re looking for a partner who brings the experience to design great strategies and the capacity to see them through. Third Plateau was built exactly for this work. Interested applicants are encouraged to learn more about our approach and our company values. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

The Chief of Staff serves as a trusted partner to our Co-Founder who leads our democracy programs, ensuring alignment across priorities, meetings, and projects, and connecting day-to-day execution to their broader goals. By scheduling meetings, managing priorities, tracking deliverables, supporting key initiatives, and maintaining their core systems and tools, this role enables them to operate at a high level.

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Executive Scheduling & Priority Management
  • Own and optimize a highly dynamic calendar to align with priorities
  • Proactively manage competing demands and ensure time is allocated effectively
  • Prepare structured agendas, briefing materials, and decision-making context
  • Anticipate upcoming needs and plan ahead to maximize efficiency

• Meeting Management & Execution Support
  • Attend select meetings, capture key decisions, and track action items
  • Help structure meetings for clarity, efficiency, and outcomes
  • Summarize discussions into clear next steps and communications
  • Drive accountability by ensuring follow-ups are completed across stakeholders

• Project & Workflow Coordination
  • Track progress on key initiatives and ensure timely execution of deliverables
  • Coordinate across internal and external stakeholders to maintain alignment
  • Support workflow organization, prioritization, and deadline management
  • Maintain systems and tools to track projects and communication flows
  • Connect day-to-day tasks and requests to the co-founder’s broader priorities, flagging when short-term decisions may affect longer-term goals

• Communication & Stakeholder Management
  • Draft high-quality communications, presentations, and materials
  • Serve as a liaison between the co-founder and internal/external partners
  • Build strong working relationships to facilitate coordination and execution
  • Handle sensitive matters with sound judgment, discretion and confidentiality
  • Communicate and coordinate with attentiveness to diverse communication styles and needs across a wide range of stakeholders
  • Over time, responsibilities may expand to include email inbox support, helping the co-founder stay on top of priority communications and next steps

• Technology & System Support
  • Support effective use of core tools, including Forecast and SharePoint
  • Maintain file and document organization, including regularly clearing and organizing desktop and shared files
  • Serve as a first point of contact for technology issues, working with IT to troubleshoot and resolve hardware and software problems

• Operational Effectiveness & Process Improvement
  • Identify opportunities to improve systems, workflows, and efficiency
  • Implement tools and processes to better manage priorities and information
  • Support special projects, events, and cross-functional initiatives
  • Help create structure and clarity in a fast-moving environment

 

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• 7-9 years of total experience with at least 3 years supporting senior executives, founders, or business leaders.
• Must reside in the East Bay, within approximately a 30-minute commute of Berkeley, CA
• Expertise in advanced calendar management and prioritization
• Strong project coordination and operations support experience
• Comfort managing technology tools and troubleshooting basic issues (e.g., Forecast, SharePoint, file/device organization), including partnering with IT as needed
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Proven ability to track and drive follow-through across multiple priorities
• Ability to synthesize information from meetings and multiple sources into clear next steps and follow-up communications
• High level of discretion, judgment, and professionalism, including in an office setting
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity, adapt quickly to shifting priorities and schedules, and take initiative with minimal day-to-day direction

 

BENEFITS + PERKS

• Remote-First Approach
• Flexible & Generous Time Off
• 100% employer-paid options for medical, dental, and vision coverage for you, with employer contributions toward dependent coverage
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance
• Employer contribution of up to $850 to your Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA, DCFSA and Commuter)
• Initial home office stipend of $550, with $250 provided annually thereafter

• An annual professional development stipend of $1,000

• $110/monthly cell phone and home internet stipend
• 13 weeks paid parental and medical leave
• Annual discretionary bonus based on both company performance and individual performance
• Up to $500 annually to invest in your mental, emotional, and physical well-being
• Access to curated learning opportunities and team-based growth experiences to support the professional development of our team 

Location : This is a hybrid role based in the Berkeley, CA area. Candidates must reside in the East Bay, within approximately a 30-minute commute of Berkeley, CA. 

Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you're new to this field, returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career, we would be glad to have you on our radar.

 

At Third Plateau, we believe in the power of diverse teams. In our recruiting efforts, we always seek to reach a broad and diverse pool of applicants to ensure our final candidates are not a homogeneous group in terms of demographics or experience. You can read more about our commitment to Equity & Belonging here. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds. Third Plateau is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to their race, color, age, religious creed, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics.

 

Disclaimer: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that you will be added to our mailing list. You will receive updates, newsletters, and other communications from us. Should you wish to opt out at any time, you will have the opportunity to unsubscribe from our mailing list through the emails you receive.