Chief of Staff

Job Description

About the Organization

The School of Leadership, Afghanistan (SOLA) is an Afghan-led boarding school for Afghan girls, the first and only of its kind operating anywhere in the world. SOLA evacuated Afghanistan upon the Taliban’s return in 2021, resuming operations in Rwanda where we continue our mission to provide our students with a rigorous education that promotes critical thinking, a sense of purpose, and respect for self and others.

First in Afghanistan and now in Rwanda, SOLA is a place where Afghan girls grow to become compassionate, curious, confident women. SOLA’s vision is for them to become members of the generation who will one day lead a peaceful and united Afghanistan. 

Position Description

The Chief of Staff (COS) builds and ensures internal resilience at SOLA. The COS serves as a strategic partner and force multiplier to the executive team and Department Heads, translating priorities into coordinated action across the organization. The COS drives alignment, manages high-impact initiatives, improves decision-making and communication, and ensures key commitments move forward with clarity and accountability. This role blends strategic thinking, operational rigor, sound judgment, and exceptional relationship-building to help the organization operate more effectively and achieve its most important goals.

The COS will ensure the President is well-informed and engaged as needed with various program and operational projects and initiatives. By working across SOLA’s functions and external constituents, the COS will be well-positioned to serve as a thought partner and sounding board to the President and Department Heads on a wide range of topics. The COS will be tapped to lead and contribute to various projects as warranted by their role, experience, expertise, and availability.

Location: Remote (Working EST hours)

Salary Range: $105,000–$125,000

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Support & Strategic Alignment

●      Serve as a trusted advisor, sounding board, and liaison to the President and other key leaders.

●     Serve as the committee liaison for Strategic Planning efforts, with direction from the President.

●     Manage and update the President’s Dashboard.

●     Attend and/or identify other attendees to attend President meetings; record and distribute action items and timelines. Responsible for follow-through, reporting progress to the President and other stakeholders. May represent the President, as appropriate.

●     Coordinate agendas for internal (and occasional external) President meetings and prepare President by ensuring advance understanding of meeting’s purpose and preparing background and briefing information.

●     Ensure ongoing coordination between the President, SOLA’s leadership team and other stakeholders. Work with the President and other leaders to track progress on organizational goals.

●     Coordinate agendas for quarterly all-staff and monthly Department Head meetings to facilitate two-way communication from the President to colleagues regarding key initiatives.

●     Foster clear, complete, and actionable communications by the President across all staff using various channels.

●     Meet with Department heads individually as needed to ensure consistent understanding of organizational needs and the President’s requests.

●     Track and prioritize items on the President’s running to-do list.

●     Update and maintain the President’s dashboard. 

Board Management

●      Serve as primary staff liaison and point of contact for the Board.

●     Lead preparation for Board Meetings, including (but not limited to) agenda planning with the President and Board Chair, working with Committee chairs, preparing and distributing materials in advance, and coordinating day-of logistics.

●     Manage the organization’s board management online platform; ensure all Board-facing materials, meeting minutes, and board actions are uploaded onto the platform.

●     Collaborate with various staff members to strategize around the creation of high-quality Board-facing materials.

●     Revise and provide feedback on draft Board materials submitted by staff for Board and committee meetings.

●     Support governance compliance and Board engagement efforts. Track all Board motions and resolutions and Board Member succession schedules to ensure strategic continuity.    

●     Serve as staff liaison for the following committees: Governance/Nominations, Risk, Strategic Planning, Executive.

Operational Effectiveness & Risk Management

●      Supervise the Executive Assistant and the HR & Operations Manager.

●     Lead improvements to operating effectiveness and institutional memory by developing the organization’s technical infrastructure in areas including (but not limited to) password/login management, file storage and collaboration, project management, and cybersecurity.  

●     Serve as the primary staff liaison to the organization’s outside general counsel regarding legal matters.

●     Serve as the primary staff liaison for the organization’s charitable licensing service provider and IT managed service provider.

●     Own the development of internal protocols and procedures needed to mitigate organizational risks, working closely with the HR & Operations Manager, Administrative & Communications Manager, and outside general counsel.

●     Manage and update the organization’s risk registry, a living document identifying & accessing levels of various organizational risks and proposed mitigation strategies.

●     Lead and assist the organization through recurring annual legal requirements such as the financial audit, form 990, corporation annual reports, state charitable licensing requirements, conflict of interest disclosures, etc.

●     Serve as a leader and/or thought partner for recruitment and hiring decisions across departments. Participate in candidate interviews and screenings.

Special Projects

●      Contribute expertise, talent, and leadership to initiatives and projects determined in coordination with the President, Head of School, and appropriate staff.

●     Lead and oversee cross-functional special projects and initiatives from development through successful execution. (Past examples have included a 5-year strategic plan, annual budgeting, special project operating projections, employee manual, IT audit, new policies & SOPs, President’s dashboard, etc.).

●     Own behind-the-scenes preparation to make key initiatives successful, including the research, tracking, monitoring, and execution of action items.

Qualifications

Required

●     Bachelor's degree in business, non-profit management, public administration or a related field.

●     Over 5 years of experience in business operations, project management, or leadership.

●     Consulting experience, with a focus on operations management.

●     Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred

●     Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Administration (MPA), or a Master of Non-Profit Management.

●     Experience in education, international development, or nonprofit organizations.

●     7–12 years of experience in business operations, project management, or leadership.

●     Proven success in project coordination role.

●     Strong project-reporting skills, with focus on interdepartmental communications.

●     AI fluency

What SOLA offers you

●     A competitive compensation and benefits package.

●     Flexible working location and hours.

●     The opportunity to be part of a mission that can change the world.

●     An open and flexible work culture where your voice will be heard and where you can have a big impact.

PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Regular attendance is required for this position.

Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment including computer and peripherals; car usage and ability to drive required.

Posture: Frequent standing, kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting

Motion: Repetitive hand motions, frequent walking, grasping/squeezing, wrist flexion/extension, and overhead reaching; potentially frequent driving may occur.

Environment: Standard office setting, occasional prolonged hours; travel locally and internationally as per the needs of the organization.

Mental Demands: Maintain emotional control under stress; prioritize work to meet deadlines, have a calm demeanor, and work cooperatively with others.

The School of Leadership Afghanistan, Inc., as an equal opportunity employer, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or gender expression or any other basis protected by law in any employment decisions.