Chief of Staff to the Secretary to the Governor

The Chief of Staff to the Secretary to the Governor will serve as a senior strategic and operational partner responsible for managing workflow, briefing materials, internal coordination, special projects, and follow-through across the Office of the Secretary to the Governor.

Position Summary

The Chief of Staff to the Secretary to the Governor serves as a senior operational, strategic, and management partner to the Secretary to the Governor. The Chief of Staff is responsible for ensuring that the Office of the Secretary functions with discipline, coordination, responsiveness, and follow-through across policy, legislative affairs, scheduling, administration, special projects, constituent matters, travel, internal operations, and interagency coordination.

This role requires exceptional judgment, discretion, organization, writing ability, political sensitivity, and the capacity to manage competing priorities in a fast-moving executive environment. The Chief of Staff will help translate the Secretary’s priorities into actionable workstreams, ensure the right information reaches the Secretary at the right time, and support the effective management of the Secretary’s immediate team and related Chamber operations.

Reporting Structure

The Chief of Staff reports to the Secretary to the Governor and works in close partnership with the Executive Deputy Secretary to the Governor. The role coordinates closely with Assistant Secretaries, the Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs, the Executive Assistant to the Secretary, and other senior Chamber staff.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Operational Management

Serve as a central point of coordination for the Office of the Secretary to the Governor, ensuring that priorities, assignments, deadlines, and follow-up items are tracked and executed.

Support the Secretary in managing daily, weekly, and long-term priorities, including policy matters, legislative developments, administrative issues, and special projects.

Coordinate workflow among members of the Secretary’s immediate team, including policy, briefing, talking points, scheduling, legislative affairs, constituent matters, travel, and administrative functions.

Identify operational gaps, bottlenecks, or risks and recommend practical solutions to improve office performance and responsiveness.

Ensure that decisions and directives from the Secretary are communicated clearly and followed through to completion.

Briefing, Policy, and Written Materials

Oversee preparation of briefing materials, talking points, memos, meeting notes, decision documents, and other written products for the Secretary.

Ensure that materials are accurate, concise, timely, and aligned with the Governor’s priorities and administration-wide messaging.

Coordinate with policy teams, agencies, legislative affairs, communications, and counsel as needed to prepare the Secretary for meetings, calls, events, and decision points.

Review and edit written materials for quality, consistency, tone, and strategic relevance.

Team Coordination and Internal Communication

Help manage the day-to-day operations of the Secretary’s team, including assignment tracking, meeting preparation, internal communications, and follow-up.

Convene and coordinate internal check-ins as needed to ensure alignment across workstreams.

Serve as a liaison between the Secretary’s office and senior staff across the Executive Chamber.

Help maintain a culture of accountability, professionalism, responsiveness, confidentiality, and service.

Legislative, Intergovernmental, and Stakeholder Coordination

Work closely with the Deputy Secretary for Legislative Affairs and relevant staff to support the Secretary’s engagement on legislative priorities, member issues, policy negotiations, and state government operations.

Assist with coordination involving state agencies, local governments, elected officials, community stakeholders, and external partners.

Track sensitive or high-priority issues requiring the Secretary’s attention and ensure appropriate follow-up.

Scheduling, Travel, and Administrative Support

Work with the Executive Assistant and scheduling staff to ensure the Secretary’s calendar reflects strategic priorities and time-sensitive obligations.

Support preparation for meetings, calls, travel, public events, and internal briefings.

Help triage incoming requests, correspondence, invitations, constituent matters, and administrative needs.

Ensure the Secretary has the necessary materials, context, and staffing support for each engagement.

Special Projects and Problem Solving

Manage or support special projects assigned by the Secretary or Executive Deputy Secretary.

Coordinate cross-functional initiatives requiring input from multiple teams, agencies, or senior staff.

Assist in resolving urgent, sensitive, or complex matters requiring discretion and rapid coordination.

Prepare status updates, issue trackers, and decision memos to keep leadership informed.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred, and at least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in government, public administration, legislative affairs, executive operations, policy, political management, or a related field.

Preferred candidates will also have:

• Experience in a Governor’s office, mayoral administration, legislative office, state agency, public authority, or senior executive office.
• Familiarity with New York State government, legislative process, agency operations, and Executive Chamber procedures.
• Experience managing teams, coordinating senior-level briefings, preparing executive materials, and handling confidential or high-profile matters.
• Demonstrated ability to move between strategic planning and hands-on execution.

Core Competencies

Judgment and discretion: Exercises sound judgment on sensitive, confidential, political, and operational matters.

Execution and follow-through: Ensures that assignments are completed accurately, timely, and with appropriate coordination.

Strategic coordination: Connects people, issues, timelines, and decisions across multiple workstreams.Chief of

Writing and briefing: Produces and improves high-quality materials for senior executive use.

Leadership and team management: Supports a professional, accountable, and high-performing office culture.

Adaptability: Responds effectively to rapidly changing priorities, urgent issues, and high-pressure situations.

Relationship management: Works constructively with internal staff, agencies, elected officials, stakeholders, and external partners.