Special Assistant to Chief Executive Officer

The Opportunity

Home/Life Services Inc. is seeking a high-caliber, mission-driven professional to serve as the inaugural Special Assistant to the CEO.

Following a period of significant growth, Home/Life has recently expanded its executive leadership team comprising an Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), long-tenured Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and new Chief Operative (COO), and General Counsel (GC). This role is not a traditional administrative position; it is a strategic "right-hand" role designed for a candidate who thrives at the intersection of operations, policy, and executive governance.

This position is ideal for a candidate looking for a 2–5 year high-impact "tour of duty" before potentially transitioning into a Chief of Staff role at this organization or elsewhere, or pursuing a terminal degree (JD, MPA, MPP) at a top-tier institution. You will have a front-row seat to the complexities of the NYC social services ecosystem and the internal mechanics of a large-scale non-profit.

About Home/Life Services Inc.

Established in 1995, Home/Life Services Inc. is a cornerstone of the NYC human services landscape. We provide safe, therapeutic environments and comprehensive support services for families impacted by homelessness. Our mission is to break the cycle of housing instability through innovative programming, case management, and economic empowerment.

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Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Executive Support & Coordination

• CEO Leverage: Serve as a force-multiplier for the CEO, ensuring their time is focused on the highest-priority strategic initiatives.
• Executive Team Integration: Act as a central nervous system for the newly expanded executive suite. You will support the CFO, COO, and GC on cross-functional projects, ensuring that the CEO’s vision is translated into actionable results across departments.
• Meeting Preparation: Prepare the CEO for all high-stakes meetings (City officials, Board of Directors, community partners) by drafting briefings, talking points, and strategic agendas.

2. Research, Policy & Special Projects

• Policy Analysis: Conduct deep-dive research on NYC housing regulations, legislative changes, and social service trends to inform executive decision-making.
• Inaugural Function Design: As the first person in this role, you will help design the systems and workflows for how the Executive Office interacts with the broader organization.
• Project Management: Lead "special projects" that fall between departmental silos—ranging from the implementation of new organizational technologies to the development of new programmatic pilots.

3. Communications & Stakeholder Engagement

• High-Level Writing: Draft sophisticated correspondence, Board reports, and policy memos on behalf of the CEO.
• Internal Liaison: Serve as a diplomatic bridge between the Executive Team and site-level staff, ensuring organizational culture and goals are communicated effectively across all facilities.
• Crisis Management: Assist the General Counsel and CEO in responding to urgent operational or legal matters with speed and discretion.

4. Executive and Administrative Operations

• Strategic Scheduling: Oversee the CEO’s calendar not just for logistics, but for strategic alignment with organizational priorities. Support other executive team members with scheduling needs.
• Office Administration: Handle administrative tasks including filing, generating reports, managing mail, and ensuring all tracking sheets are up to date.
• Information Management: Design and maintain tracking systems (project management tools) to ensure no executive-level deliverable falls through the cracks.
• General Clerical Support: Perform necessary clerical duties such as scanning, photocopying, and responding to inquiries.
• Event Planning: Help organize and execute team activities, including staff meetings, social events, and off-site retreats

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The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a versatile professional who possesses:

• Exceptional Intellectual Curiosity: You are a fast learner who can pivot from a budget discussion with the CFO to a legal compliance review with the GC.
• Advanced Writing Skills: You can synthesize complex information into crisp, persuasive memos and presentations.
• High Emotional Intelligence: You can navigate NYC’s complex political and social service landscape with diplomacy, maintaining confidentiality and professional poise under pressure.
• Career Ambition: You are likely seeking a 2–5-year window to gain "under-the-hood" experience in non-profit management before moving toward a Chief of Staff role or a terminal degree in Policy, Law, or Administration.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s (MPA, MPH, MPP) or JD candidates (including those taking a gap before/after law school) are highly encouraged to apply.
• Experience: 2+ years of professional experience in a relevant environments (e.g., government, legal, management consulting, or large-scale non-profit operations).
• Technical Savvy: Expert-level proficiency in project management tools preferred
• Resilience: Ability to serve as an "essential employee," responding to the dynamic needs of a 24/7 shelter provider in NYC.

Salary Range:

$95,000 to $120,000