PD_GENERIC_Chief-of-Staff

Position Description

chief of staff

Overview

Position Type
Noncareer appointment (NA)¹ _{2016 plum book}

Position Overview

The chief of staff is responsible for the secretary.

Compensation

Senior Executive Service Schedule (ES)² _{2016 plum book}

Position Reports to

Secretary

Responsibilities

Management Scope

The chief of staff is an important member of the secretary’s management team. The chief of staff coordinates the front office staff responsible for the secretary’s travel, speechwriting, personal politics, briefing, schedule, message, advance work and more. The chief of staff oversees the political appointee personnel system in the department.

Primary Responsibilities

® Works closely with the support agencies in the department on legislation, press, policy and legal
® Works closely with the White House and the secretary’s colleagues in other agencies
® Works closely with the deputy secretary
® May take on a wide range of special projects for the secretary inside and outside of the department
® Reviews all documents for the secretary’s signature, and those setting forth the department’s policies, programs and plans
® May stand in for the secretary when necessary

Strategic Goals and Priorities

[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration]

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

Successful chiefs of staff have come from many backgrounds, including legal professions, public relations, campaigns, Capitol Hill, corporations, private nonprofits and more.

Competencies

® A good, if not prior, relationship with the secretary
® Negotiating skills
® Ability to work well under deadlines and pressure
® A willingness to travel
® Sound political and organizational judgment
® Ability and willingness to make decisions

Past Appointees

Jennifer Nealin Parker, Department of Housing and Urban Development (2014 to 2017): Acting Director of the Office of Transition Initiatives at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/OTI); Chief of Staff, Center on International Cooperation³; Consultant for Fragile States Initiatives, Bobst Center for Peace and Justice⁴ _{http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/about/principal_staff/nealin_parker https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealin-parker-04a9608}
Mark Patterson, Treasury (2009 to 2013): Vice President for Government Affairs, Goldman, Sachs & Co.; Policy Director, Office of Sen. Thomas A. Daschle, Senate; Staff Director/Chief Counsel, Committee on Finance, Senate⁵ _{Leadership Directories}
Jim Hock, Commerce (2015 to 2017): Senior Advisor and Director of Public Affairs, Department of Commerce; Founder and Partner of 463 Communications; Bite Communications’ Director of Technology Policy Communications; Spokesman and advisor to Senator Dianne Feinstein⁶ _{https://www.commerce.gov/directory/jimhock}
The Partnership’s Center for Presidential Transition helps ensure the efficient transfer of power that our country deserves. The Center’s Ready to Govern· initiative assists candidates with the transition, works with Congress to reform the transition process, develops management recommendations to address our government’s operational challenges, and trains new political appointees.