Federal Position Descriptions
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Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff
Responsibility
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

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 Appointments
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
AGENCY

COMPENSATION

Senior Executive Service Schedule (ES)2

REPORTS TO

Secretary

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Footnote
  1. 2016 Plum Book
  2. 2016 Plum Book
  3. http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/about/principal_staff/nealin_parker
  4. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nealin-parker-04a9608
  5. Leadership Directories
  6. https://www.commerce.gov/directory/jimhock
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