Chief of Staff

At Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, we know world-renowned care begins with world-class caring. That's why we combine advanced technologies and breakthrough discoveries with family-centered care. It's why we provide our caregivers with continuing education and state-of-the-art facilities, like the newly remodeled Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. And it's why we need caring, committed people on our team - like you. Join us on our mission to heal humanity, one child and family at a time.

Job ID: LP_00024207-242071

JOB SUMMARY

This paragraph summarizes the general nature, level and purpose of the job.

The Chief of Staff (COS) serves as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Stanford Children's Health. The role provides strategic, operational, and organizational leadership to advance executive priorities, improve effectiveness across the senior leadership team, and ensure disciplined execution of key initiatives.

The COS acts as a connector across the executive team and broader organization, translating executive priorities into coordinated action. The role supervises and works closely with the Executive Office Manager, who oversees executive workflow, administrative support staff, and day-to-day operations of the Executive Office.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Employees must abide by all Joint Commission Requirements including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.

Must perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Service Standards of the Hospital(s).

1. Executive Partnership & Strategic Advisory

• Serve as a trusted advisor, thought partner, and sounding board to the CEO and President & COO on matters affecting organizational strategy, leadership effectiveness, and enterprise performance.
• Provide analysis, judgment, and recommendations on complex, cross-cutting issues; surface risks, tradeoffs, and decision points.
• Create strategic agenda(s) for the CEO and President & COO based on their vision and key initiatives.
• Anticipate executive needs by identifying emerging issues, preparing briefing materials, and ensuring leaders are positioned for timely, informed decision-making.
• Act on behalf of the CEO and President & COO, as appropriate, to advance priorities, resolve issues, and maintain momentum across the organization.

2. Strategic Initiative & Project Leadership

• Lead and oversee high-priority, enterprise-level initiatives sponsored by the CEO and President & COO, from definition through execution.
• Translate executive goals into actionable plans, coordinating across functions to ensure alignment, accountability, and timely progress.
• Monitor execution, identify bottlenecks, and intervene as needed to prevent delays or decision paralysis.
• Evaluate project effectiveness and outcomes, providing insights to inform leadership decisions and future approaches.

3. Senior Leadership Team Effectiveness & Operating Rhythm

• Plan, manage, and facilitate senior leadership meetings, retreats, and offsites, including agenda development, preparation of materials, meeting facilitation, and follow-up on decisions and action items.
• Establish and maintain key executive operating rhythms, calendars, and processes that support clarity, prioritization, and disciplined execution.
• Serve as a connector across the senior leadership team, ensuring alignment on goals, initiatives, and sequencing of work.

4. Information Flow, Communication & Decision Support

• Organize and prioritize critical information for the CEO and President & COO to support efficient, high-quality decision-making.
• Maintain high standards for written and verbal communication, ensuring clarity, consistency, and appropriate framing for executive and board audiences.
• Act as a point of coordination between executive leadership and internal and external stakeholders, as appropriate, to streamline communication and reduce friction.

5. Board, Governance & External Coordination

• Support the CEO's board-related responsibilities, working closely with the Board Secretary, Executive Office Manager and administrative team to ensure strong execution of board operations and materials.
• Support cross-Stanford Medicine collaboration and executive-level coordination as assigned.

6. Executive Office Leadership & Team Oversight

• Supervise and partner with the Executive Office Manager to ensure effective management of executive workflows, administrative support staff, and Executive Office operations.
• Ensure clear structure, quality standards, and communication across the executive administrative support team.
• Promote continuous improvement in Executive Office processes, systems, and ways of working.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities as well as possession of any required licenses or certifications is qualifying.

Education: Bachelor's degree in a work-related field/discipline from an accredited college or university.

Experience:Ten (10) years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience required. Supervisory and healthcare experience desired.

License/Certification: None required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

These are the observable and measurable attributes and skills required to perform successfully the essential functions of the job and are generally demonstrated through qualifying experience, education, or licensure/certification.

Executive Judgment, Courage, and Influence

• Demonstrated ability to provide candid, constructive feedback to senior executives, including the CEO and President & COO, and to appropriately challenge assumptions or recommendations.
• Ability to influence and align leaders across all levels of the organization, regardless of formal reporting relationships.
• Strong judgment in navigating sensitive issues, managing risk, and exercising discretion.

Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving

• Ability to assess complex, ambiguous situations and develop practical, solutions-oriented recommendations.
• Skilled in identifying obstacles, tradeoffs, and unintended consequences; able to anticipate downstream impacts of decisions.
• Capacity to synthesize information across functions and translate strategy into actionable plans.

Leadership, Collaboration, and Stakeholder Management

• Ability to work independently while fostering collaboration, trust, and alignment across senior leaders and key stakeholders.
• Skilled in managing cross-functional initiatives and navigating organizational dynamics in a complex environment.
• Demonstrated ability to build credibility and strong working relationships across diverse groups.

Communication and Executive Presence

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate in a clear, concise, executive voice.
• Strong capability in framing issues, preparing executive-level materials, and conveying information persuasively to varied audiences.
• Ability to facilitate discussions, guide decision-making forums, and ensure clarity of outcomes and next steps.

Emotional Intelligence and Integrity

• High emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to read organizational dynamics.
• Proven ability to build trust, maintain confidentiality, and operate with integrity in all aspects of the role.
• Steady presence under pressure and in high-stakes situations.

Operational Acumen and Organizational Effectiveness

• Knowledge of organizational systems, structures, and operating rhythms in complex organizations.
• Ability to assess and improve processes that support executive effectiveness and enterprise execution.
• Competency in organizational, administrative, fiscal, and personnel management principles sufficient to provide effective oversight and guidance.
• Willingness and ability to learn and leverage new technologies and tools to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Executive Office and Governance Support

• Experience overseeing executive office operations, including coordination of senior-level meetings, offsites, and high-visibility engagements.
• Ability to supervise staff and ensure high-quality support for executive and board-related activities.
• Understanding of board governance processes and the role of executive leadership in supporting effective board operations.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The Physical Requirements and Working Conditions in which the job is typically performed are available from the Occupational Health Department. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Pay Range

Compensation is based on the level and requirements of the role.

Salary within our ranges may also be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities, as required by the role, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Typically, new team members join at the minimum to mid salary range.

Minimum to Midpoint Range (Hourly): $85.32 to $116.67

Stanford Medicine Children's Health (SMCH) strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination in all of its policies and practices, including the area of employment. Accordingly, SMCH does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability, or the perception of any of the above. People of all genders, members of all racial and ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Qualified applicants with criminal convictions will be considered after an individualized assessment of the conviction and the job requirements, and where applicable, in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.