Downeast Salmon Federation Chief of Staff

Downeast Salmon Federation’s mission is to conserve and restore wild sea-run fish and their habitats in Downeast Maine.

Position Overview
Downeast Salmon Federation seeks a service-oriented, collaborative nonprofit leader with a depth of experience in human resources, staff development, and organizational management to serve as its Chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff joins the Executive Director as a senior leader, jointly reporting to the Board of Directors during a period of significant organizational growth. All other employees report through the Chief of Staff. This position is responsible for all HR functions, cultivating a positive, entrepreneurial, and equitable organizational culture, and monitoring and supporting exceptional mission-driven accomplishments.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Organizational Leadership & Oversight

• Directly supervise managers and individual staff members, as determined, fostering a collaborative, transparent, and supportive culture.
• Manage alignment of organizational priorities and staff roles and responsibilities in achieving strategic goals in collaboration with staff.
• Ensure individual staff members have clear and achievable work plans.
• Partner with the Executive Director to ensure programs and partnerships are implemented effectively.
• Support each staff member in achieving success and professional growth, including mentorship from DSF, regional, and sector experts.
• Ensure clear communication among staff and lead regular staff meetings/team check-ins.
• Develop and facilitate project teams with staff, board members, and partners.
• Partner with the ED in supporting the Board of Directors with meeting preparation, facilitation, and administering committees.

Human Resources & Organizational Development

• Serve as the organization’s HR lead, responsible for cultivating a safe, transparent, respectful, and equitable workplace culture that supports staff well-being, effectiveness, and retention.
• Review and update employee handbook, personnel policies, and HR procedures, in collaboration with the Board HR Committee.
• Direct staff recruitment and hiring, position description development, onboarding, professional development, and performance evaluation.
• Oversee compensation/benefits administration.
• Maintain compliance with employment laws and nonprofit best practices, including safety protocols, recordkeeping, and workplace policies.
• Lead conflict resolution, grievance response, and personnel matters with discretion, fairness, and timeliness.

Operations & Organizational Effectiveness

• Oversee and improve internal systems, workflows, and cross-function coordination.
• Coordinate budget planning cycle with finance staff, program managers, and board members.
• Monitor progress and outcomes to ensure programs are implemented effectively, within budget, and in compliance with grants or partner agreements.
• Manage grant tracking and reporting systems.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and Board, providing insight and feedback on organizational performance.
• Oversee maintenance of official records and required documents to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and organizational policies and procedures.

Qualities and Qualifications
Successful candidates will bring a strong interest in conservation and fisheries restoration, and many of the following skills, experience, and attributes to the position.

• A passion for supervising and managing employees with a diverse array of roles, position levels, background, and experience.
• Skill and understanding in working with a nonprofit Board of Directors.
• Service-oriented, collaborative team leadership: the ability to listen and positively engage all team members; clearly communicate; responsibly steward resources; and empower individuals to be successful and grow in their work.
• Experience developing and nurturing a positive organizational culture rooted in transparency, respect, mutual accountability, and fostering employee growth.
• Significant experience managing all aspects of HR administration.
• Grant management experience, including developing and implementing systems for tracking and reporting.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills with proven ability to build collaborative relationships, exercise diplomacy, and find solutions to problems.
• Supreme organization skills.
• Resourcefulness and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Proficiency with technology, standard software, and the use of databases.

Location: Washington County, Maine (East Machias/Whiting/Columbia Falls)

Compensation: $95,000 – $105,000/year. Health, dental, vision insurance; retirement contribution options; generous vacation and PTO offered.

Commitment to Equity
We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law, and to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment, or bias based upon these grounds.