Chief of Staff

Internal/External Posting Notice

Title: Chief of Staff

Department: Executive Director's Office

Status: Full-time, non-union

Immediate Supervisor: Executive Director

Salary: $110,000 - $130,000

Level: Deputy Director

Application Deadline: October 4, 2026 or until a suitable candidate is found

Vacancy Type: Current Opening

Oxfam Canada is an affiliate of the international Oxfam Confederation networked in over 85 countries as part of a global movement for change. Our mission is to build lasting solutions to poverty and injustice with a focus on improving the lives and promoting the rights of women and girls. We work directly with communities, partners and women's rights organizations to challenge the systems that perpetuate inequality and keep people poor. Together we seek to influence those in power to ensure that women trapped in poverty have a say in the critical decisions that affect them, their families and entire communities. That’s why we believe that ending global poverty begins with women’s rights.

Oxfam Canada offers a generous compensation and benefits program, but more than that, we offer the opportunity to be a part of our global movement for change. If you advocate for gender equality, are passionate about women’s rights, and share our values of Equality, Empowerment, Solidarity, Inclusiveness, Accountability, and Courage – we want you on our team!

SCOPE OF POSITION

The Chief of Staff works in close partnership with Oxfam Canada’s Executive Director (ED) and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and in support of the Board of Directors, to help the organization operate at its best. They translate priorities into action, keep critical initiatives moving, and make sure leadership attention and organizational energy are well directed. They play a central role in leading organizational strategy, driving strategic initiatives, nurturing a mission-driven organizational culture, and advancing Oxfam Canada’s commitment to growing as a feminist, anti-racist and inclusive organization. This is a role for someone who is equally comfortable with big-picture thinking and taking initiative to get things done.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES : (This is not an exhaustive list of duties to be performed)

Lead organizational strategy, planning, and change management

Own and drive the organization’s strategic planning and annual operational planning cycle, ensuring alignment between strategy and the global Oxfam confederation, annual plans, execution across departments, and reporting – ensuring quality, coherence, accountability, and learning. Establish and manage a clear cadence for planning, review, and performance tracking.

Lead change management for significant organizational transitions, working with the ED and the SLT to develop structured approaches that include clear communication strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, and mechanisms to monitor staff experience and keep teams focused and accountable for mission delivery during transitions.

Ensure effective flow of information, insights, and analysis to support leadership decision-making. Drive cross-organizational alignment by ensuring priorities are clearly defined, sequenced, and tracked to delivery.

Lead and strengthen Oxfam Canada’s organizational risk management function and support the SLT and Board in discharging their risk oversight responsibilities by tracking key risks, surfacing emerging issues early, and providing analysis, scenario planning, and recommendations on significant organizational risks.

Lead strategy to build a mission-driven organizational culture

Translate organizational cultural commitments into concrete initiatives and ensure strong coordination between culture priorities and HR strategy, systems, and delivery.

Drive initiatives that strengthen staff engagement, team cohesion, and shared commitment to the causes and communities we serve.

In close coordination with the HR team and the SLT, ensure HR strategy and systems reinforce staff engagement in service of the mission, and support the recruitment and retention of diverse talent.

Lead on internal communications strategy to support organizational alignment and culture.

Lead special projects and strategic initiatives

Lead the design, implementation, and reporting of cross-cutting special projects that advance Oxfam Canada’s organizational priorities, as assigned by the ED. Serve as the ED’s primary delegate for high-priority initiatives that require sustained senior leadership attention and cross-functional coordination. Establish clear project governance structures, timelines, accountabilities, and success metrics for all special projects.

Design and facilitate high-impact SLT meetings, staff retreats, and other strategic planning sessions.

Serve as the senior organizational lead for privacy, holding accountability for Oxfam Canada’s privacy framework, including the implementation and ongoing monitoring of privacy policy across all functions and departments. Ensure emerging privacy risks are identified and escalated appropriately and provide regular reporting to the ED and Board on privacy compliance and any significant privacy incidents or risks.

Support governance effectiveness and Board engagement

Support the effectiveness of Oxfam Canada’s governance structures and Board of Directors, in close coordination with the Executive Director and Executive Coordinator. Support the planning, coordination, and quality assurance of Board and committee meetings – including agenda development, preparation of briefing materials, and follow-up on Board decisions and action items.

Partner with the ED to structure and deepen Board engagement, ensuring Board members are well-informed, appropriately consulted, and able to fulfill their governance responsibilities. Identify opportunities to strengthen Board governance practices, committee structures, and Director recruitment, onboarding, and development.

Drive progress on Oxfam Canada’s commitment to grow as a feminist, anti-racist and inclusive organization

Lead organization-wide anti-racism, JEDI, and decolonization strategy and execution, ensuring integration and accountability across all departments and functions. Translate Oxfam Canada’s commitments into clear plans, metrics, and outcomes.

Ensure consistent, high-quality reporting and engagement with the Board on anti-racism, JEDI, and decolonization progress and priorities.

Additional responsibilities:

Act as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the ED.

On behalf of the ED, act as a central coordination point across SLT, removing bottlenecks, clarifying accountabilities, and accelerating delivery on strategic initiatives.

Directly supervise the Executive Coordinator, providing day-to-day direction and performance management to ensure seamless operational support to the Executive Director’s Office.

Represent the organization in external engagements, as required, to advance priorities and partnerships.

Other duties, as required.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & COMPETENCIES :

Education and experience

University degree in a relevant field; a master's degree in international development/affairs, public policy, law, business, non-profit management, organizational leadership, or a related discipline is an asset. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

A minimum of 10 years of progressively senior experience in organizational leadership and management, including at least five years in a senior management role with responsibility for strategy, planning, and teams. Candidates from diverse professional backgrounds are welcomed, including the non-profit, public, and private sectors; experience in the international development, social justice, or human rights sector is a strong asset.

Experience working within unionized environments, including familiarity with collective agreements and labour relations, is an asset.

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