Chief of Staff
About the company
Altum Consulting is partnering with a start-up, global health-focussed NGO with a unique and highly effective approach to solving a major global health issue. The organisation is growing with secure funding and is now seeking a Chief of Staff to support its next phase of development.
Your tasks
Its approach is grounded in evidence, data and cost-effectiveness. As its international work expands, it needs someone who can help the leadership team make clear decisions, turn strategy into deliverable plans and coordinate priorities across a growing organisation.
Reporting to the Executive Director, initially working with the Acting Co-Executive Directors, you will be a full member of the senior leadership team. You will bring judgement, constructive challenge and the ability to take ownership of work that crosses teams and functions.
This is a hands-on leadership role in a start-up environment. Priorities will evolve, and you will need to be comfortable bringing structure to work that is not yet fully defined. Early projects are likely to include coordinating a major funding renewal, developing the narrative for a multi-year strategy and strengthening how the board and leadership team work together.
- Working with the Executive Director and senior team to develop organisational strategy, priorities and delivery plans.
- Leading cross-functional projects, coordinating contributions and keeping work moving towards agreed outcomes.
- Bringing together programme, research, finance and operational input for funding proposals and longer-term plans.
- Writing clear strategy documents, board papers, reports and internal communications.
- Managing the board cycle, including relationships, papers, committees and follow-up actions.
- Improving leadership meetings, planning cycles and communication so decisions are made and followed through.
- Identifying dependencies between teams and resolving issues that could affect delivery.
- Providing interim oversight of a team or function where needed, including people management.
Requirements
- Experience operating at or alongside a senior leadership team, contributing to organisational decisions and taking responsibility for delivery.
- Strong strategic judgement and the ability to turn complex information into clear recommendations.
- Experience managing substantial projects across different teams, ideally in a growing or internationally distributed organisation.
- Excellent written communication, including experience producing strategy papers, board reports or funding proposals.
- Experience supporting a board and managing governance processes.
- The credibility to build trust quickly, influence senior colleagues and challenge constructively.
- An interest in evidence, analysis and cost-effectiveness, with a commitment to the organisation's approach to improving global health.
- A practical, organised approach and the flexibility to take on unfamiliar work as priorities change.
- People-management experience would be useful, particularly where you have led a team through growth or change.
Relevant backgrounds could include chief of staff, strategy, consulting, organisational leadership or senior programme roles. Experience in a start-up or growing organisation would be particularly useful; previous NGO experience is not essential.
What we offer
Salary: Dependent on location and experience. London benchmark £74,000 - £81,000 with flexibility for an experienced interim appointment
How to apply
For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact Altum Consulting.
Other
Chief of Staff Contract: Initial six-month contract, with the possibility of becoming permanent
Location: Globally based / remote, with reliable working-hour overlap with the London head office and flexibility to work across time zones
Start: As soon as possible