Job Opening: Chief of Staff for Alex Steffen
Position Summary:
I’m Alex Steffen. My work focuses on the future of humanity and our planet, exploring solutions to the world’s pressing problems. (I’m probably best known for leading the Worldchanging project.) I’m a writer, public speaker, strategy consultant and Planetary Futurist in Residence at IDEO. I’m looking for someone great to help me do everything I do, better.
Equal parts executive assistant, project coordinator and problem-solving ninja, the Chief of Staff will provide high-level support as I complete and launch a major new book, take my speaking career to a new level and expand the scope of my engagement with key clients. This part-time, contract position is a tremendous opportunity for an enthusiastic, proactive and collaborative person.
The pace of my work is fast, my process is fluid, and my working life is non-traditional and inspiration-based. This won’t be a routine job. I’m looking for someone who’s quick and adaptable and loves turning high-volume, diverse tasks into organized accomplishments.
This job is primarily facilitative. That said, some understanding of (and commitment to) the values of sustainability, planetary thinking and social innovation is important to a good fit. If he/she is passionate about changing the world, he/she will have lots of chances to learn, develop new skills and connect to a large network or great people doing amazing work. For the right person, this could be a fantastic springboard job.
Key activities:
• Acting as first point of contact, filtering communications and corresponding with appropriate tone, craft and delivery.
• Balancing and prioritizing daily tasks, such as managing appointments, e-mail, and travel, as well as creating and maintaining organizational systems.
• Tending my professional relationships with a high level of tact and personalized service.
• Providing “brain amplification”—coordinating my work as a whole: being the person holding the overview of operations, guarding my time, focusing my attention, giving honest feedback and maximizing my impact in the world.
• Owning planning and logistics; coordinating public speaking engagements, publishing deadlines and consulting engagements in partnership with my speaking and literary agents; scheduling meetings and prioritizing our tasks together; paying attention to detail and being quick with needed follow-ups.
• Supporting development and success of specific project teams for my work (helping with vetting, hiring, scheduling, etc.), tracking work flow and coordinating deadlines, deliverables and invoices.
• Supporting my personal effectiveness in a business where my performance (thinking, writing and speaking) defines the success of our enterprise. Make my life easier: coordinate with my professional services providers (accountant, lawyer), handle bills, make needed office purchases; facilitate my fitness, wellness, nutrition and sustainable work load goals; coordinate housecleaner and other domestic services; make personal travel and other arrangements, as requested.
Additional skills required:
• Thrive by creating order out of chaos.
• Exhibit exemplary time management and organization.
• Be self-motivated, attentive and accountable, providing effective continuity in a part-time position.
• Be well versed in word processing, spreadsheets and Gmail and very comfortable using the Internet as a research tool. Knowledge of Mac platform, WordPress, Google Hangout, Keynote, etc is a plus.
• Display excellent written and verbal communication skills; possess basic social media/web skills.
• Demonstrate extreme trustworthiness and a high degree of tact and discretion; commit to responsibility and confidentiality while handling a wide array of professional and personal information.
An ideal candidate will:
• Find reward through contributing to important work by enabling and supporting others.
• Enjoy collaboration with a variety of personality and work styles/industries; managing business correspondence and coordinating with clients, agents, contractors and colleagues (as well as coordinating with IDEO staff). Experience planning and executing events and/or working with publishers and media is also valuable.
• Be familiar with my work.
• Be well-educated; have excellent references, good credit and no criminal record; have a valid driver’s license and provide own transportation.
Hours, compensation, start date and commitment:
• 24 hours a week.
• Mix of scheduled in-person work (Berkeley) and flexible online tasks.
• Very competitive Bay Area pay. Exceptional project success will also result in increased rewards/bonuses.
• Start date: ASAP… in fact, if you can build a time machine and go back to November and start then, that would be even better.
• Commitment: I’m looking for someone who’s ready to sign a one-year contract. I’m also looking to start a professional relationship worth growing—including by helping you advance your own career and goals within and beyond this role. If all goes well over that year, we can discuss turning the role into a permanent job, and/or scaling up to full-time, if desired; alternately, I’d be glad to help support next career steps. But I need full commitment for a year.
To apply, email a short inquiry letter (no more than 500 words) and a link to your CV/resume/etc. to alexsteffentrip@gmail.com.
