Summary
Description
The Arsenault Family Foundation (AFF), dba PAX sapiens is a foundation that directly works on operating and grantmaking issues around catastrophic risk and also supports a network of philanthropies founded by Marcel and Cynda Collins Arsenault. This network includes PAX sapiens’ operating work including the Our Secure Future program as well as the foundations One Earth Future Foundation, and Secure World Foundation. Each organization is tackling global problems with the overarching goal of building a more peaceful world. This work is done through risk reduction in the nuclear space, strengthening US/China relations, global pandemic prevention, securing peaceful cooperation around operating in Space, promoting gender equity in the security and policy field, and using lending as a tool for peace in the Somali region.
The Arsenault Family Foundation d.b.a. PAX sapiens is hosting the recruitment for this role, but the Chief of Staff should expect to assist Marcel Arsenault (the principal) in his role supporting governance of the full network.
Primary Role:
The Chief of Staff will support the principal directly, helping to optimize his day-to-day and longer-term strategic philanthropic goals, including through managing direct support staff, working with Marcel on ideas and strategies for accomplishing his goals, supporting Marcel in outreach to external partners, and in some cases acting as his direct representative. The Chief of Staff will be an expert arranger, helping the principal to structure, organize, and achieve his philanthropic priorities. The successful candidate will have the ability to interface effectively and appropriately with high-level actors in philanthropy, business, and government to represent Marcel in his endeavors.
Success in this role requires a blend of strong strategic and analytical thinking, with a focus on delivering tangible results, along with high emotional intelligence and a relationship-driven approach to building trust with both internal and external stakeholders. The Chief of Staff must understand Marcel and his priorities and act as a gatekeeper to ensure that Marcel's time is being allocated and respected accordingly. Marcel will expect the Chief of Staff to prepare written documents, plans and analyses on a regular basis.
Reports to: Marcel Arsenault, Founder
Job Type: Full-Time; Salaried
Travel: Up to 25%
Compensation:
The annual salary range for this position is $130,000 – $170,000. This role is also bonus eligible.
Benefits:
Benefits for our US-based employees include:
- 15 paid vacation days a year
- 8 paid holidays
- 10 days paid annual sick leave
- Medical, Dental and Vision Benefit options for employees and family members
- Employee Assistance Program
- Hybrid Work from Home/ In-office schedule
- Family Leave
- Professional Development Funds
- Tuition Reimbursement Assistant
Location:
This position is hybrid, based in Broomfield and Boulder, Colorado.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Managing Marcel Arsenault’s office as a philanthropist, including supervising Marcel’s Special Assistant on both scheduling and research tasks to ensure that Marcel has the information and context needed for decisions and his schedule is effectively prioritized and strategically sequenced.
- Working closely with Marcel to ensure that his goals, strategies, and expectations are empirically grounded, thoroughly thought-through, clearly articulated, and clearly communicated within the network of foundations.
- Establishing a clear understanding of the AFF network of philanthropies, the leadership teams and organizational dynamics, and the interplay of opportunities and challenges that it faces, building rapport with a range of leaders and staff within AFF, PAX sapiens, One Earth Future Foundation and Secure World Foundation.
- Working with Marcel and cross-foundation leadership, facilitate the development of an effective governance structure for the network that includes long-term planning for the growth of the network as a whole.
- Work with other foundations and philanthropists with the goal of supporting development for foundation priorities and programs.
- Overseeing the development of a briefing and file management system so that Marcel has key information about people he is meeting, and decisions are being captured for historical reference.
- As directed by Marcel, manage specific projects or initiatives both internal to the foundation and external including setting project goals, developing project plans and budgets, and managing teams to achieve project goals.
- Working with Marcel and Marcel’s Special Assistant; ensure the completion of deep-dive empirically grounded research projects to provide input into organizational decision making.
- Effectively communicating Marcel’s goals and decisions across the foundations while serving as a key liaison between Marcel and foundation leadership—enhancing internal communication and minimizing friction.
- Working with Marcel’s Special Assistant, ensure that there are written materials prepared for all meetings and engagements.
- Presenting externally in public settings as a representative of Marcel and the Foundations including both formal presentations and informal engagements
Required Education, Knowledge, Skills and Competences:
- 10 + years of experience working in fast paced, high impact fields including government, successful startups, or major transnational corporations.
- Government or nonprofit experience in peacebuilding, stabilization, or related issues is preferred.
- 7+ years of experience with principal support (either as a principal or supporting the principal).
- Masters or MBA in a related field. Prior experience in the private sector.
- Additional experience with trans-national Nonprofit, NGOs, or philanthropy is a plus
- Experience managing a staff of at least 10 direct reports.
- Specific project and staff management experience and the demonstrated ability to manage people and initiatives for strategic impact.
- Proven track record optimizing information and decision flows for principals of complex and matrixed organizations.
- Experience with forecasting and foresight tools for strategic decision making.
- Proven ability to leverage influence to get things done.
- Driven and hard-working, with the ability to get up to speed quickly and prioritize adding value.
- Strong Emotional Intelligence.
- At ease with direct feedback.
- Have an entrepreneurial spirit, high energy level, and operating experience in multiple business contexts, especially successful startups or other environments.
- Passion for high impact roles and organizations
- Prior experience working with a senior level official or individual will be useful.
- Prior experience with philanthropic fundraising is a plus.
- Commitment to the AFF Network Values.
- Available and actively responsive outside of typical office hours.
Physical Work Demands:
- Able to sit at a computer for extended periods of time.
- Able to bend at the waist and reach on a daily basis.
- Able to lift and move up to 25 lbs regularly.
PAX sapiens: Privacy Policy for the EU: GDPR – PAX sapiens
PAX sapiens Privacy Policy for the Peoples Republic of China: Applicant Privacy Notice – PAX sapiens
At PAX sapiens, we celebrate diversity and welcome its benefits and are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know
