Chief of Staff (Advancement Office)
New York, NY
Full Time
Experienced
POSITION: Chief of Staff (Advancement Office)
EXEMPT STATUS: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Chief Advancement Officer
LOCATION: 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024
WEBSITE: www.CMOM.org
ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) inspires children and families to learn, explore, and grow through play. Blending the arts, sciences, and humanities, CMOM’s exhibitions and programs promote creativity, health, and cultural understanding while reflecting the diversity and energy of New York City. Founded in 1973, CMOM welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year on-site and through partnerships across the five boroughs, and is currently undertaking a major capital campaign to support its transformative expansion and future sustainability.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Chief of Staff (COS) to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) serves as a strategic partner and operations lead, driving coordination, communication, and execution across all fundraising, campaign, and governance activities. The COS ensures that Advancement initiatives are prioritized, progress is tracked, and the CAO’s time and focus are aligned with the Museum’s highest-impact opportunities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Campaign Leadership & Strategic Partnership
The salary for this position is $125,000 per year.
Schedule: Four days on-site, one day remote.
Our company offers a comprehensive benefits package including vision, dental and medical (free medical coverage for employees, with premium plans available for dependents), 403B, life insurance, EAP, Paid Holidays, Personal Time Off, Vacation leave and Sick leave. We also offer a range of voluntary benefits, such as, FSA/HSA, critical illness, accident insurance, legal services, and pet insurance. As a CMOM employee, you are eligible for free admission to other New York City cultural institutions.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the interview process, please let your recruiter know.
Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role and believe you could thrive in it, we encourage you to apply. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds—whether you're new to arts and culture, returning to work, or exploring a career shift. Use your cover letter to share your interest and what you hope to bring to the role.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
EXEMPT STATUS: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Chief Advancement Officer
LOCATION: 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024
WEBSITE: www.CMOM.org
ABOUT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) inspires children and families to learn, explore, and grow through play. Blending the arts, sciences, and humanities, CMOM’s exhibitions and programs promote creativity, health, and cultural understanding while reflecting the diversity and energy of New York City. Founded in 1973, CMOM welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year on-site and through partnerships across the five boroughs, and is currently undertaking a major capital campaign to support its transformative expansion and future sustainability.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Chief of Staff (COS) to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) serves as a strategic partner and operations lead, driving coordination, communication, and execution across all fundraising, campaign, and governance activities. The COS ensures that Advancement initiatives are prioritized, progress is tracked, and the CAO’s time and focus are aligned with the Museum’s highest-impact opportunities.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Campaign Leadership & Strategic Partnership
- Serve as a key thought partner to the CAO, working side-by-side to drive Campaign fundraising across all giving sectors.
- Act as a project manager for the CAO, ensuring Campaign priorities stay on track and that the CAO’s time and focus are deployed where they will have the greatest impact.
- Manage the Campaign Assistant, providing direction on daily priorities and workflows.
- Anticipate needs and ensure the CAO is always equipped with timely information and staffing support for Campaign priorities.
- Partner with the CAO on high-stakes written deliverables—developing and refining presentations, proposals, grant submissions, and reports, providing sharp strategic input and copyediting support for the CAO.
- Lead the creation of campaign communications and collateral, collaborating with Campaign staff, Museum leadership, and trustees to ensure all materials are cohesive, inspiring, and aligned with Campaign strategy.
- Serve as a primary liaison across internal teams, aligning Development, Programming, Finance, and the Executive Office to ensure Campaign and organizational goals are advanced seamlessly.
- Step in as the CAO’s proxy in internal and external settings when appropriate, representing Campaign priorities with clarity and authority.
- Partner with the CAO and DoD to strengthen trustee engagement, supporting individualized cultivation strategies and ensuring committee members are meaningfully connected to Campaign progress.
- Manage Campaign and Governance & Nominating Committees meetings by preparing materials, capturing discussions, documenting meeting minutes, and ensuring actionable follow-up for the CAO, CEO, Committee Co-Chairs, and trustees.
- Prepare Campaign and Governance & Nominating Committee content for board meetings, ensuring all trustees have the information they need to engage effectively.
- Manage a dynamic prospect pipeline across annual and campaign prospects, ensuring fundraising momentum, pacing, and deliverables are consistently met.
- Actively participate in prospect strategy and review meetings, collaborating with the CAO, DoD, and teams to move relationships forward and track results.
- Track and advance trustee and donor touchpoints to ensure appropriate and timeline follow-up to build momentum.
- Prepare the CAO and CEO with briefing materials and talking points for Campaign-related donor meetings, board discussions, and public appearances.
- Partner with the CAO and Special Events Director to conceive and execute high-impact cultivation and recognition events, ensuring thoughtful stewardship, donor acknowledgment, and visibility.
- Provide on-the-ground leadership and staffing for cultivation events, ensuring seamless execution and high-quality donor engagement.
- Represent the Campaign at Museum events, deepening relationships with donors, prospects, and trustees.
- Bring a deep understanding of the New York City philanthropic landscape, helping CMOM stay connected to emerging trends and opportunities.
- Act as an ambassador for the Museum, representing CMOM with professionalism, enthusiasm, and credibility in every interaction with Board members, funders, grant officers, government offices, community members, museum visitors, and colleagues.
- Take initiative on special projects and step into new opportunities as Campaign priorities evolve.
- Perform other appropriate duties as necessary.
- 10+ years of experience in fundraising, institutional advancement, or campaign management, ideally within a cultural or nonprofit organization.
- Demonstrated experience as a strategic partner in non-profit Committee work and pipeline management
- Exceptional writing, project management, and communication skills.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal abilities, with a demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and relationships.
- Knowledge of New York City’s philanthropic and cultural landscape strongly preferred.
The salary for this position is $125,000 per year.
Schedule: Four days on-site, one day remote.
Our company offers a comprehensive benefits package including vision, dental and medical (free medical coverage for employees, with premium plans available for dependents), 403B, life insurance, EAP, Paid Holidays, Personal Time Off, Vacation leave and Sick leave. We also offer a range of voluntary benefits, such as, FSA/HSA, critical illness, accident insurance, legal services, and pet insurance. As a CMOM employee, you are eligible for free admission to other New York City cultural institutions.
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. If, due to a disability, you need an accommodation during any part of the interview process, please let your recruiter know.
Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you’re excited about this role and believe you could thrive in it, we encourage you to apply. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds—whether you're new to arts and culture, returning to work, or exploring a career shift. Use your cover letter to share your interest and what you hope to bring to the role.
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
Apply for this position
Required*