Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff (Founding Hire)

Company: The Stringer Foundation (TSF)

Location: India (Remote-first)

Employment Type: Full-time

About TSF

The Stringer Foundation is an early-stage nonprofit founded by award-winning journalist, Yale graduate, and ex-McKinsey consultant Anjan Sundaram. The Stringer Foundation funds and supports courageous journalists worldwide. We fill a key gap in the journalism support landscape by scaling up courageous journalism and nurturing the next generation of brave reporters. We provide three key pillars to journalists: financial stability, media amplification, and safety. Our flagship prize, The Stringer Prize, will launch in 2026 and is intended to become one of the most prestigious prizes in journalism — in line with the Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes, but with the media reach of the Oscars. TSF is backed by a major core donor and is on track to accelerate fundraising, enabling multi-year programs and meaningful career growth.

The Role

Reporting directly to the founder, this India-based Chief of Staff will be a founding operator building TSF’s systems, structure, and strategic rhythm. You will translate vision into execution across programs, partnerships, and fundraising — designing and running the operational backbone of a globally visible organization.

In your first 6–12 months, you will:

• Operationally take TSF to the 2026 Prize launch:
• Manage the jury and awards processes.
• Lead media campaigns and coordinate with partner outlets.
• Help organize fundraising dinners and donor events.
• Build and manage the support pipeline (fellowships, mentorships, and partnerships delivering mental-health, legal aid, and publication opportunities).
• Design and oversee eligibility criteria, selection rubrics, and safeguarding protocols for journalist support.
• Build a donor and grants CRM (25–40 prospects), and deliver 10+ high-quality funding proposals with clear board/donor reporting dashboards.
• Negotiate and execute dozens of MoUs with NGOs, media, and corporate partners, ensuring clear KPIs and budget ownership.
• Track and report lightweight impact metrics (10 key KPIs).
• Manage compliance, accounting, and tax filings.
• Lead a network of volunteers and experts contributing pro bono to TSF program design.
• Conduct analytical research to support fundraising and stakeholder engagement.

Success looks like: A well-run prize cycle, high-functioning partnerships, a robust fundraising funnel, and a repeatable operating cadence that enables global scale.

Why This Role Is Compelling

• Founding scope & high ownership: Build TSF’s systems and cadence from the ground up.
• Fast-track growth: Clear path to Head of Programs / Director within 18–36 months based on performance.
• High-level exposure: Work directly with the founder, board, major donors, and international partners.
• Mission-driven impact: Enable courageous journalism with tangible, global outcomes.
• Runway & scale: Multi-year funding already secured; significant growth planned.
• Collaborative, low-ego culture: Direct access to leadership and decision-making.

What You’ll Bring

• 4–7 years of experience in management consulting, project management, or a Chief of Staff / Strategy role.
• Top-tier consulting experience (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, or equivalent strategic boutique) strongly preferred.
• Experience in nonprofits, global development, or philanthropy a plus.
• Proven client-style problem solving: ability to structure ambiguous problems, synthesize insights, and drive strategic decisions.
• MBA or master’s degree from a top university (IIMs, ISB, Ivy League, Oxbridge, Sciences Po, LSE, etc.) preferred.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management experience across executives, donors, and global partners.
• Exceptional communication, analytical, and presentation skills.
• Operational excellence mindset: strong planning, prioritization, and follow-through across multiple workstreams.
• Comfort with technology tools (Google Workspace, Excel, CRMs, Airtable/Canva, etc.).
• Familiarity with grantmaking, selection panels, and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

US$ 2,500–4,000/month base salary (approx. ₹2.2–₹3.5 lakh/month; ₹26.5–₹42 LPA), commensurate with experience.

Salary paid monthly in USD (not adjusted for INR fluctuations).

• Significant annual bonus based on performance.
• Sign-on bonus for certain candidates based on background.
• Additional perks and flexibility based on tenure and results.