Chief of Staff - Middletown, NY

Description

 Come join Heritage Financial Credit Union's Executive Team as the Chief of Staff
Are you a strategic thinker who thrives on driving collaboration, aligning priorities, and turning vision into action? We’re seeking an experienced Chief of Staff to partner with our CEO and Executive Team and help lead initiatives that advance our mission, empower our people, and strengthen our member community.
In this high-impact role, you will guide cross-functional initiatives and ensure strategic goals are achieved. Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership. Streamline communication, planning, and decision-making across departments.
If you’re a proactive collaborator who thrives at connecting leadership and teams to deliver meaningful outcomes, this role offers a unique opportunity to engage in shaping the future of Heritage Financial Credit Union.
Here's a little about us:
Heritage Financial Credit Union is a member-owned financial institution that is committed to helping our members achieve their financial goals and building a stronger community. We believe that everyone deserves access to affordable financial services, and we are dedicated to providing our members with the tools and resources they need to achieve their financial dreams. Our vision is to be the leading financial institution in the communities we serve, and we are committed to creating a culture of excellence where our employees can thrive. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected, and where we can all work together to achieve our goals. We recognize that our employees are our most important asset, and we are committed to providing them with the training, development, and opportunities they need to succeed. Our values are at the heart of everything we do. We believe in:

• Integrity: We are honest and trustworthy in all of our dealings with our members, employees, and the community.
• Excellence: We strive to provide our members with the best possible service.
• Teamwork: We believe that we can achieve more together than we can alone.
• Respect: We treat each other with dignity and respect.
• Community: We are committed to giving back to the communities we serve.

If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career in the financial services industry with a company that is committed to its Mission, Vision and Values, we encourage you to apply and see below for details about the position. We offer a competitive salary and comprehensive employee benefits package, company 401K match and generous Paid Time Off.

Position Purpose

The Chief of Staff is a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership team. This role ensures organizational priorities are executed effectively, facilitates alignment across departments, and supports the CEO in driving strategic initiatives, operational excellence, and cultural engagement. The CoS enhances the CEO’s impact by managing critical projects, overseeing cross-functional collaboration, and serving as a bridge between leadership and staff. 

Essential Functions And Basic Duties

Strategic Leadership & Alignment

• Partner with the CEO to define, track, and drive execution of the credit union’s strategic priorities.
• Ensure organizational alignment by coordinating with executives and department leaders to translate strategy into actionable goals.
• Monitor and report on progress toward strategic objectives, providing analysis and recommendations for adjustments.

Executive Support & Advisory

• Serve as a thought partner to the CEO on key decisions, initiatives, and communications.
• Manage CEO’s priorities by filtering and triaging requests, ensuring focus on high-impact areas.
• Represent the CEO in meetings or external engagements when needed.

Operational Excellence & Project Management

• Lead high-visibility, cross-functional projects and ensure timely, effective execution.
• Identify and address gaps in processes, communication, and accountability across departments.
• Establish systems for tracking initiatives, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Board & Governance Support

• Assist the CEO in preparing for Board and Supervisory Committee meetings, including agenda setting, briefing materials, and follow-up.
• Ensure Board & Supervisory communication is clear, timely, and aligned with governance requirements.

Culture & Organizational Development

• Champion a strong, member-centric culture by fostering collaboration and transparency across teams.
• Lead internal communications and organizational updates on behalf of the CEO.
• Partner with HR and executives on leadership development and succession planning initiatives.

What's in it for you?

Salary: $115,000 - $135,000 per year (based on experience)

Benefits:

• Incentives and Merit Increases
• Paid Time Off & Paid Federal Holidays
• Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts/HSA
• 401(k) with Employer Match

· Educational Assistance

· Paid Time to Volunteer

Requirements

Education/Certification:

•  Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• Eight plus years of progressive leadership experience in financial services and operations.
• Prior credit union or banking industry experience strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of managing strategic initiatives and executive level project

Required Knowledge:

•  Knowledge of computer and telecommunication equipment with an understanding of regulated financial institutions’ operations and information needs preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of information technology and security protocols.
• This position requires that the employee gain a working knowledge of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) requirements and how they will affect their work. The employee will comply with all requirements of the BSA and cooperate with the designated BSA Officer in assuring compliance.
• Experience using P.C. based software including Microsoft Office, project management software and practices, etc.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking: Collaborates to set long-term financial goals, monitors performance, and proactively addresses challenges to optimize results.
• Proactivity & Independence: Executes tasks with minimal supervision and contributes innovative ideas.
• Results-Driven: Focuses on meeting deadlines with a strong bias for action.
• Effective Communication: Delivers clear, concise information with appropriate context for various stakeholders.
• Analytical Skills: Quickly processes data to draw insightful, fact-based conclusions.
• Positive & Flexible Attitude: Demonstrates collaboration, adaptability, and resilience in a dynamic environment.
• Talent Development: Identifies and develops team strengths to build organizational capability.
• Organization & Planning: Efficiently manages priorities, schedules, budgets, and ongoing performance evaluations to drive profitability.
• Integrity: Maintains trust through honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior.
• Attention to Detail: Prioritizes and follows through on multiple initiatives in a fast-paced setting.
• Continuous Improvement: Drives ongoing enhancements in teams, products, and processes to achieve exceptional outcomes.

Skills/Abilities:

•  Ability to project a professional appearance and positive attitude at all times.
• Exceptional strategic thinking with the ability to connect vision to execution.
• Strong financial and business acumen.
• Outstanding communication and relationship building skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Discretion and judgment in handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Collaborative leadership style with focus on results