Chief of Staff

Position Summary

The Chief of Staff serves as a senior advisor and strategic partner to the President & CEO and executive leadership team. They oversee the operational effectiveness of key departments and external-facing initiatives central to San Francisco Travel’s mission. This role has direct oversight of the Human Resources and Membership departments, Public Policy and Government Affairs, and the San Francisco Travel Board of Directors, the Tourism Improvement District (TID), and the San Francisco Travel Foundation Board. The Chief of Staff leads the operations of the Executive Committee, drives strategic alignment across divisions, and supports board engagement and advocacy.

What You’ll Be Doing

Executive & Departmental Leadership

• Serve as a core member of the Executive Committee, collaborating closely with the CEO on internal and external priorities
• Oversee the operations and performance of the Human Resources and Membership departments, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy
• Guide execution of cross-departmental initiatives and special projects to enhance internal efficiency and member value

Board Governance & Engagement

• Oversee administration, engagement, and communication with the three San Francisco Travel Boards and Executive Committee, including the Board of Directors, Tourism Improvement District Board, and the San Francisco Travel Foundation Board
• Manage board recruitment, development, nominations, and onboarding
• Lead execution of the annual board retreat, ad hoc board task forces, and strategic committee support, including the Board Development and Executive Committees
• Maintain strong communication with board leadership and ensure effective governance operations

Public Policy, Advocacy & Government Affairs

• Lead San Francisco Travel’s public policy and advocacy efforts, with a focus on issues impacting tourism and economic development
• Act as a liaison to City and County of San Francisco officials and other regional, state, and national government stakeholders
• Monitor San Francisco’s political and policy landscape to ensure the organization remains informed, engaged, and responsive
• Represent San Francisco Travel at press conferences, task forces, and policy briefings as needed.
• Maintain active involvement with key industry and advocacy organizations including CalTravel, Visit California, and local Community Benefit Districts (CBDs)

External Representation & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as one of the organization’s spokespeople regarding the city’s tourism-related environment and recovery efforts, especially with customers, partners, and elected officials
• Participate in external panels, public forums, and thought leadership opportunities as a representative of San Francisco Travel
• Actively meet with members and external stakeholders to communicate updates, the state of the city, and address concerns, and advocate for the industry

Strategic Plan Execution

• Support and guide implementation of San Francisco Travel’s strategic plan, collaborating with division heads to track progress, align objectives, and drive outcomes
• Ensure that strategic priorities are translated into actionable plans that deliver measurable results

Administrative Leadership

• Partner with CEO to support executive-level planning, reporting, and communications
• Manage divisional budgets and coordinate contributions to the organization’s Strategic Business Plan
• Provide administrative and operational oversight to ensure effective execution of day-to-day priorities and organizational systems
• Directly supervise staff in the Human Resources, Membership, and Public Policy departments
• Oversee project teams, temporary staff, and interns as needed
• Other related duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 8–10+ years of experience in leadership roles with significant operational and strategic responsibility
• Experience working with or for boards of directors, foundations, or governance bodies required
• Previous engagement with public policy, advocacy, or government relations in San Francisco or a comparable city highly preferred
• Prior involvement with industry associations such as CalTravel, Visit California, and local CBDs a strong plus

Personal Attributes

• Highly strategic and analytical, with demonstrated operational and organizational leadership
• Confident and charismatic public speaker with strong presence in executive and public settings
• Collaborative and diplomatic, with strong relationship-building skills across diverse audiences
• Politically astute and deeply knowledgeable about the San Francisco civic and governmental landscape
• Detail-oriented, resourceful, and capable of managing multiple high-impact projects simultaneously
• Comfortable providing counsel and feedback to senior leaders and staff at all levels

Skills and Abilities

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Strong public speaking and presentation skills, including experience with media and external stakeholders
• Budgeting, planning, and analytical capabilities, with comfort managing sensitive and complex issues
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Compensation

• Salary Range: $215,000–$250,000 base compensation annually
• Additional opportunity for annual incentive compensation based on performance and organizational results

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work week may occasionally exceed 37.5 hours. Must be available to periodically work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays as needed
• Domestic and some international travel may be required
• Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds when supporting events or meeting set up

Work Environment

San Francisco Travel’s headquarters is located in the heart of the financial district boasting 360° views of the city. The work environment is fast-pasted, dynamic, as well as fun and rewarding. As the official Destination Marketing Organization, employees truly feel part of the city, taking care in their work, knowing it is contributing to the economic development of San Francisco.

While promoting one of the greatest cities in the world, we have plenty more to offer

• Generous vacation policy. You’ll get more than the typical 10 days.
• San Francisco Travel is in the office four days a week with the option of one work from home day per week.
• Aside from all the national holidays that San Francisco Travel observes, you get a day off for your birthday that you can use any time of the year.
• You get a pension. We will contribute and help you prepare for your future.
• Premium healthcare plans.
• Cell phone credit. We’ll subsidize the cost of your phone plan.
• Monthly commuter allowance.

Why Join Us

San Francisco Travel Association offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development. As part of our team, you will play a key role in promoting San Francisco and supporting the tourism industry in one of the world’s most vibrant cities.

If you think you are the right candidate for this position, please email us the following as attachments

1. Cover letter (no more than a page, telling us why you’re the right person for this role)
2. Detailed resume of your relevant experience – note that a resume sent without a creative and functionally informative cover letter will only minimally be considered.
3. Future income requirements and/or expectations.

Send to the following email address: [email protected]

San Francisco Travel Association is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.