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Chief of Staff and External Affairs OfficerNew Jersey Economic Development Authority

  • not-remote
  • full-time
  • Salary
  • Trenton, NJ
Job Summary

Chief of Staff and External Affairs Officer

US-NJ-Trenton

Job ID: 2026-2231
Type: Regular Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: External Affairs
NJEDA

Overview

Job Summary

EDA Overview

  • Join the NJEDA and help lead New Jersey to sustainable economic growth, fostering equitable opportunities and vibrant communities. We offer hybrid work, a supportive culture, and robust benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and extensive wellness programs. Make a tangible impact and shape New Jersey's future with innovative economic development at NJEDA.

Job Overview

  • Serves as a senior executive partner to the CEO and Deputy CEO, driving NJEDA’s strategic direction, operational execution, and external engagement.
  • Leads the External Affairs vertical, overseeing Communications, Events and Marketing, and Government Affairs as well as International Innovation.
  • Acts as a central coordinator across the Executive Team, Governor’s Office, the Legislature, local government, and other key external stakeholders.
  • This role combines strategic leadership, executive management, and external relationship-building to ensure alignment between NJEDA’s mission, policy priorities, and public-facing activities. The ideal candidate is a trusted advisor to senior leadership, an effective organizational integrator, and a credible external representative with deep experience in public sector leadership, economic development, and government affairs.

$173,600 - $217,000

Note: The NJEDA currently offers a hybrid work schedule for up to 2 days of telecommute work from home. To participate, you will be required to have high speed home internet access and a manager's approval. This program does not supersede the "New Jersey First Act", which requires newly hired NJEDA employees to establish and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey.



Responsibilities

Duties

Daily Tasks and Responsibilities:

  • Serve as Chief of Staff to the CEO, ensuring effective execution of priorities, decision-making, and information flow across the Authority.
  • Provide strategic counsel to the CEO, Executive Team, and Board on organizational performance, policy initiatives, and external engagement.
  • Oversee External Affairs functions, ensuring alignment with NJEDA strategy and gubernatorial priorities.

Projects:

  • Serves as the central point of coordination across state agencies, the Governor’s Office, the Legislature, local governments, and external partners.
  • Direct the Authority’s intergovernmental affairs strategy, including legislative engagement, policy coordination, and outreach to federal, state, county, and municipal stakeholders to advance NJEDA priorities.
  • Oversee enterprise-level external initiatives spanning communications, public affairs, international engagement, and marketing, ensuring consistent execution and alignment with statewide economic policy objectives.
  • At the direction of the CEO, advance key and politically sensitive NJEDA priorities and initiatives across the NJEDA and external stakeholders.

Goals and Objectives:

  • Strengthen NJEDA’s role as a trusted partner to the Governor’s Office, Legislature, and sister agencies by proactively aligning Authority initiatives with administration priorities and legislative objectives.
  • Elevate NJEDA’s external presence and credibility through coordinated outreach, strategic messaging, and disciplined stakeholder engagement across government, industry, academia, and international partners.
  • Ensure seamless execution of executive priorities by translating strategic direction into actionable workplans, clear accountability, and measurable outcomes across divisions.

Collaboration and Cross-Divisional Interaction:

  • Serve as the primary integrator across NJEDA divisions, ensuring alignment between policy, programs, communications, marketing, and external engagement in support of Authority and administration priorities.
  • Act as NJEDA’s central point of coordination with the Governor’s Office, Legislature, state agencies, local governments, and federal partners, facilitating collaboration, resolving issues, and advancing shared objectives.
  • Partner closely with Executive Team members to translate strategic direction into coordinated action, while ensuring consistent messaging, stakeholder outreach, and disciplined execution across the organization.

Reporting Structure:

  • Reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serves as a senior member of the Executive Committee.
  • Provides executive oversight and strategic direction to the External Affairs vertical, including Communications, Events & Marketing, Government Affairs,
  • Exercises broad delegated authority to act on behalf of the CEO in external settings, operating with a high degree of autonomy and judgment in managing priorities, relationships, and sensitive matters.
  • Must complete annual self-assessment as required.
  • Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.


Qualifications

Skills and Qualifications

Technical Skills:

  • Demonstrated expertise in intergovernmental affairs, including legislative engagement, executive-branch coordination, and collaboration with state, county, municipal, federal, and international partners.
  • Deep understanding of economic development policy, public finance, governance structures, and the regulatory and political environments impacting statewide initiatives.
  • Proven ability to oversee and integrate communications, public affairs, data analytics, and policy functions to support executive decision-making and external strategy.

Soft Skills:

  • Exceptional executive judgment, discretion, and political acumen, with the ability to navigate complex, high-stakes environments and sensitive stakeholder relationships.
  • Superior written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to represent the Authority credibly with elected officials, senior government leaders, Board members, and external partners.
  • Highly organized, adaptable, and decisive leader capable of managing competing priorities, driving alignment, and maintaining momentum across multiple concurrent initiatives.

EDA Leadership Profile

  • Talent Management: Acquires, develops, and manages high-performing teams.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partners effectively across boundaries and functions.
  • Vision-Driven Results: Drives a clear vision and strategic thinking for achieving results.
  • Innovation and Change: Encourages new ideas, opportunities for change, and motivates team members.

Certifications:

  • N/A

Experience:

  • Minimum of 10+ years of progressively responsible professional experience, preferably in the public sector, with demonstrated leadership in government affairs, public policy, external relations, or executive management.
  • At least 5 years of senior-level management experience, including direct oversight of teams and responsibility for cross-functional or enterprise-wide initiatives.
  • Experience engaging with elected officials, executive leadership, boards, and diverse external stakeholders is required.
  • Advanced degree or industry specific certification may be substituted for 1 year of experience

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.

Software/Tools Proficiency:

  • Proficiency in GovNet.
  • NJEDA utilizes Microsoft as the core application platform and proficiency in the Microsoft

Additional Information

  • Minimal physical demands and ability to work out normal business hours
  • Travel expected when necessary for business operations

Certificates and Licenses Required

  • Staff are required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essentials duties of the position.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job description. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope, general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.

Your employment at NJEDA is voluntary and subject to termination by you or NJEDA at will, with or without cause, or with or without notice, at any time. Nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to conflict, eliminate or modify the employment-at-will status of NJEDA employees.

This position is considered exempt and is excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations, and other rights and protections afforded nonexempt workers under the FLSA.

NJEDA reserves the right to amend/revise this job description as necessary to meet current and changing business needs.

NJ SAME Program

In accordance with P.L. 2021, c. 465 and P.L. 2021, 466, the SAME program was established to enable New Jersey State agencies to hire, promote, retain, and advance qualified individuals whose physical or mental impairments impact their abilities to participate in the hiring and promotion process for non-competitive and unclassified titles within the State workforce.

The SAME program allows candidates, who identify as having a significant disability, to apply for non-competitive and unclassified positions through a fast track hiring process. This program uses a fast-track process that permits people who are eligible for the program to request that the State appointing authority schedule with them a good faith interview. For more information about the SAME program and the Fast Track Hiring program, please Click Here. If you have any questions, please email, or call the contact as indicated on the job vacancy announcement.

This posting open to eligible applicants regardless of SAME eligibility.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Position Requirements

  • Foreign degrees/transcripts must be evaluated by a reputable evaluation service at your own expense and must be submitted prior to a start date. If this cannot be provided within 21 days of an offer the offer will be rescinded.
  • Must comply with the “New Jersey First Act” which requires employees hired after September 1, 2011, to reside in New Jersey. Non-New Jersey resident employees must relocate to New Jersey within one year of their date of hire and provide proof of residency to Human Resources.
  • Must complete an Outside Activity Questionnaire (disclosure of outside office or employment) on an annual basis.
  • Must review the required NJ State Ethics Guidelines found on the state website.
  • Selected candidates must be authorized to work in the United States per the Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations. Note: The State of New Jersey does not provide sponsorship for citizenship to the United States.




Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

PI281638937