Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Chief of staff
- See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff
A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing an executive's policy agenda. Chiefs of staff typically serve executives or heads of governmental agencies and oversee the daily flow of work in a particular office.
The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by administration or agency. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):[1]
- Control access to the executive and manage the executive's calendar;
- Monitor the flow of information to the executive on policy issues;
- Oversee executive Cabinet and staff; and
- Manage and communicate the executive's policy agenda to the other lawmakers and the public.
In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that, in a state setting, a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."[1]
Footnotes
| |||||||
