Strategic Initiatives Specialist

Location: Remote (Anywhere in the United States)

Type: Full time

Annual Salary: $65,000-$85,000 based on experience

Reports to: President and CEO

Total Compensation Package:

• 5% defined contribution to 401k after one year (not a match)

• $3,000 annual healthcare cost reimbursement (tax-free)

• Five weeks PTO plus 11 paid holidays

• Overtime compensation

• Home office and technology reimbursement

• Merit-based bonus opportunities

Schedule: Set schedule of 40 hours a week, regular business hours Monday-Friday with some evening work offered as needed.

Who We Are

At Civitas Strategies, we champion the forgotten backbone of our communities – micro and very small businesses that are vital to families but often lack professional support to reach their potential. For 15 years, we've focused on enterprises like child care providers, offering them free, transformative support using public and philanthropic funding. Our innovative approaches have impacted tens of thousands of organizations across 34+ states, proving that with the right partner, these essential businesses can thrive. Recent clients include The Burke Foundation in New Jersey, the State of Texas, the State of Georgia, the Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST) in New Mexico, the Community Development Finance Authority in New Hampshire, and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) in New York.

The Opportunity

We're seeking a Strategic Initiatives Specialist to drive meaningful impact by helping turn strategy into execution at a mission-driven firm supporting small businesses. This role is ideal for a systems-minded, emotionally intelligent team player who thrives on bringing order to complexity and making progress behind the scenes. We’re open to candidates who bring strong organizational, coordination, and communication skills—even if you haven’t held a formal leadership title. If you've ever been the one who kept projects on track, connected the dots between teams, or quietly fixed what was slipping through the cracks, this role is built for you. Experience in nonprofit operations, education, public sector consulting, small business support, or fast-moving internal teams will translate well here—especially if you’ve worked directly with leaders or across functions to keep things aligned.

Success in your first 6 months might look like:

You’re tracking key priorities, surfacing blockers before they escalate, coordinating across teams, and improving how internal work gets done—all while developing a strong understanding of our mission, systems, and business model. By helping turn strategic ideas into actionable plans, you’ll play a vital role in advancing the President and CEO’s vision—keeping internal initiatives aligned, on track, and connected to our broader impact. Working closely with a supportive team and senior leaders, you’ll also deepen your understanding of how a business operates—and how your work contributes to building resilient communities through small business success and sustainable economic growth.

What You'll Do

• Support the President & CEO by protecting focus and helping key ideas become real

• Coordinate and track execution across teams and internal priorities

• Identify workflow and progress blockers, clarify next steps, and support accountability

• Help facilitate internal communication and alignment

• Support performance tracking and operational follow-through

• Lead small-to-mid-size projects; support large-scale initiatives

• Document and improve internal processes with input from the team

What We’re Looking For

Required:

• 3–6 years in project coordination, internal operations, or strategic support

• Excellent follow-through, clarity in communication, and calm under pressure

• Strong organizational skills with a systems mindset

• High emotional intelligence and interpersonal judgment

• Business-aware—or eager to become so. You want to understand how decisions impact organizational health

• Eager to understand before improving—curious about how things work, and motivated to strengthen systems once you’ve learned the why

• Proficient in systems such as Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Office, Monday.com, Harvest, and Adobe

• Takes initiative without overstepping—knows when to act, when to check in

  Preferred:

• Experience supporting a CEO, founder, or executive

• Familiarity with small businesses, nonprofits, or coaching/consulting models

• Background in internal culture, change management, or performance systems

You Might Be a Fit If You...

• Are often the person who “keeps it all together”

• See problems and quietly start fixing them—even if they’re not “yours”

• Like to understand how a business works and how your work makes an impact

• Follow through without being asked twice

• Don’t need a big title—you’d rather help others shine

• Thrive on order, clarity, and shared priorities

• Want to grow into a leadership support or Chief of Staff-style role

• Enjoy improving systems—but only after you’ve taken time to understand why they exist

How We Work Together

We move fast, prioritize alignment, and believe in mutual respect across all levels. Insight is welcome—especially when paired with timing, context, and a clear understanding of the business. Creativity is valued here, but it's most impactful when built on a foundation of understanding. If you’re someone who learns before you lead, and builds within a shared vision, you’ll thrive here.

Why Join Us

Be part of a team where your execution, curiosity, and alignment shape the future of small business support:

• Leadership Development – Work closely with senior leaders and gain firsthand insight into how mission-driven businesses operate

• Merit-Based Growth – Your initiative and follow-through open doors to greater responsibility and long-term advancement

• Collaborative Innovation – Partner across departments to improve systems, streamline communication, and drive progress

• Direct Impact – See how your behind-the-scenes leadership helps local businesses grow, adapt, and thrive

To Apply

To apply, please complete our job application form. The application will ask you to:

• Provide basic contact and background information

• Answer a brief questionnaire designed to help us understand your experience and approach

• Upload your resume and two writing samples that showcase your communication skills

Civitas Strategies is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by relevant national and state law.