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Chief of Staff to the General Secretary, LWF

Place of assignment: Geneva, Switzerland

Starting date: 1 September 2026

Contract period: initial contract of 5 years, renewable once

Work time: 100 %

Average travel days per year: 7 to 19 days per year

Closing dates for applications: 6 April 2026

Organizational Context

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a communion of 154 churches in 99 countries that collaborate on matters of theology, Christian unity, holistic mission, humanitarian and development aid. The Communion Office (CO) is the headquarters of the LWF.

The Office of the General Secretary (OGS) in the CO is responsible for managing and nurturing relationships and ensuring the smooth running of the Communion Office as it fulfils the Strategy of the LWF. It also takes responsibility for the development of the LWF strategy and for overall planning, coordination, and support.

Purpose

The OGS has a dual mandate:

Relationships

Nurturing communion relationships with and among LWF member churches;

Promoting Christian unity and ecumenical relations through dialogue and shared witness;

Promoting strategic international partnerships.

Coordination and support

Coordinating development of the LWF strategy as well as development of annual workplans; coordinating governance processes;

Ensuring robust financial, human resources, communication, and IT systems and work; upholding institutional integrity through compliance, overall policies and accountability mechanisms; maintaining the institutional memory and archives.

Reporting directly to the General Secretary (GS), the Chief of Staff (CS) operates with delegated authority to support the GS in focusing on high-level strategic priorities, including long-term financial sustainability and strategic financial development, organizational culture and strategic communication, while ensuring the efficient day to day functioning of the OGS.

Serving as a trusted advisor and integrator, the CS leads and coordinates the planning, development and implementation of central processes, platforms and services across core support functions (communication, finance, human resources, PMER, information technology, support to governing bodies, office management).

Working closely with the Head of Finance, the CS is responsible for the overall presentation of LWF budget to governance and funding partners, and for the development of financial strategy, tools and systems that support organizational effectiveness and sustainability.

The CS supports the General Secretary in working with governance. S/he maintains close relations with funding partners and key external stakeholders.

As a team leader, the CS fosters collaboration, coherence, and professional growth, ensuring that program planning aligns with the LWF strategy and that central support functions deliver high quality services.

The CS is a member of the LWF Communion Office Leadership Team (COLT).

Required Qualifications

· University degree in management, public administration, finance, organizational leadership or equivalent qualification.

· Expertise in strategic planning, finance and budgeting.

· High proficiency in office productivity tools, digital collaboration platforms, and remote work tools.

· Broad knowledge and understanding of the LWF, its governance structures, member churches, related agencies, and a commitment to the Lutheran faith tradition.

· Fluency in English. Working knowledge of German, French, or Spanish is an asset.

· A member church endorsement is required for this position.

Additional Study and Experience

· Extensive and successful senior-level leadership experience (7+ years) involving overall planning, management and change management, preferably in a church or church related organization.

· Proven ability to navigate complex intercultural environments and foster collaborative leadership.

LWF Core Skills

Analytical thinking - Level expert

Initiative – Level advanced

Leadership - Level expert

Achieving results - Level expert

Accountability - Level expert

Working effectively with others - Level expert

Required Skills

People management - Level advanced

Facilitation / Negotiation - Level expert

Finance management - Level advanced

Communication - Level advanced

Stakeholder management - Level expert

Program management - Level advanced

Change management- Level expert

Position Environment and Dimensions

The CO in Geneva has around 60 staff. There are 23 staff in the OGS (18 in Geneva), of whom 15 are in the Coordination and Support units reporting to the Chief of Staff.

The global total budget of the LWF was more than EUR 130 million in 2026.

The CO has multiple stakeholders and works with multiple currencies.

Being at the heart of the organizational functioning, the incumbent is instrumental in liaising with the General Secretary and other members of the leadership team, governance and key organization-related stakeholders and donors.

The CS is a voting member of the Communion Office Leadership Team (COLT), a non-voting member of the Endowment Fund Board. S-he is also the COLT representative in the LWF Finance Committee together with the Head of Finance who is a member of extended leadership team.

Internally, mainly interacts with the General Secretary, the Directors and COLT members, and OGS Coordination and Support staff.

Externally, mainly interacts with LWF governing bodies, member churches, donors and related agencies, auditors, banks, landlord of Octagon, legal advisers, State authorities and other LWF service providers.

Main duties

Strategic support to the General Secretary

Ensure alignment between strategic direction and internal implementation by echoing and reinforcing the priorities set by the General Secretary across the organization;

Ensure effective internal communication across departments and teams, supporting clarity, transparency, and shared direction;

Support strategic foresight by helping to identify long-term trends and shifts, as well as organizational dynamics, that may impact the Communion Office or wider LWF context;

Provide together with other members of the Communion Office Leadership Team strategic counsel to the General Secretary on institutional priorities, governance, and organizational dynamics.

Strategic and operational leadership

Coordinate core central functions, finance, human resources, communication, IT, planning and monitoring, governance support, and office management (including archives) to ensure coherence, quality, and alignment with the LWF Strategy;

Ensure that systems, policies, and services are responsive to the needs of the Communion Office, support excellence in delivery and ensure the integrity of LWF operations;

Promote stewardship, subsidiarity, and appropriate delegation in operational management and resource use;

Oversee institutional risk management frameworks and coordinate internal preparedness and response.

Governance

Support the General Secretary in preparing and delivering governance processes, including Council, Executive Committee, Finance Committee, and the Endowment Fund.

Offer support for the preparation of documentation, reports, and financial briefings for governance bodies, ensuring consistency, quality, and strategic clarity.

Build effective working relationships with key governance actors.

Finance and Stakeholder Management

Support efforts to secure sustainable, diversified funding for the LWF by overseeing organizational budgeting, fundraising, financial systems and reporting;

Maintain and strengthen strategic relationships with key stakeholders in member churches, related organizations, and funding partners.

Quality Assurance and Accountability

Ensure that compliance frameworks, internal controls, and legal obligations are upheld across all central functions;

Oversee compliance and implementation of the LWF Staff Code of Conduct and related organizational policies;

Lead the development and maintenance of institutional tools and platforms for strategic planning, reporting, and risk management;

Ensure timely and high-quality submission of reports and audits in collaboration with PMER and finance team.

People and Team Management

Supervise a team of senior team leaders and ensure collaborative coordination across units;

Foster a healthy, inclusive, and mission-driven work environment grounded in mutual accountability and professional growth;

Lead change management processes, guiding staff through institutional transitions and ensuring continuity of purpose.

Special duties: Any other duties may be assigned by the General Secretary.

Major challenges: Working in a rapidly changing global context, the Chief of Staff must balance strategic focus with operational agility. Adapting to decentralized work, funding shifts, and evolving demands, the position holder must foster resilience, shared accountability, and a strong institutional core. The Communion Office is an intercultural environment which requires high sensitivity from the CS when dealing with cultural differences.

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