What Is a Chief of Party?

“Chief of Party” is one of the seven chief presidential roles, in which the U.S. president campaigns for political party members who have supported his policies and helps them get elected or appointed to office. At presidential term end, the president also may campaign for his own re-election.

Example behaviors of the president in his role as chief of party include choosing leading political party members to serve in the Cabinet and traveling to a specific location to speak at a rally for a party nominee to the U.S. Senate. Chief of party also refers to a person who provides overall management of large initiatives and projects. Serving as chief of party also means leading the technical direction of a project and providing management oversight for the project’s activities.