Chief of Staff, Office of the Vice Chancellor for People, Culture and Belonging

This role will triage critical issues, establish and refine operational structures, drive strategic initiatives into action, integrate efforts across leadership teams, and serve as a trusted advisor and proxy for the Vice Chancellor when necessary. The ideal candidate thrives in complexity, executes with precision, and ensures accountability for divisional priorities while continuously evaluating effectiveness through measurable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Goalkeeper: Issue Management & Prioritization

• Triage challenges and opportunities, bringing only the most pertinent issues to the Vice Chancellor with succinct, actionable insights.
• Anticipate and proactively address potential roadblocks, ensuring the Vice Chancellor’s time is focused on the highest-value priorities.

2. Operator: Structure, Processes & Accountability

• Establish and refine structures and processes to streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and ensure alignment with timelines, budgets, and the division’s mission.
• Oversee business operations, including budgeting, staffing, and financial management, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance.
• Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and institutional reporting requirements, optimizing transparency and strategic decision-making.

3. Implementer: Strategy Execution & Impact

• Drive strategic initiatives from concept to execution, holding teams accountable for delivery and ensuring measurable impact.
• Monitor key initiatives, tracking success metrics and ensuring timely, high-quality execution.
• Champion a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, encouraging creative problem-solving and bold action.

Lead large-scale, cross-functional projects and ensure alignment with institutional goals.

4. Integrator: Cross-Functional Alignment & Collaboration

• Foster trust and engagement across PCB leadership and departments, ensuring alignment of divisional initiatives with institutional priorities.
• Act as the critical bridge between leaders, breaking down silos and enhancing communication across teams.
• Build and maintain relationships with trustees, university leadership, and external stakeholders, reinforcing PCB’s strategic influence.

5. Proxy: Confident Decision-Making in the Vice Chancellor’s Absence

• Serve as a trusted extension of the Vice Chancellor, making informed decisions and providing leadership in their absence.
• Represent the Vice Chancellor in high-level meetings, ensuring seamless continuity of leadership and decision-making.
• Maximize the Vice Chancellor’s effectiveness by anticipating needs, prioritizing engagements, and aligning initiatives with broader institutional goals.

6. Advisor: Strategic Thought Partner & Insight Provider

• Serve as a trusted confidant and thought partner, offering candid feedback, innovative solutions, and strategic insights.
• Provide data-driven recommendations that enhance decision-making and advance divisional priorities.
• Lead the preparation of executive presentations, briefings, and reports for the Vice Chancellor’s engagements, including Board of Trust meetings and institutional events.

7. Outstanding Project Management & Creative Development Leadership

• Lead the creative development process, ensuring alignment with divisional and institutional messaging.
• Drive multiple teams and stakeholders across large-scale, complex projects to meet deadlines and quality standards.
• Ensure that creative teams are supported with clear direction, resources, and structured workflows.
• Balance operational efficiency with innovation, storytelling, and impact-driven execution.

Supervisory Relationships

This position has supervisory responsibilities over the Strategic Innovation and Operations team and reports directly to the Vice Chancellor for People, Culture, and Belonging.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (required); Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years in a strategic leadership role, preferably within a complex organization.
• Proven ability to lead multiple teams on large-scale, high-priority projects while effectively managing competing priorities.
• Exceptional project management skills, ensuring data driven outcomes and seamless execution in fast-paced environments.
• Strategic, analytical, and execution-driven mindset, with a passion for driving results.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and experience with data visualization tools preferred.