THE DEPARTMENT:

The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the University and is responsible for all operational and strategic aspects of the University, including student recruitment, retention, and graduation, academic policies and programs; state and non-state operating budgets; personnel policies and procedures; external outreach, collaboration and fund raising. Reporting directly to the President and serving as a member of the President’s Cabinet, the Chief of Staff and Vice President for Presidential Operations (Chief of Staff/VP) serves as a senior advisor who provides strategic counsel, executive leadership, and operational coordination in support of institutional priorities and presidential initiatives.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership and Cabinet Support:

• Serves as a key member of the President’s Cabinet and provides strategic counsel to the President on university priorities, policies, and organizational matters.
• Collaborates with Cabinet members and senior administrators to identify, advance, and implement institutional initiatives and presidential priorities.
• Acts independently within broad policy and organizational guidelines, exercising sound judgment on complex and sensitive matters.
• Identifies emerging campus and systemwide issues, researches implications, and develops recommendations for presidential consideration.
• Provides leadership and input on key university initiatives as directed by the President.

Presidential Liaison and Advisory Support:

• Serves as the primary liaison for the President’s Office with campus constituents, community stakeholders, and external partners.
• Represents the President at campus and external meetings and events, as appropriate.
• Advises the President on campus, CSU, legal, contractual, and community matters, including sensitive and high-impact issues.
• Reviews and provides input on contracts, agreements, and other matters presented on behalf of the President.
• Interacts with University Counsel and other partners on legal and policy issues and provides recommendations to the President as needed.
• Identifies and elevates potential problems, risks, or concerns affecting policies, procedures, personnel, and institutional operations.

Communications and Executive Operations:

• Develops high-level briefing materials, reports, presentations, correspondence, and other executive communications on behalf of the President.
• Reviews, edits, and tracks critical strategic communications and documents prepared for the President’s signature or review.
• Coordinates research, analysis, and evaluation to support presidential decision-making and executive action.
• Ensures the President is fully apprised of key issues, timelines, and implementation progress related to institutional priorities.
• Supports management of the varied requests, obligations, and administrative needs of the President’s Office.
• Coordinates the completion of required reports and time-sensitive deliverables to internal and external entities.
• Leads executive communications in close partnership with the director of executive communications to ensure speeches, remarks, and correspondence reflect the President’s voice.

Supervision and Administration:

• Provides leadership, direction, and oversight to staff and functional areas assigned to the President’s Office.
• Serves as the President’s Designee for NAGPRA/CalNAGPRA compliance working closely with the Director of Tribal Relations and NAGPRA coordinator.
• Supervises the campus Civil Rights program working closely with the AVP for Equity and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator and in collaboration with the CSU Office of Civil Rights.
• Supervises designated personnel and evaluates the work of administrative and support staff assigned to the office.
• Supports staffing, budget administration, office operations, and coordination of executive workflows within the President’s Office.
• Coordinates special events with University Events staff, coordinates CSU Trustee visits, and other executive-level activities requiring cross-campus collaboration.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Leads or supports sensitive investigations, dispute resolution efforts, and other special assignments as directed.
• Performs other job-related duties and special projects in support of the President and the university.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Driver License, Valid and in State - Required upon hire
• Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience in executive leadership, administration, strategic planning, policy development, or operations in a complex organization.
• Executive Support and Coordination: Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives, coordinating complex organizational priorities across multiple stakeholders and ability to maintain collaborative working relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Project and Priority Management: Demonstrated ability to lead projects, manage competing priorities, and drive follow-through in a fast-paced environment.
• Judgment, Discretion and Diplomacy: Demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, and diplomacy in handling confidential, sensitive, and politically nuanced matters.
• Executive Communications Skills: Demonstrated strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including preparation of executive correspondence, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Knowledge of Executive Operations and Higher Education Administration: Demonstrated knowledge of executive operations, higher education governance and policy, and administrative processes within a complex organizational environment.
• Problem Solving and Initiative: Demonstrated initiative, ownership, and strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to assess risk and recommend appropriate action.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in higher education, public administration, business administration, or related field.
• Experience working in higher education, the California State University system, or another large and complex public-sector organization, with demonstrated knowledge of and experience in a shared governance environment.
• Experience serving in a chief of staff, executive officer, cabinet-level support, or comparable senior leadership role.
• Experience advising executive leadership on policy, governance communications, and strategic initiatives.
• Experience managing budgets, supervising staff, and coordinating institutional projects with campus-wide impact.
• Experience managing sensitive, institutional risk and compliance matters.