Chief of Staff (School of Nursing Office of the Dean)

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first research university and home to nine world-class academic divisions working together as one university.

This role serves as counsel and senior advisor to the dean and is focused on strategy and outcomes. Working closely alongside senior leadership of the school, the role helps execute and communicate the vision of the dean and maintains key relationships to influence outcomes critical to the school’s success.

The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is seeking a Chief of Staff (COS) who will provide strategic thought partnership to the dean’s vision, including but not limited to creating structure and process; cohesion and alignment; and overseeing the implementation of priorities as needed. This role, which reports directly to the dean, requires strong organizational, operational and management skills, including strategic planning, writing, project management, coordination of groups, and implementation/evaluation.

Direct reports include Director of Experience Design, Project Specialist, and Executive Assistant.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Oversee and support the execution of strategic planning, projects, and initiatives.
• Ensure alignment between senior leadership, departments, and organizational objectives.
• Assist in setting long-term goals and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Leadership & Team Management

• Support the executive team with operational and strategic leadership.
• Manage internal communications across departments to ensure alignment and effective decision-making.
• Act as a liaison between departments, executives, and key stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional teams and projects as needed.
• Oversee recruitment, hiring and onboarding of senior administrative leadership for dean.
• Represent the dean as requested.

Budget and Administration

• Oversee budget planning and management for Office of the Dean and associated discretionary accounts.
• Ensure efficient management of processes supporting the Dean and Dean’s Office.
• Oversee administrative needs of the Dean including scheduling, travel, and record-keeping.
• Support the Dean in completing necessary school and University processes like performance evaluations, contracts, and compliance activities.

Operations & Process Optimization

• Streamline operational workflows and improving organizational efficiency.
• Oversee and improving internal processes to enhance productivity.
• Manage key organizational processes (e.g., goal setting, reporting, etc.).
• Support and/or oversee cross-functional and/or school-wide reporting and evaluation.
• Support short- and long-term school-wide, cross-functional, functional, Dean’s office, and Dean’s goal setting.
• Oversee faculty Appointments and Promotion processes for all ranked faculty.

Executive Support & Advisory

• Act as a trusted advisor and provide direct support to the Dean and other senior executives in long-term planning, daily operations, and change management.
• Oversee management and prioritization of the Dean’s schedule, meetings, and engagements.
• Plan, execute, and oversee key collaborative, cross-functional efforts and decision-making through the Senior Planning Group (SPG) and Dean’s Cabinet including regular meetings.
• Provide advisory support and contingency management to functional teams, as needed (i.e. leading teams during absences, leaves, and vacancies).

Communications & Stakeholder Management

• Manage internal and external communications on behalf of the Dean and leadership team.
• Handle sensitive or confidential information with discretion.
• Facilitate relationships with key stakeholders, both internal (teams, departments) and external (partners, NAB members, etc.).
• Coordinate, prepare and support Dean’s communications and remarks, Dean’s Office communications, and other school-wide communications.
• Coordinate with DAR office to ensure Dean effectively executes development activities.
• Ensure the Dean is prepared and appropriately briefed for meetings and events.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute key external stakeholder engagements like senior faculty hiring, high-profile visitors, and Dean-initiated faculty lectures.
• Oversee the design, planning, execution, and support of Dean’s and Dean’s office events that foster an inclusive and welcoming environment to create community building and a positive work culture.

Project Management & Special Initiatives

• Lead and/or oversee critical projects or special initiatives.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Identify and address project roadblocks, resource needs, and timelines.
• Support the development, structure, and management of new initiatives, as needed.
• Plan, execute, support, and/or oversee the development of cross-functional, school-wide strategies and critical special projects.

Change Management & Organizational Development

• Support change management efforts within the organization.
• Help to drive organizational culture and employee engagement.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Support and oversee crisis management, as needed.
• Provide counsel to the dean and senior leadership regarding issue management, crisis communications and stakeholder relations.
• Identify risks and ensuring proper mitigation strategies are in place.
• Problem solve and escalate issues to Dean as needed, coming prepared with solutions and suggestions.
• Ensure adherence to policies, regulations, and best practices.
• Monitor key compliance metrics across the organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• At least five to seven years of relevant and progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success working directly with executive leadership in a strategic, advisory capacity.
• Proven ability to lead or support organization-wide strategic planning, goal setting, and evaluation processes.
• Experience working in or across wide-ranging or cross-functional areas (HR, Academic Affairs, Finance, Marketing, Development, etc.) and aligning diverse stakeholders toward shared objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional projects from conception through implementation, ensuring timely delivery within scope and budget.
• Exceptional ability to identify, analyze, and resolve complex, multi-faceted organizational challenges using sound judgment and data-informed approaches.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare executive-level materials, facilitate high-level meetings, and influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting organizational change initiatives, operational redesign, and culture-building efforts.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, manage competing priorities under pressure, and maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism, and integrity.
• Excels at building and maintaining strong networks and professional relationships (superiors, subordinates and peers) and influencing others to achieve outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and mature judgment, maintain confidence, and operate with discreet, tactful, and professional behavior.
• Strong cultural, mindset, value, and interpersonal working styles fit.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or similarly complex organizations.
• Related Graduate Degree.