Chief of Staff for Student Life

$185,000 - $210,000/Yr

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge, MA

Full-time - Mid Level

Cambridge, MA

Educational Services

About the position

The Chief of Staff for Student Life will play a pivotal role in supporting the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Student Life at MIT. This position is designed for an individual who can provide high-level support and advice to the VC while working closely with the senior leadership team to develop and reinforce organizational rhythms that drive the division's success in programming and services. The Chief of Staff will serve as an advisor in executive-level decision-making, facilitate divisional priorities, promote a positive culture for both students and staff, and act as a conduit for information flow within the division and beyond. In this role, the Chief of Staff will be responsible for overseeing office operations, managing executive-level correspondence and reports, and ensuring effective stewardship of division-wide communication. The position will also involve project management, policy development, and committee leadership. The Chief of Staff will coordinate the preparation, agendas, and logistics for meetings, committees, and events, ensuring that the VC's strategic priorities are advanced effectively. This role requires a proactive approach to outreach, engaging with key stakeholders on behalf of the VC, including institutional colleagues, faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and community members. The Chief of Staff will undertake special projects as assigned, requiring a high degree of initiative, discretion, and good judgment, particularly when handling complex and sensitive information. The ideal candidate will have a strong appreciation for MIT's culture and values, and the ability to influence others while making complex information comprehensible and compelling for a diverse audience. This position is critical in strategizing, raising issues, facilitating decisions, and leading within a complex and fast-paced educational environment, while building strong relationships with members of diverse constituencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level support and advice to the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Student Life.
• Work closely with the senior leadership team to develop and reinforce organizational rhythms.
• Serve as an advisor in executive-level decision-making.
• Facilitate divisional priorities and promote a positive culture for students and staff.
• Act as a conduit for information flow within the division and to key stakeholders.
• Oversee office operations and manage executive-level correspondence and reports.
• Ensure effective stewardship of division-wide communication.
• Manage project management, policy development, and committee leadership.
• Coordinate preparation, agendas, and logistics for meetings, committees, and events.
• Advance the VC's strategic priorities and undertake special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• At least six years' experience in higher education, communications, project management, or a related area.
• Excellent organizational, communication, collaboration, writing, editing, and project management skills.
• Track record of collaboration in achieving objectives.
• Political acumen and ability to gauge engagement of different constituencies.
• Initiative, discretion, and good judgment with complex confidential/sensitive information.
• Ability to influence others and make complex information comprehensible for a wide range of readers.
• Ability to write in many styles depending on audience, content, and platform.
• Strategic thinking and ability to raise issues, facilitate decisions, and lead in a complex educational environment.
• Ability to build strong relationships with members of diverse constituencies.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree preferred.

Benefits

• Salary range: $185,000 - $210,000 depending on relevant experience and education.
• Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background check.