Chief of Staff - Virginia Military Institute

Virginia Military Institute - Lexington, VA

Full-time - Senior

Lexington, VA

Educational Services

About the position

The Chief of Staff (CoS) at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) serves as a key advisor and strategic partner to the Superintendent and institute executives. This role involves facilitating decision-making, overseeing the implementation of the strategic plan, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. The CoS acts as a trusted counsel, managing communications and complex initiatives while executing strategic-level decisions to support the institute's priorities. This in-person position requires the incumbent to live on post or in the nearby community and often involves a workweek longer than 40 hours, including evening and weekend functions.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a trusted partner to the Superintendent, providing feedback and recommendations on strategy and high-priority initiatives.
• Works closely with the leadership team to shape institutional goals and long-term planning.
• Synthesizes complex information into concise reports and presentations for leadership.
• Oversees the Institute's strategic plan and high-impact projects, ensuring alignment with priorities.
• Ensures timely and successful completion of strategic initiatives, assessing progress against KPIs.
• Leads cross-functional action plans and manages resources to meet project objectives.
• Serves as a representative of the Superintendent, interacting with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Engages with external agencies to advocate for the institution's goals and funding opportunities.
• Collaborates with leadership to ensure communication consistency and promote strategic priorities.
• Directs day-to-day operational planning and execution, aligning tasks with strategic priorities.
• Supervises strategic planning and the management of long-term goals.
• Coordinates internal communication between executives and key departments.
• Provides supervisory responsibilities for the Director of Human Resources and strategic planning officer.
• Oversees hiring, training, and development of teams to support divisional objectives.
• Promotes a positive work environment and strong employee engagement practices.
• Coordinates with the Communications and Marketing director to increase visibility around projects and achievements.
• Provides leadership on policy issues and external messaging related to college initiatives.
• Collaborates with the Deputy Superintendent of Finance to oversee annual division budgets and monitor expenditures.
• Provides guidance on budgetary evaluations related to strategic goals.
• Identifies new business opportunities and aligns financial resources with objectives.
• Facilitates development and review of institutional policies and ensures compliance with laws and regulations.
• Partners with staff to identify and mitigate risks associated with strategy and operations.
• Conducts research to advise on policy development and institutional goals.
• Provides support to the Board of Visitors on matters related to regulations and policies.

Requirements

• Master's degree with 10+ years of experience, including at least 5 years in a strategic role.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, project management, and budgeting skills.

Nice-to-haves

• VMI alumnus.
• Doctoral degree or other terminal degree in higher education leadership, management, public administration, or related field.
• Experience in higher education, military (e.g., O-6), or government (e.g., GS-15 or SES).

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.