Chief of Staff

Vanderbilt University - Nashville, TN

Full-time - Executive

Nashville, TN

Educational Services

About the position

The Chief of Staff serves as a key advisor and strategic partner to the Senior Counselor at Vanderbilt University, assisting in the execution of the Senior Counselor's portfolio and priorities. This role involves leading high-impact projects, developing cross-functional action plans, and ensuring stakeholders have the necessary resources to meet project objectives. The Chief of Staff is responsible for synthesizing complex information, monitoring initiatives, and driving results to inform future planning and work.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic counsel and trusted thought partner to the Senior Counselor.
• Act as a designee of the Senior Counselor, making high-level decisions and providing direction.
• Oversee and drive initiatives while representing the Senior Counselor's vision and strategy.
• Assess inquiries from outside stakeholders directed at the Senior Counselor and liaise with appropriate personnel.
• Monitor initiatives and strategic projects to ensure timely and successful completion.
• Identify measures of success for the Senior Counselor's portfolio and evaluate the impact of projects.
• Synthesize complex information into concise briefings and presentations for informed decision making.
• Hire, develop, and mentor staff to ensure success across reporting units.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
• A minimum of ten years of experience with five years in a strategic role is necessary.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including written and oral communications, are required.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently is required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook) is required.
• Evidence of exceptional judgment and decision-making skills is necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to handle high-level sensitive and confidential information is necessary.
• Ability to think strategically and manage multiple projects with changing priorities is necessary.
• Evidence of working with diverse constituencies in a confident manner is necessary.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current issues and challenges in higher education is necessary.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree is preferred.

Benefits

• Professional development opportunities
• Collaborative work environment
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Health and safety measures compliance