Chief of Staff

Columbus State University is accepting applications for its Chief of Staff position. As a member of the President's executive leadership team (ELT), the Chief of Staff (COS) serves as an integrator and harmonizer across and among the university community. This position handles policy, public relations, and matters of institutional importance on behalf of the President. The COS provides operational leadership and supervision for high priority university projects, manages decision-making processes, and ensures coordinated implementation of high-level decisions. As a key advisor, the COS will help prioritize the President's long-range schedule and facilitate the transformation of the President's goals into plans of action.

The complexity of this position requires a servant leader that is creative, engaging and diplomatic. The selected candidate must possess the ability to build consensus and collaborate with internal and external constituents. The ideal candidate must be able to create a balance between institutional strategy and other emerging priorities. This position requires exceptional people, project management, and verbal and written communication skills, as well as the ability to work effectively with a group of diverse, highly motivated peers. This position is also responsible for providing leadership to the Leadership Institute and the Office of External Relations.

Special Applicant Instructions:

Candidate application review will commence on November 2, 2020 and will continue until the position has been filled. All applications and required documents must be submitted using Columbus State University’s online employment site and a complete packet must be submitted for full consideration.

Significant Duties and Responsibilities:

Direct Support to the President

• Directs the operation of the Office of the President while continuously interfacing with the ELT to ensure that key issues are proactively addressed.

• Assesses executive staff issues, and participates in professional development and succession planning for ELT members and senior leaders.

• Serves as the President’s liaison to various committees, constituent groups, and task forces across the university and externally as needed.

• Serves as the President's primary liaison with University, government, and/or community leadership on strategic and operational matters pertaining to the specific area of institutional interest.

• Assists with strategic management of the President’s time by prioritizing short- and medium-term obligations and commitments, long-term travel, external engagements, and other requests to determine best use.

• In collaboration with the Senior Director of Administrative Services, monitors information flow in the President’s office to ensure the President is involved in projects or is informed when decisions are required at his/her level.

• Assesses regular inquiries from internal and external constituents directed at the President and liaises with the appropriate persons to ensure issues are addressed appropriately and timely.

• Plans and monitors budgets and financial matters in the Office of the President.

• Collaborates with the VP for University Advancement and Executive Director for External Relations to ensure strategic and balanced use of the President’s time for events, community engagement, and public appearances.

• Responds to routine inquiries as needed or as delegated by the President.

Managing and Aligning Operational Initiatives

• Creates and leads, as needed, systems and processes that further operationalize the President’s focus on inclusivity.

• Helps drive high level decision-making by overseeing or acting as the President’s representative for presidentially chartered, cross-functional and university-wide initiatives such as task forces and working groups, to include ensuring inclusive representation on such projects; timelines are met; and decision-quality data and recommendations are presented to the President in a clear and concise manner.

• Supports a dynamic and successful senior leadership team, ensuring alignment and coordination among leaders in support of the University’s goals and objectives.

• Ensures coordinated and high-quality meeting preparation and presentation development by members of the ELT.

• In collaboration with members of the ELT, coordinates and provides guidance on crisis management efforts for the University and the President’s office.

• Manages ELT meetings and coordinates agendas, translating discussions, plans and initiatives into timelines and clearly identifiable and accountable action items.

• Works cross-functionally within and throughout the organization to develop partnerships and identify opportunities for collaboration to proactively increase organizational effectiveness.

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (Master’s degree is preferred).
• 10 years’ higher education or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Experience in program and/or project management with significant management responsibilities.
• Experience supporting senior level executives and managing complex and sensitive initiatives.
• Experience leading and managing high functioning teams. 

Required Documents to Attach:

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application
• CV/Resume

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Excellent people leadership, project management, and verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to work effectively with a group of highly motivated peers where debates are expected and consensus is rare, but collegial and mutually respectful attitudes & behaviors are essential

• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all levels

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively work with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse community

• Knowledge and understanding of institutional policies and procedures and the regulatory environment

• Knowledge of higher education organizational culture, policies and processes

• Knowledge of government affairs and legislative strategy development and execution

• Strategic planning skills

• Knowledge of fundraising programs, methods, and techniques

• Knowledge of the goals, objectives, structure and operations of a public university

• Ability to prioritize needs and demands

• Ability to make administrative/procedural decisions and sound judgments

• Ability to investigate and analyze information and draw conclusions

• Ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects

• Ability to analyze and solve complex problems

• Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures

• Employee development and performance management skills

About Us:

Founded in 1958, Columbus State University, with an enrollment of over 8,000, is part of the University System of Georgia. CSU offers more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and is ranked among the top public regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report. It maintains two campuses: its original campus on 150 acres in midtown Columbus, and its RiverPark campus, nestled in the city’s historic downtown overlooking the Chattahoochee River. Columbus, Georgia, located 100 miles southwest of Atlanta and the second-largest city in Georgia, is recognized as a vibrant and contemporary cultural community, which is an asset to the university’s recruitment and retention success. With an annual economic impact exceeding $247 million, CSU is a top-10 employer in a community of 350,000 residents that is also home to world-class enterprises such as Aflac, Synovus, W.C. Bradley Company, TSYS and Ft. Benning, the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence headquarters. Learn more about the area and its diverse business, recreational and social amenities at visitcolumbusga.com.

The university’s 14 men’s and women’s NCAA Division II sports teams compete in the Peach Belt Conference, which adds to CSU’s vibrant campus life experience. The university serves the greater Columbus region through its abundant art, music and theatre offerings, as well as its nationally recognized outreach programs that span topics ranging from art and science appreciation to leadership development.

Guiding the university is its current seven-year strategic plan (www.columbusstate.edu/strategicplan) and the core values that undergird it and all that Columbus State is. CSU’s commitment to fostering greater inclusion and diversity, found among its core values, includes a focus on attaining “a level of diversity among faculty and staff that more closely reflects the student population.” This commitment is woven through the university’s student and employee recruitment, retention and mentoring programs.
For additional information, visit www.ColumbusState.edu .

Contact Information:

If you have any questions, please contact the Human Resources Office at 706-507-8920 or e-mail to hr@columbusstate.edu.

Conditions of Employment:

A successful criminal background check will be required as a condition of employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Columbus State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, Committed to Diversity in Hiring.