Chief of Staff and Secretary of the College

Mount Holyoke College | Chief of Staff and Secretary of the College
South Hadley, Massachusetts

Mount Holyoke College seeks a skilled Chief of Staff and Secretary of the College (COS) to support the operations of the Office of the President, serve as a strategic partner to President Sonya Stephens, and be the bridge between the Board of Trustees and the College. Reporting directly to the President, the COS will partner closely with the Cabinet and campus constituents to move forward strategic priorities and special projects.

The Chief of Staff will oversee the administrative, operational, and financial affairs of the Office of the President with the expectation of an efficient and highly professional level of service. This includes the hiring and training of (currently two) office staff, directing their activities, supervising them, and assuring their professional development. The COS will collaborate closely with the vice presidents and play an integral role in staffing leadership meetings, developing and coordinating special projects, drafting briefings and agendas, and contributing to communications and preparing special correspondence on behalf of the President and Board.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will demonstrate a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. The successful candidate will demonstrate curiosity and insight, as well as initiative, in pursuing opportunities and in defining and solving organizational and managerial challenges.

A skillful written and verbal communicator and proactive problem solver, this person is strategic, thoughtful, and committed to advancing the vision of the President as well as advancing the work of the Board. This person excels at building trust and confidence with constituents through thoughtful decisions and follow-up. The ideal candidate will serve as a trusted sounding board and project leader and will play a critical role in advancing the mission of Mount Holyoke College.

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

• a bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree is preferred.
• at least five years of relevant experience in a complex, dynamic environment.
• demonstrated deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• strong interpersonal skills.
• the ability to operate proactively, effectively, tactfully, flexibly, and consistently in working with the President and all constituents.
• experience with, interest in, or an ability to learn Rules of Order, serving as a resource to the Board Chair, Vice Chair(s), Nominating and Governance Chair, and Committee Chairs.
• the ability to maintain strict confidentiality with sensitive information and personnel matters.

To view the full position description please visit this website.

Contact

Amy Sugin, Charlotte Harris, and Holly Bogo of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search. To express your interest in this role please submit your materials here. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Mount Holyoke College is a women’s college that is gender diverse. The College is committed to providing equal access and opportunity in employment and education to all employees and students. In compliance with state and federal law, Mount Holyoke College does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, genetic information, sex, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, ancestry, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local law. The College does not discriminate on the basis of gender in the recruitment and admission of students to its graduate program.