Chief of Staff

About SUNY Schenectady County Community College:

SUNY Schenectady County Community College (SUNY Schenectady) is one of the State University of New York's finest two-year colleges located in upstate New York's vibrant and growing Capital Region, with easy access to Boston, NYC, the Adirondack and Catskill Mountains, Montreal and scenic Hudson Valley, all of which are just a few hours away. SUNY Schenectady is a premier college that provides quality, comprehensive education for transfer, career, training and workforce development to a diverse population in a student centered environment. The College offers more than 50 transfer and career programs in science, aviation, culinary, music, and liberal arts, and serves more than 5,000 students. SUNY Schenectady County Community College offers an excellent benefit package including health care with dental and vision coverage, a choice of retirement systems, a deferred compensation benefit, an on-site child care program and Montessori School, professional development opportunities, and health club membership. We take pride in being an urban campus with a small town feel.

SUNY Schenectady is dedicated to cultivating an environment that celebrates diversity, prioritizes inclusion, and insists on equitable access. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to our vision and mission; we know that to foster a sense of belonging and preserve connectedness, we must create and maintain working and learning spaces that welcome, respect, and appreciate difference. SUNY Schenectady provides equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law. Applications from minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged. 

Job Description:

SUNY Schenectady County Community College's Office of the President is seeking a full-time Chief of Staff to join their team. Reporting to the College President, the Chief of Staff assumes responsibility for a broad range of support for the office, including oversight of all operations of the President's Office and ensuring effective implementation of initiatives on behalf of the President. The Chief of Staff works collaboratively with the executive leadership team of the College on high-level institutional matters to effectively manage personnel matters, facilities concerns, and fiscal affairs, assists in building community and governmental relations, chiefly in charge of institutional policy, and has primary responsibility to provide senior management support for the Board of Trustees. Reporting directly to the President, the Chief of Staff is an administrative staff (unrepresented), 12-month position.  

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Chief of Staff will assist the institution's Chief Executive Officer in managing the Office of the President and advancing the leadership agenda through coordinated planning with the senior management team, engagement in state and federal governmental relations and through various assignments and special projects. The Chief of Staff is a senior advisor to the President on significant and sensitive issues and plays a critical role in strategic planning, decision-making, and execution of decisions.

On behalf of the President, the Chief of Staff:

• Responsible for directing the operational, financial and administrative affairs of the Office of the President.  Works with the president to compose yearly office budget and allocations for President's Office and Board of Trustees.
• Provides leadership for external relations and university communications functions.
• Regularly resolves and carries out decision-making on behalf of the President.  
• Coordinates high level, high priority operations, projects, and initiatives across all areas of the institution.
• Assists the President with all legislative relations and policy initiatives.
• Acts as the President's liaison to the vice presidents, academic deans and other senior administrators to facilitate integrating work of senior leadership. Represents the President, as appropriate, with faculty and staff, students and other campus and off campus constituencies.
• Oversees the coordination of  campus events, overseeing Master Calendar and major campus events.
• Supervises the Executive Assistant to the President and Board of Trustees in the Office of the President.
• Interacts and Liaisons with local business, industry and community partners and stakeholders on institutional plans and priorities.
• Organizes meetings and activities for the institution's College Council, including assisting the President with the planning for meetings, formulating agendas and programs, as well as communications with individual Council members.
• Provides support for government and community relations and strategic communications and administration.
• In consultation with the communications office, oversees the President's strategic communications and the institution s coordinated marketing activities to both the internal and external community.
• Attends campus and special events on behalf of the President.
• Coordinates and assists with organizing and drafting annual reports to SUNY and other SUNY -related assignments.
• Coordinates and/or assists with special initiatives as determined by the President.
• Ensures that high priority projects are effectively and efficiently managed.
• Ensures follow-through on critical decisions by working closely with members of the senior staff of the division.
• Supports the President's work with SUNY and other governing boards and acts as an administrative liaison to governance committees as requested.
• Works strategically and cooperatively in a team environment; managing complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, mixing long term projects with urgent or immediate demands; manages confidential and sensitive information with integrity and caution; and develops and sustains strong working relationships with senior staff members who have different professional and personal styles.
• Relieves the President of administrative detail and advises the President on College operations, management and policy issues.
• Attends the College Senate meetings and stays apprised of new initiatives and policies. 
• Maintains the President's web page and college's Policy portal, posting of policies and shepherding the policy process for all the college's policies and procedures.
• Conducts periodic President's Office staff meetings, performance evaluations and keeping general college-wide information flowing as needed in office. 
• Drafts speeches and works with various offices across the college to ensure requests for president forms are completed and adequate information are submitted for any/all requests.
• Handles the nomination and submission process for honorary degrees.
• Tracks and manages President's initiatives and projects. 

Board of Trustees

• Coordinates all activities of the Board of Trustees.
• Coordinates new trustee orientation and resources for trustee development.
• Completes annual review of Bylaws.
• Develops Annual Calendar of tentative agenda items/activities.
• Reviews recommendations from division deans to insure compliance with policies, procedures and regulations.
• Coordinates institutional mailings to the members of the Board.
• Composes agenda, resolutions and recommendations and oversees the coordination and transmittal of materials requiring Board action and/or perusal.
• Works with College Attorney on matters requiring legal representation and/or interpretation.
• Attends monthly meetings and records actions and discussions of the Board.
• Coordinates special events and travel arrangements for members of the Board of Trustees.
• Composes correspondence communicating actions taken by the Board to both internal and external constituencies.
• Provides assistance to the members of the Board of Trustees as requested.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required;
• At least a minimum of five years of significant experience in higher education is required, preferably with a community college. However, similar experience in progressively more senior level administrative roles with responsibilities for supporting a President or Chief Executive [i.e., in a corporate or institutional setting] will also be considered.
• There must be proven experience building relationships with diverse individuals and groups; professional community networking, managing staff; and creating a welcoming and rewarding work environment.
• Excellent oral communication and writing skills are required. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master s degree preferred.

Special Information:

• VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Offers of employment will be conditional based on the successful completion of a background check and verification of official college transcripts.

Additional Information:

Salary: $85,000

Application Instructions:

Applications Due By: Applications accepted until position is filled.

Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Completed SUNY Schenectady Employment Application
• Diversity Statement: Please include a diversity statement that addresses your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and highlights how your prior experience will support your contributions to the goals outlined by pillar one of the current SUNY Schenectady Strategic Plan.
• References: Please provide three professional references which include name, title, and contact information

CAMPUS SAFETY REPORT
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the College's crime statistics for the past three years; and the availability regarding the College's current campus security policies. SUNY Schenectady County Community College's Annual Security Report is available here.

SUNY Schenectady is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United Stated and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.