Chief of Staff

Chief of Staff
Whitman College

Compensation:

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman's vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO) .

POSITION PURPOSE

The Chief of Staff is a strategic partner to the President, providing oversight and support on institutional planning, communication, policy development, community relations and problem resolution. Under the supervision of the President, the Chief of Staff facilitates the business of the Board of Trustees to ensure the efficient functioning of the Board and to promote cooperative and supportive relations among trustees, college officers, faculty, staff and students. Manages and supervises staff members and student interns working in the Office of the President.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Participates as a member of the President's cabinet.
2. In collaboration with the President and other cabinet members, identifies key issues for discussion and develops agenda for regular cabinet meetings; responsible for communication and implementation of decisions made by that body. Plans and coordinates the annual senior staff retreat.
3. Serves as the main cabinet liaison with the Board of Trustees: working closely with the Board Chair and President in setting Board priorities and programs to achieve them; overseeing Board scheduling, compiling the agenda, minutes and materials for Board meetings, following-up on trustee action.
4. Collaborates with the President in strategies to strengthen the College's connections with the local regional community.
5. Works with the President and senior officers to develop the President's calendar key events on and off campus, ensuring appropriate balance of support and engagement with all constituencies; leads development of schedule of events for the President's home.
6. Works with the Offices of Development and College Relations to promote College and presidential visibility.
7. Supervises the Office of President.
8. Receives assignments and special projects from the President. Exercises initiative to seek out and convene appropriate parties, gather information, brief and advise the President as appropriate.
9. Serves as a liaison between the Office of the President and a wide variety of constituents, including other offices for the development and editing of materials for internal and external publication.
10. Represents the Office of the President on College working groups/committees as assigned.
11. Serves as a senior administrative liaison to offices planning major campus events as assigned.
12. Leads the campus-wide calendar group in developing an annual calendar for key events.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Individuals must be able to explain and demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation:

1. A strong advocate, who brings insight to the ways we articulate and celebrate the mission and impact of Whitman College.
2. An effective ambassador, able to build key relationships on campus and in the larger community, effectively representing the College and the President.
3. Excellent project management skills.
4. A strategic, thoughtful and proactive approach to communication and collaboration; the ability to plan communication and consultation around key decisions.
5. Demonstrated ability to advance the College's core values of diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracism.
6. Capable of working with highly sensitive and confidential matters.
7. Ability to manage effectively and foster an inclusive, collaborative and cooperative work environment.
8. Ability to undertake multiple assignments concurrently and independently while meeting critical timelines.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Five or more years of related experience with increasing levels of responsibility
2. Excellent writing skills, detail-oriented with attention to accuracy.
3. BA degree
4. Experience in a higher education setting or demonstrated experience to understand and meet the needs of diverse groups, such as students, employees, parents, alumni and the broader community.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Higher education/academic administrative experience or knowledge of college operations preferred
2. Experience working with non-profit governing boards desirable.

BENEFITS

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. This position enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

Paid Time Off: 20 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.

Tuition Remission - Dependent Children

Employee tuition waiver for one Whitman course per semester.

Employee Assistance Program

Learn more about benefits eligibility here.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

At Whitman College, we take seriously the safety of our community. Whitman is a fully vaccinated campus, requiring all employees and students to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations or have an approved exemption. More information can be found here.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin on November 1, 2022 and will continue until the position is filled.

START DATE

January 1, 2023 or sooner


For full application instructions and position description, visit https://whitman.bamboohr.com/careers/233


jeid-d66bd8832f21264da7d8449940d573fa