Chief of Staff VP for Enterprise Administrative and Business Services

Job Description

The Chief of Staff reports to the Vice President for Enterprise Administrative and Business Services and is a key member of the division's leadership team. This individual is the principle aide, advisor, and analyst to the Vice President, serving as an essential operational and strategic liaison with diverse internal and external constituencies and providing leadership and direction for initiatives, special projects, time or critically sensitive decisions, and communications with institution-wide impact.

The incumbent will lead and facilitate effective project and change management initiatives, offer trusted counsel and feedback, and independently align and coordinate resources. The Chief of Staff plays a critical role in providing overall active tracking and steering of the most central issues in the division, ensuring that various groups and stakeholders are aligned and working in concert to achieve shared goals and objectives. This requires a hands-on individual that possesses an understanding of today’s complex higher education environment, exceptional organizational aptitude, problem solving and people skills, tactful communicative ability, and substantial flexibility and patience.

The Chief of Staff is also an important senior leader in modeling, inspiring, and advocating for the divisional and administrative enterprise core values of responsive, nimble, and best in class service.

The Chief of Staff will provide and define the support required for the Vice President for the oversight of all university policies relevant to their responsibility. This support requires the review and documentation of university components with and/or without delegated authority to manage and/or perform services under these university policies along with the definition of required reporting deliverables for those granted delegated authority.
The incumbent must be detail, action, solution, and results oriented and dedicated to continuous improvement. The incumbent is expected to fulfill identified responsibilities independently while maintaining effective communication with university leadership.

This position is designated as “Emergency Personnel”.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Education and/or related field with equivalent level of training and/or experience.
- Significant experience as a chief of staff, deputy, operations manager, executive officer, or similar role supporting a senior-level executive, with involvement leading in fiscal operations, budgeting, communications, systems, and personnel administration.
- Exceptional writing and communication skills, interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and the ability to effectively interact and build trusted relationships with diverse internal and external constituencies.
- Demonstrated experience researching and preparing technically complex executive level documents, position papers, reports, proposals, and presentations on a variety of strategic topics.
- Fast learner, results driven, demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects; excellent organizational, leadership, and delegation skills; and ability to work collaboratively. Must have strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills to manage complex tasks and/or those that require balancing competing interests.
- Demonstrated commitment to exceptionally responsive, consistent, and transparent service delivery to all stakeholders. Champions a responsive workforce that embraces a culture of continuous improvement, self-assessment, and accountability in a dynamic environment. Deploys, accepts, and acts on all mechanisms of customer feedback to achieve results and effect change.
- Demonstrated commitment to data-driven decision making and the use of key performance indicators in the execution (development, analysis, corrective action, communication, and pursuit and provision of feedback) of tactical, operational, and strategic responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

- Advanced degree in business, public administration, education, or related field.
- Demonstrated administrative responsibility in higher education or public sector.
- Broad understanding of higher education issues and operations, experience working with university leadership and governance, and experience coordinating support activities and preparing materials for university leadership and governing boards.
- Data retrieval experience within complex database environments in a manner that supports strategic initiatives and informs decision making.
- Demonstrated knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations applicable to a higher education environment.
- Experience with policy and procedure development, policy interpretation, and policy writing.
- Demonstrated patience, reliability, composure, and stability under pressure as well as a strong personal ethics commitment.
- Demonstrated ability to successfully handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality, strong personal ethics commitment, and demonstrated sound judgment.
- Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with ability to see patterns, be a fast thinker, and make decisions with strong attention to accuracy, detail, and local context.
- Working knowledge of Virginia Tech.

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

12/10/2021

(Posting will remain active until the position is filled; preference will be given to submissions received prior to review date.)

Additional Information

Work hours are typically M-F 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., however additional hours or modified schedule may be required to meet the needs of the division.

This position is designated as “Emergency Personnel”. Must be available 24/7 to provide support during planned, or emergency situations or events to include being physically on site if deemed necessary.

- Must have a criminal background check.
- Must have a driver’s license check.
- Must have an acceptable and safe driving record.
- Be able to travel to meetings throughout the state with occasional overnight stays.
- After hours and weekend work may be required to meet the needs of the department.
- As situation dictates, must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment.
- This position meets the criteria for issuance of a mobile communication device (such as radio, cell phone, I-pad, I-pod, pager, etc.). Devices issued are the responsibility of the employee and are to be returned in satisfactory condition upon separation of employment. Devices are to be used according to supervisor instruction and according to relevant policies.
- Ability to arrive at main campus for emergency call backs within thirty minutes to one hour.
- Any employee hired after August 30, 2021 will be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to starting employment.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Operations HR at opshr-g@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: October 28, 2021
Applications close: