Chief of Staff - College of Engineering (Term)

The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH

6d • $160,000 - $190,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

This is a unique two-year term-to-regular appointment created to support the College of Engineering during an important period of leadership transition. Reporting directly to the Interim Dean, the Chief of Staff will serve as a strategic advisor and trusted partner, helping to advance key priorities, coordinate complex initiatives, and strengthen organizational effectiveness. This highly visible role serves as a member of the Dean’s executive committee and senior leadership team and offers an exceptional opportunity to shape the strategic and operational strategy for the college.

The Chief of Staff provides leadership, coordination, development and execution of strategic initiatives across constituencies in the college and university. This role executes key strategic priorities and initiatives by exploring, identifying and evaluating comprehensive information and data to provide guidance, advice and assistance on a range of issues. The Chief of Staff ensures the dean is well prepared for interactions with internal and external stakeholders and partners in collaboration with the dean’s executive assistant.

The Chief of Staff will work closely with the dean and leadership of the college (including associate deans, senior staff, department chairs and center directors) to coordinate and align the strategic planning process to ensure initiatives are advanced in alignment with the strategic plan; develop, implement and execute project plans crossing multiple areas of the college; direct, manage, make decisions and prioritize large, complex projects and initiatives on behalf of the dean; keep dean advised on relevant issues and makes certain issues brought to the Dean’s office are addressed efficiently and effectively; engage with faculty, staff and community partners in the college, across the University, within the larger Ohio community and the nation in order to support college priorities; partners with HR and leadership to foster a high-performing work culture and work with finance to ensure the budget is aligned with the strategic mission and vision; Other duties as assigned and determined by dean.

While occasional remote work may be considered based on business needs, this position is primarily campus-based and requires a regular on-site presence for most work activities.

Some evening and weekend work and travel will be required.

Requirements

• Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive experience working in a senior administrative and/or managerial capacity.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build consensus across college leadership and internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen and demonstrated ability to contribute to the strategic planning of an organization.
• Exceptional organizational skills in order to manage a multifaceted and fast-paced workload.
• Ability to work collaboratively and strategically across functions, levels and departments.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with the proven ability to solve problems and effectively operate in a senior administrative role.
• Strong project management skills, including prioritizing, directing and managing large-scale initiatives, and achieving strategic objectives, on time and on budget.

Nice To Haves

• Experience serving as a chief of staff, senior advisor, or strategic planning professional in a large, complex higher education institution, with responsibility for coordinating initiatives, advising senior leaders, and driving organizational priorities.
• Knowledge of budget planning and financial management to align resources with strategic priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and effectively navigate the political, legislative, and regulatory factors that influence higher education institutions.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership, coordination, development and execution of strategic initiatives across constituencies in the college and university.
• Executes key strategic priorities and initiatives by exploring, identifying and evaluating comprehensive information and data to provide guidance, advice and assistance on a range of issues.
• Ensures the dean is well prepared for interactions with internal and external stakeholders and partners in collaboration with the dean’s executive assistant.
• Coordinates and aligns the strategic planning process to ensure initiatives are advanced in alignment with the strategic plan.
• Develops, implements and executes project plans crossing multiple areas of the college.
• Directs, manages, makes decisions and prioritizes large, complex projects and initiatives on behalf of the dean.
• Keeps dean advised on relevant issues and makes certain issues brought to the Dean’s office are addressed efficiently and effectively.
• Engages with faculty, staff and community partners in the college, across the University, within the larger Ohio community and the nation in order to support college priorities.
• Partners with HR and leadership to foster a high-performing work culture.
• Works with finance to ensure the budget is aligned with the strategic mission and vision.
• Other duties as assigned and determined by dean.

Benefits

• The Ohio State University College of Engineering
• Knowlton School
• University's land-grant mission of advancing Ohio's economic mobility, competitiveness and standard of living through our contributions toward technology and creativity, continuous improvement, a well-prepared workforce and lifelong learning.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior