Chief of Staff (Administrator III), Presidents Office

CSU Careers•San Bernardino, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting directly to the President, the Chief of Staff is a senior administrative advisor who coordinates presidential priorities, strengthens organizational effectiveness, and directs assigned President’s Office operations. The role supports presidential decision-making and translates presidential priorities into coordinated action through analysis, executive briefings, strategic project coordination, and practical systems for monitoring implementation and follow-through. Working collaboratively within authority delegated by the President, the Chief of Staff partners with Cabinet members and campus leaders on cross-divisional implementation and represents the President only within expressly delegated authority. The position provides executive-level coordination and analysis for matters requiring presidential or Cabinet review; directs Cabinet workflow; manages sensitive matters submitted for presidential consideration; coordinates institutional responses to CSU and external inquiries; and improves governance and executive processes. It serves as a liaison among the President’s Office, Cabinet, shared governance representatives, campus constituencies, and external partners. The role also manages assigned office operations, staffing, service expectations, administrative processes, and budget monitoring; supervises assigned personnel; coordinates correspondence, briefings, visits, and events; and leads special assignments delegated by the President. This is a full-time, exempt, at-will management (MPP) position at California State University, San Bernardino. It is on-campus only and applicants must be current CSUSB employees. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. during the academic year, and Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. during summer, with some evenings and weekends. The employee must reside in California. A valid driver’s license, satisfactory background check, and compliance with mandated reporter and Campus Security Authority obligations are required. The position is designated under the CSU Conflict of Interest Code and requires Form 700 filings and conflict-of-interest training.

Requirements

Graduate degree.
8–11 years of progressively responsible professional and supervisory experience.
Knowledge of higher education administration, shared governance, institutional policy, and executive office operations.
Strong analytical judgment, discretion, and diplomacy.
Ability to prepare clear executive briefings and recommendations.
Ability to coordinate competing priorities, build collaborative relationships, manage staff, and track implementation to completion.
Skill in budget monitoring, executive correspondence, project management, and information management systems.
Ability to exercise independent judgment in directing assigned President’s Office functions, managing staff, analyzing complex matters, and coordinating approved presidential initiatives under CSU and university policy.
Ability to convey presidential decisions and act as the President’s designated representative when expressly authorized.
Current CSUSB employee; recruitment is on-campus only.
Must reside in California.
Valid driver’s license; driving record is subject to DMV Government Employer Pull Notice monitoring.
Satisfactory completion of a background check, including a criminal records check.
Must comply with mandated reporter requirements under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and CSU Executive Order 1083.
Must fulfill Campus Security Authority reporting responsibilities and complete required CSA training.
Must complete required employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) and be lawfully authorized to work in the United States.
Must file an initial and annual Form 700 as required and complete conflict-of-interest training within the stated timeframes.

Nice To Haves

Experience in public higher education, preferably within the California State University system.
Experience supporting executive governance, Cabinet operations, budget administration, and institution-wide project coordination.
Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty governance, student leaders, and external partners.

Responsibilities

Provide analysis, confidential advice, and actionable recommendations to the President on institutional priorities, emerging issues, and operational concerns.
Organize and monitor assigned presidential initiatives by establishing deliverables, milestones, responsible offices, and reporting timelines; identify barriers and recommend corrective actions.
Review executive decision briefs, background materials, and operational information to identify recurring barriers, coordination gaps, opportunities to improve effectiveness, and issues requiring escalation.
Partner with Cabinet members and divisional leaders to clarify interdependent responsibilities, facilitate process improvements, and support presidential direction without assuming divisional authority.
Serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet, contribute analysis and recommendations to executive discussions, communicate and coordinate Cabinet decisions and priorities with campus leadership, and monitor assigned actions through implementation.
Coordinate and analyze matters requiring Cabinet or presidential review, assessing cross-organizational issues and their policy, operational, fiscal, reputational, and strategic implications.
Direct President’s Cabinet executive workflow, including identifying matters for consideration, setting agenda priorities, assessing item readiness, coordinating materials, documenting decisions and commitments, and monitoring actions through resolution.
Manage complex and sensitive matters submitted for presidential review by assessing urgency and institutional impact, gathering and analyzing information, identifying relevant considerations, developing options or recommendations, and coordinating communication and implementation of decisions.
Lead cross-divisional coordination of presidential and institutional priorities by convening stakeholders, clarifying responsibilities and decision points, identifying dependencies and barriers, resolving issues within delegated authority, and escalating matters requiring presidential or Cabinet determination.
Coordinate institutional responses to high-level CSU and external matters, including Chancellor’s Office requests, Board of Trustees matters, and executive inquiries; establish response requirements and deadlines, review submissions, reconcile issues, and present matters requiring executive determination.
Evaluate and improve President’s Office and Cabinet governance and workflow processes; recommend and implement approved procedural or policy improvements and establish tracking and reporting mechanisms.
Serve as a senior institutional liaison on behalf of the President as delegated, communicate presidential priorities and expectations, facilitate coordination, and elevate issues with University-wide implications.
Liaise among the President’s Office, Cabinet, shared governance representatives, academic and administrative leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners; clarify priorities and follow up on assigned matters.
Represent the President at designated meetings and events, including evenings and weekends, communicate approved positions within delegated authority, and coordinate follow-up on matters requiring executive attention.
Travel to on- and off-campus locations for official University business and operate authorized University vehicles, including campus utility vehicles or golf carts, or a personal vehicle as required.
Direct information gathering with University Counsel, Human Resources, compliance, and other subject-matter experts on sensitive issues; refer legal, personnel, and technical determinations to authorized offices.
Serve as a designated Campus Security Authority and receive, refer, or report matters brought through the President’s Office and executive leadership channels, including allegations of Clery-reportable crimes, under applicable requirements.
Identify unresolved commitments, operational or reputational risks, and policy concerns; promptly elevate them with recommended next steps and follow up on actions assigned by the President.
Manage assigned President’s Office operations, staffing priorities, service expectations, administrative processes, and budget monitoring within approved resources.
Directly supervise and evaluate assigned personnel, including workload distribution, coaching, accountability, and professional development.
Manage presidential correspondence, briefing materials, campus visits, and executive events in partnership with responsible communications and events offices.
Lead and implement continuous operational improvements and maintain appropriate controls for confidential records, information security, and resource stewardship.
Provide strategic leadership for special projects, assessments, and administrative assignments delegated by the President.
Perform related duties consistent with the position’s management scope and assigned authority.