Chief of Staff (Administrator III), Presidents Office

CSUSB•San Bernardino, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief of Staff is a senior administrative advisor who reports directly to the President. The role coordinates presidential priorities, strengthens organizational effectiveness, directs assigned President’s Office operations, and supports presidential decision-making. It translates presidential priorities into coordinated action through analysis, executive briefings, strategic project coordination, and practical systems for monitoring implementation and follow-through. In collaboration with Cabinet members and campus leaders, the Chief of Staff facilitates cross-divisional implementation within the authority delegated by the President and represents the President when expressly authorized. The position provides executive-level coordination for President’s Cabinet and presidential matters, including reviewing issues that cross organizational boundaries, preparing matters for executive consideration, documenting decisions, and monitoring actions. It coordinates responses to Chancellor’s Office requests, Board of Trustees matters, and other executive inquiries; manages complex and sensitive matters for presidential review; and recommends improvements to governance, executive workflow, and accountability processes. The Chief of Staff serves as a liaison among the President’s Office, Cabinet, shared governance representatives, campus constituencies, and external partners. The role may represent the President at designated meetings and events, including evenings and weekends, and travel to on- and off-campus locations for official University business. Assigned President’s Office responsibilities include managing operations, staffing priorities, administrative processes, and budget monitoring; supervising assigned personnel; coordinating correspondence, briefing materials, campus visits, and executive events; maintaining controls for confidential records and information security; and leading specially delegated projects. Minimum qualifications are a graduate degree and 8–11 years of progressively responsible professional and supervisory experience. The position is full-time, exempt, at-will, and on-campus. Applicants must be current CSUSB employees, and employees must reside in California. A valid driver’s license and satisfactory completion of a background check are required. The role is designated as a Campus Security Authority and mandated reporter, and it has conflict-of-interest disclosure and training requirements.

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, with the 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 upon employment.
Valid driver’s license; the position participates in the DMV Government Employer Pull Notice Program.
Satisfactory completion of a background check, including a criminal records check.
Must comply with mandated reporter requirements and Campus Security Authority reporting and training requirements.
Must file an initial and annual Form 700 and complete required conflict-of-interest training.
Must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete Form I-9 requirements.

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 coordination gaps, recurring barriers, improvement opportunities, and issues requiring escalation.
Partner with Cabinet members and divisional leaders to clarify interdependent responsibilities, facilitate process improvements, and support implementation of presidential direction without assuming divisional authority.
Serve as a member of the President’s Cabinet, provide analysis and recommendations in executive discussions, communicate and coordinate Cabinet decisions and priorities with campus leadership, and monitor assigned actions through implementation.
Coordinate analysis and institutional follow-through for matters requiring Cabinet or presidential review, assessing cross-divisional implications and coordinating executive action.
Direct President’s Cabinet workflow by identifying matters for consideration, setting agenda priorities, assessing readiness of proposed items, coordinating supporting materials, documenting decisions and commitments, and monitoring actions through resolution.
Manage complex and sensitive matters submitted for presidential review by 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 Chancellor’s Office requests, Board of Trustees matters, and other executive inquiries by identifying stakeholders, establishing requirements and deadlines, reviewing submissions, reconciling cross-divisional issues, and presenting 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 multi-area coordination, and elevate significant University-wide issues.
Liaise among the President’s Office, Cabinet, shared governance representatives, academic and administrative leadership, faculty, staff, students, and external partners to clarify priorities and follow up on assigned matters.
Represent the President at designated meetings and events, including evening and weekend events, 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, campus utility vehicles or golf carts, or a personal vehicle as required.
Direct information gathering with University Counsel, Human Resources, compliance, and subject-matter experts on sensitive issues; refer legal, personnel, and technical determinations to authorized offices.
Receive and appropriately refer or report matters brought forward through the President’s Office and executive leadership channels, including allegations of Clery-reportable crimes, in accordance with University and CSU 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 distributing workload, coaching, supporting accountability, and promoting professional development.
Manage presidential correspondence, briefing materials, campus visits, and executive events in partnership with responsible communications and events offices.
Lead 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.