Chief of Staff, Dean’s Office, Moody College of Communications

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, UT

4d•$145,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief of Staff provides executive-level support and assistance to the Dean of the Moody College of Communication, exercising initiative and independent judgment. The role reports directly to the Dean and interacts professionally with university and college leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and other stakeholders to help advance the Dean’s and university’s objectives. The Chief of Staff provides strategic counsel to the Dean and college leadership, monitors progress on strategic priorities, recommends improvements, and helps align strategies, initiatives, and resources with academic, research, student-success, and operational priorities. The position independently leads high-priority strategic initiatives, special projects, and policy development; coordinates stakeholders; establishes objectives and measures of success; addresses organizational and operational risks; and transitions established projects to appropriate college leaders or units. In collaboration with the college communications team, the role prepares and reviews executive communications and ensures the Dean is prepared for leadership meetings, university engagements, donor and alumni interactions, speaking engagements, and other activities. The Chief of Staff builds collaborative relationships across the College and University, facilitates cross-functional coordination, and partners with relevant university offices on complex organizational, personnel, policy, compliance, and operational matters. The position also supports accountability, performance management, professional conduct, and a high-performing workplace culture. Other related functions may be assigned. The position is based at the UT Main Campus in a typical professional office environment, with some evening and weekend hours required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, communications/marketing, higher education administration, or a related field.
At least seven years working for a college or university supporting senior executives.
Experience supporting senior executives or college/university leadership.
Experience in strategic planning and leading complex projects and initiatives.
Experience working with higher education administration stakeholders and executive leadership teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business, communications/marketing, higher education administration, or a related field.
More than seven years working for a college or university supporting senior executives.
Strong facilitation and meeting management skills.
Experience with policy development and implementation.
Expertise in organizational effectiveness and process improvement.
Experience preparing executive-level communications and presentations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and confidential matters simultaneously.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic counsel, insights, guidance, and executive leadership support to the Dean and college leadership team.
Monitor progress on the Dean’s strategic priorities, identify opportunities for improvement, and recommend actions to strengthen organizational effectiveness and advance college objectives.
Collaborate with senior leadership to align strategies, initiatives, and resources with academic, research, student-success, and operational priorities.
Make decisions on behalf of the Dean within delegated authority.
Lead high-priority strategic initiatives, special projects, and policy development with a high degree of independence.
Convene and coordinate faculty, staff, college leadership, university partners, and other stakeholders to advance initiatives and resolve complex issues.
Establish objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and measures of success for initiatives.
Identify and mitigate organizational, reputational, and operational risks; develop sustainable processes and transition established projects to appropriate college leaders or units.
Draft and review executive-level talking points, presentations, correspondence, announcements, briefing materials, reports, and other communications for internal and external audiences.
Coordinate executive briefings and preparation for the Dean’s leadership meetings, university engagements, donor and alumni interactions, speaking engagements, and other activities.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with department and school leadership, deans, faculty and staff leaders, university leadership, central administrative offices, student leadership, and other stakeholders.
Facilitate coordination across the College and with campus partners to align strategic initiatives and academic priorities with college and university goals, resolve cross-functional issues, and respond to emerging or urgent business needs.
Partner with college leadership and appropriate university offices, including Legal Affairs, Compliance, and Title IX, to coordinate resolution of complex organizational, personnel, policy, compliance, and operational matters.
Support organizational accountability, effective performance management, professional conduct, and a high-performing workplace culture.
Identify matters requiring executive attention and coordinate in a timely manner with appropriate subject-matter experts and university offices.
Perform other related functions as assigned.