Chief of Staff

Howard University

1d•$100,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission. At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth. BASIC FUNCTION The Graduate School at Howard University seeks a Chief of Staff to serve as an operational partner and strategic advisor to the dean. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Chief of Staff is a key member of the senior leadership team and plays a central role in translating strategy into action. The Chief of Staff works closely with the Dean and senior leaders to shape priorities, drive implementation, and ensure alignment across the programs in the Graduate School. This includes overseeing critical initiatives and advancing the Dean's priorities through disciplined execution, cross-functional coordination, and high-level problem-solving. The Chief of Staff will also lead and manage a portfolio of strategic and operational projects that cut across academic programs, administrative functions (including overseeing daily priorities, coordinating schedules and key meetings, arranging high-level travel), and external engagement to help ensure that the Graduate School's efforts are coherent, well-coordinated, and aligned with its mission and strategic vision.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience, which includes managing administrative and strategic initiatives in higher education.
Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience.
Proven experience with the ability to handle confidential information with discretion, to manage a large variety of details and coordinate complex projects during numerous interruptions, and to meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for senior leaders and varied audiences.
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to connect long-term institutional goals to near-term actions.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility across a wide range of constituencies, including faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a complex, fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities while maintaining a high standard of quality and accuracy.
Proven capacity to lead through influence, coordinate across diverse stakeholders, and drive initiatives to completion.

Nice To Haves

Preferred experience working with executives and academic leaders.
Proven successful administrative experience in a university setting.

Responsibilities

Serve as chief integrator for the Graduate School’s strategic agenda.
Help translate the Dean’s vision into actionable strategic plans, performance dashboards, timelines, and accountability structures.
Work closely with the Dean's to manage the Dean's time and attention, including prioritizing requests and preparing high-quality briefing materials.
Proactively identify risks, barriers, and opportunities impacting the implementation of the College’s vision and mission.
Architect and manage the operational cadence of the Dean’s office, including leadership councils, Board of Visitors activities, strategic retreats, and governance workflows.
Support the effectiveness of the Senior Leadership Team by organizing meetings, structuring agendas, and ensuring alignment on goals, decisions, and implementation.
Establish and maintain college-wide systems for tracking decisions, initiatives, commitments, and follow-through.
Prepare the Dean for high-stakes engagements, negotiations, and external presentations.
Act as liaison between the Dean, department chairs, and administrative directors to ensure unity of effort and strategic coherence.
Coordinate cross-unit initiatives that require collaboration among academic, research, advancement, and administrative divisions.
Support the development of high-impact partnerships with industry, foundations, federal agencies, and alumni.
Represent the Dean in selected meetings and institutional forums.
Ensure consistent executive-level messaging across internal and external stakeholders.
Draft and coordinate communications on behalf of the Dean, including remarks, correspondence, and materials for internal and external audiences.
Build a high-performance culture focused on service excellence, discretion, accountability, and strategic execution.
Oversee workflow management, resource allocation, and continuous improvement efforts.