Executive Director - Office of the President

Ponce Health Sciences University/Tiber Health Innovations•Ponce, PR

About The Position

The Executive Director, Office of the President serves as a strategic partner to the President of Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) and a senior administrative leader. The role provides executive-level support in advancing institutional priorities, coordinating strategic initiatives, and ensuring effective execution of presidential directives. It strengthens communication, collaboration, and accountability across the University's campuses, academic units, and administrative divisions. Working closely with senior leadership, the Executive Director facilitates cross-functional initiatives, monitors progress on institutional priorities, and supports informed decision-making in a complex, multi-campus academic environment. The Executive Director reports directly to the President and works collaboratively with institutional leadership. Within delegated authority, the position coordinates activities, requests progress updates, facilitates meetings, and monitors initiatives on the President's behalf. It does not replace the supervisory responsibilities or decision-making authority of Vice Presidents, Deans, or other institutional executives. The role requires leadership, sound judgment, discretion, initiative, strong organization and communication, and project management capability. The successful candidate is expected to advance PHSU's mission, vision, values, and strategic direction while promoting integrity, collaboration, accountability, innovation, service, and the One PHSU, One Team philosophy. The work takes place in a normal office environment, sometimes at a fast pace, and requires autonomy with little direct supervision. The position represents the University professionally and requires openness to performance feedback.

Requirements

Master's degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in executive administration, strategic planning, project management, organizational leadership, or related areas.
Demonstrated experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
Experience supporting senior executives or institutional leadership teams.
Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results within established timelines.
Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate institutional priorities into practical, measurable initiatives.
Project management expertise, including planning, implementation, performance monitoring, and accountability.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive-level reports, presentations, and correspondence.
Ability to work effectively with senior leaders, build collaborative relationships, and influence outcomes without direct supervisory authority.
Strong analytical skills to interpret institutional data, identify trends, and develop evidence-based recommendations.
Exceptional organizational effectiveness and ability to manage multiple projects, stakeholders, and competing deadlines simultaneously.
Sound professional judgment, discretion, integrity, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
Adaptability and ability to respond effectively to evolving priorities and complex organizational challenges.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and collaborative technologies.
Ability to perform the described physical functions, with reasonable accommodations as applicable, including sitting, computer and office-equipment use, talking and hearing, occasional standing, walking, reaching, climbing or balancing, stooping or kneeling, and occasional lifting of objects weighing 10–30 pounds and possibly up to 50 pounds.
Close vision for computer use, and distance vision and depth perception for safety purposes.
Ability to work independently with little direct supervision, produce results in a fast-paced environment when required, represent the University professionally, and accept performance feedback.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education, healthcare, academic medicine, or similarly complex organizations.
Bilingual communication skills in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the President to advance institutional strategic priorities and special initiatives; translate priorities into actionable plans with objectives, timelines, deliverables, and accountability measures.
Monitor implementation of institutional initiatives, report progress to the President, and identify operational challenges, emerging risks, and opportunities for improvement.
Coordinate academic and administrative leaders to align institutional work with the University's mission and strategic plan.
Lead and coordinate high-priority presidential projects, ensuring timely execution and measurable outcomes.
Establish project frameworks with milestones, performance indicators, reporting mechanisms, and follow-up processes; coordinate cross-functional implementation teams.
Track commitments and action items from presidential meetings, leadership discussions, and strategic planning activities.
Prepare executive dashboards, project updates, briefings, presentations, reports, and other materials to support presidential decision-making and engagements.
Serve as liaison between the President and senior institutional leaders, including Vice Presidents, Deans, Campus Directors, and other executives.
Facilitate collaboration across campuses in Ponce, San Juan, St. Louis, and the British Virgin Islands; coordinate executive meetings, leadership discussions, and institutional planning activities as assigned.
Promote accountability and timely follow-through, and support the President in addressing matters requiring cross-campus or interdepartmental coordination.
Provide strategic and operational advice to the President; research and analyze institutional information and recommend responses to emerging issues and opportunities.
Handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism and discretion.
Facilitate communication between the Office of the President and institutional leadership, and coordinate follow-up on presidential communications, requests, and directives.
Support communications about institutional initiatives, strategic priorities, and organizational change; assist with stakeholder, partner, and community leader engagement as directed by the President.
Identify opportunities to improve institutional processes, coordination, administrative efficiency, and performance indicators; work with leaders to advance improvement initiatives.
Facilitate solutions to operational challenges involving multiple divisions or campuses and promote accountability, transparency, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
Assist and provide coverage for coworkers during peak periods, vacation days, or sick days; perform other duties as requested by the supervisor.