Details
Posted: 01-Jun-22
Location: Cortland, New York
Salary: Open
Categories:
Executive
Position Summary:
The chief of staff is an integral member of the President's Office and the executive leadership team (President's Cabinet) for the university. Reporting directly to the president, this position is a key advisor to the president on planning, decision-making and problem resolution. The chief of staff advances the president's leadership agenda through coordinated planning with the senior management team, collaborative working relationships with committees at all levels of the campus and various assignments and special projects.
Major Responsibilities:
On behalf of the president, the chief of staff:
- Coordinates high level, high priority operations, projects, and initiatives across the university.
- Interprets and executes policies and procedures with relevant administrative units to ensure operational success across the university.
- Facilitates resolution of matters requiring the president's attention, and as needed represents the president in meetings or at events, which include evening and weekend scheduling.
- Assists the president in organizing and drafting reports to System Administration and other SUNY-related assignments.
- Serves as the primary point of contact for SUNY legal counsel.
- Assists the president with all legislative relations and external and government policy initiatives.
- Works collaboratively with the strategic communications team to produce consistent and high-quality messaging from the president.
- Manages the university's events office and respective staff to promote and support the university through major events.
- Supervises the President's Office administrative assistant.
- Supervises the communications coordinator for the President's Office & FOIL officer.
- Supervises the Title IX coordinator and provides leadership ensuring institutional compliance with all relevant regulations at the federal and state levels.
- Administers the SUNY-wide Honorary Degree process, Distinguished Faculty nominations, and Chancellor's Excellence awards program for professional and classified staff.
- Chairs or co-chairs campus-wide committees including the Commencement Committee, the Honors Convocation Committee, the Academic Calendar Committee, and the Comprehensive Communications Committee.
- Serves on President's Cabinet, President's Council, the Labor/Management Committee, the Part-Time Labor/Management Committee and the Scholarship Database Committee.
- Responsible for the official SUNY Cortland Handbook and collaborates with the content manager to update and publicize the handbook.
Job Requirements – Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's) (not minimum qualifications, but KSA's needed to successfully perform the responsibilities of the position):
- Ability to lead and cultivate a common vision and collaborative culture to achieve institutional goals working closely with senior staff.
- Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and appreciation of contemporary issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education and the workplace.
- Demonstrate a proven ability to lead with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access and social justice.
- Demonstrate exceptional organizational and time management skills with proven ability to plan, prioritize and execute multiple initiatives, programs and events within established deadlines.
- Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with integrity and vigilance.
- Demonstrate an understanding of shared governance and the ability to approach decision-making collaboratively with a strong focus on student centeredness and inclusive excellence.
- Demonstrate an openness to different viewpoints and a communication style that shows understanding and respect for all backgrounds and experiences.
- Ability to develop collegial and respectful working relationships with a diverse population of individuals at all organizational levels and a commitment to treat others with fairness and respect.
- Demonstrate effective written and spoken communication skills in interactions with executive leadership, faculty, staff, and students, as well as with external constituents including alumni and potential donors.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of transparency in messaging and the complexities of contemporary campus-wide communication.
- Demonstrate a proven ability to interpret policy and coordinate with others to promptly address and solve complex problems.
Required Qualifications:
- Master's Degree
- Several years of progressive experience in an organizational setting with professional experiences related to this position description including administrative leadership, project management, community and/or government relations.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in a university or college setting with either SUNY or SUNY Cortland experience highly preferred
- Master's degree in public administration, communication, government relations or related field, and/or doctorate or other terminal degree
- Direct experience contributing to advancing equity and inclusion in your work or team environments
