Chief of Staff

Champlain College; Burlington (VT); On-site; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Paid time off

403(b) with employer match

Tuition benefits

Wellness programs

Disability & life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont seeks a Chief of Staff to partner with the President on strategic initiatives, communications, and stakeholder engagement. The CoS will manage the President's Office, lead crisis communications, and coordinate Board operations and advancement activities.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree (graduate degree preferred) and at least ten years of related experience, with a focus on integrity, collaboration, and exemplary communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; graduate degree preferred.
• A minimum of ten years of related experience.
• Ability to work collaboratively across a variety of stakeholders.
• Integrity, respect, honesty, and high ethical principles.
• Excellent organizational, managerial, and written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities with independent judgment.
• Leadership style rooted in inclusion and cross-difference.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the President's Office.
• Strategize presidential projects, initiatives, and communications.
• Engage administration, faculty, and staff to move work forward.
• Research key issues with stakeholders and resolve them.
• Manage institutional and executive communications and events.
• Write and manage communications from the President's Office.
• Lead crisis communications and serve as primary contact during emergencies.
• Develop change management strategies for institutional comms.
• Support operations of Champlain College Board of Trustees.
• Coordinate President's engagement in advancement activities.
• Prepare and manage board materials before/after meetings.
• Serve as President's proxy with stakeholders and liaise with others.
• Assist in recruiting, evaluating and inspiring potential hires.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Crisis communications

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive support

Change management

Written communication

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

Champlain College is seeking a Chief of Staff (CoS) to serve as a strategic partner to the President. The CoS manages executive and institutional communications, leads crisis communications, coordinates Board of Trustees operations, and partners with Advancement to support the President's engagement in fundraising activities. The CoS participates in meetings with or on behalf of the President and may lead cross-functional, institutional initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

President's Office Operations & Strategic Coordination

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the President's Office
• Strategize and prioritize presidential projects, initiatives, communications, and activities to advance institutional goals
• Engage appropriate administration, faculty, and staff to move important work forward
• Research key issues with stakeholders and achieve resolution

Executive & Institutional Communications

• Manage institutional and executive communications, including campus-wide employee forums and events
• Write and manage communications originating from the President's Office
• Lead crisis communications and serve as the primary contact in the President's Office during college emergencies
• Develop and implement change management strategies for institutional communications

Board of Trustees & Advancement Support

• Support operations of the Champlain College Board of Trustees and its subcommittees
• Coordinate the President's engagement in advancement activities to meet campaign goals
• Prepare and manage board materials before and after meetings

Stakeholder Engagement & Institutional Leadership

• Serve as the President's proxy with key stakeholders and liaise with staff in other organizations as needed
• Assist the President in meetings and manage relationships across internal and external constituencies
• Support campus leadership to advance key strategic initiatives
• Assist the President in recruiting, evaluating, and inspiring potential new hires, keeping in mind the talent needs of the college

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; graduate degree preferred
• A minimum of ten years of related experience
• Ability to work collaboratively across a variety of internal and external stakeholders and build strong, trusted relationships
• A positive, warm, and friendly disposition characterized by integrity, respect, honesty, openness, flexibility, sound judgment, and adherence to high ethical principles
• Proven ability to work with and hold confidential information
• Excellent organizational, managerial, and written communication skills
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities with sound, independent judgment
• Highly developed project management, verbal communication, and critical thinking skills
• A leadership style rooted in a commitment to inclusion and working respectfully across lines of difference

Working Arrangements

• Full-time, on-campus position based at our main campus in Burlington, VT
• Standard business hours Monday through Friday, with flexibility required for board meetings, presidential events, and institutional priorities
• Occasional evening and weekend commitments for college events, board sessions, and emergencies

Compensation & Benefits

Annual Salary: $125,000-$145,000

Comprehensive Benefits Package

• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA and FSA options
• Paid Time Off: 16 holidays, 4 weeks of vacation, 2 weeks sick time and 2 days of personal leave
• Retirement: 403(b) plan with 3% employer matching contribution
• Education: Tuition benefits for employees and family members
• Wellness: Gym discount and Wellness programs with up to $300 annual incentives
• Welfare: Short-term and long-term disability coverage, plus life insurance
• Other Perks: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with counseling services, access to employee discounts and local/national benefit programs

Other Information

The College seeks candidates who can enhance its mission through their work, life experiences, service, teaching, or research. Please include specific examples of how you would contribute to these efforts in your Cover Letter.

To streamline our hiring process and ensure fairness for all candidates, we manage all recruitment communications through our online application system. Please do not call regarding your application status. We'll reach out directly if we'd like to schedule an interview.

The successful completion of a criminal background check is required as a condition of employment.

Champlain College does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, religion, age, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, veteran or military service status, HIV -positive status, qualified disability, or on the basis of any other status protected by law, and does not discriminate in the administration of its education and admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, employment practices or co-curricular and other College-administered programs. Champlain College will make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified students, applicants for admission or employment, or employees.

Champlain College is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming community. We believe that bringing together individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enriches education and strengthens our community. At Champlain, all members are valued as individuals and respected for their unique contributions.

About Us

Founded in 1878, Champlain College is a small, private, not-for-profit college in Burlington, Vermont overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack mountains. Its career-driven approach to higher education prepares students for professional life from their very first semester. For the fifth year in a row, Champlain was named a "Most Innovative School" in the North by U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" 2020 regional rankings and ranked #9 on The Princeton Review's "2025 Top Schools for Game Design."