Chief of Staff

The Howard University; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

PTO and holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The Graduate School at The 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 translates strategy into action and oversees critical initiatives across academic programs, administrative functions, and external engagement to ensure coherent, aligned efforts.

The role leads and manages strategic and operational projects, coordinates leadership activities, and supports executive governance.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic planning and governance
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable plans

Responsibilities

• Translate the Dean's vision into actionable plans and dashboards.
• Manage operational cadence of the Dean's office and governance workflows.
• Coordinate cross-unit initiatives and external engagement.
• Prepare briefing materials and communications for high-stakes engagements.

Job description

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.

Here is what we offer:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us! https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

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.

SUPERVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY

Supervisory authority is limited to the direction of an administrative assistant and students. Provides functional leadership and/or support to project managers, standing committees, and special initiative teams.

NATURE AND SCOPE

Even as an administrative support position, this role routinely operates at a high level of college leadership and routinely interacts with stakeholders across the University, Board of Visitors, faculty, corporate and foundation partners, government agencies, and accreditation bodies. The Chief of Staff exercises broad discretion and independent judgment in sensitive and high-impact matters. The successful candidate must, therefore, demonstrate sound judgment, intellectual agility, and discretion and must have a demonstrated ability to navigate complex and sensitive matters in a timely manner. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable operating at a strategic level and attending to day-to-day executional details.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Execution

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.

Executive Operations & Governance

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.

Leadership Coordination & Institutional Alignment

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.

External Relations & Partnerships

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.

Office of the Dean Leadership

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 impro