Chief of Staff

Howard University; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Work-Life Balance

Financial Wellness

Professional Development

Additional Perks

Job summary

Howard University Graduate School seeks a Chief of Staff to partner with the dean, translate strategy into action, and align programs through disciplined execution and cross‑functional coordination.

You will manage the Dean’s office cadence, plan governance activities, prepare high‑level briefings, and represent the Dean in select meetings, with a focus on discretion, project leadership, and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education.
• Minimum of five years of supervisory experience.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and coordinate complex projects.
• Experience working with executives and academic leaders preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as chief integrator for the Graduate School’s strategic agenda.
• Translate the Dean’s vision into actionable strategic plans, performance dashboards, timelines, and accountability structures.
• Manage the Dean’s time and prepare high-quality briefing materials.
• Proactively identify risks, barriers, and opportunities affecting implementation.
• Architect and manage governance workflows and coordinate cross-unit initiatives.
• Draft communications and represent the Dean in select meetings and forums.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Communication

Leadership

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Discretion

Education

Master’s degree

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 improvement efforts.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• 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.

MINIMUM 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.

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

Note: This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required. The university has the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not construed as a contract for employment.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

$100,000-$110,000