Chief of Staff

The Momentary; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Momentary is seeking a Chief of Staff for the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. This senior role reports directly to the Dean and is responsible for managing the Office of the Dean and coordinating operations with the senior leadership team.

The ideal candidate will have over ten years of leadership experience, a bachelor’s degree, and a background in academic medicine or healthcare administration. Duties include serving as a strategic advisor, leading projects, and managing administrative staff.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience in roles such as Chief of Staff.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with faculty and internal stakeholders.
• Proven track record in leading complex, multi-stream projects on time and budget.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Dean.
• Lead and manage special projects and initiatives.
• Coordinate institutional planning efforts.

Skills

Leadership experience

Collaboration

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution

Advanced degree (MA, MBA, JD, or PhD) preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Teams

Zoom

Job description

Job Title: Chief of Staff
Reports To: Dean, CEO
FLSA Classification: Exempt
Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On‑site)

About the Position

This senior‑level, full‑time position reports directly to the Dean of the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. The Chief of Staff strategically manages all functions and activities of the Office of the Dean and works with the senior leadership team to ensure steady operational progress.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Dean, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
• Lead and manage special projects, cross‑departmental initiatives, and institutional planning efforts.
• Coordinate institutional planning efforts, often aligning with accreditation standards.
• Lead and manage goal setting and performance tracking.
• Oversee and anticipate issues for discussion and participation among senior leadership.
• Manage, coordinate, and anticipate government affairs and special executive projects.
• Prepare reports, briefings, presentations, and other materials for executive meetings and decision‑making.
• Draft speeches, reports, and correspondence for the Dean; maintain consistent internal and external communications.
• Facilitate collaboration among senior leadership, organize leadership meetings, and track follow‑up actions.
• Assist with policy development and implementation; prepare decision memos and monitor outcomes of leadership initiatives.
• Oversee and manage administrative staff within the Dean’s office, streamline workflows, and manage calendars and priorities.
• Act as liaison to key committees, ensuring agendas, minutes, and follow‑up documentation are completed.
• Handle sensitive issues discreetly and serve as point of contact for faculty and external stakeholders on critical concerns.
• Serve as liaison to the medical school Board of Directors, coordinating and reviewing meeting materials and related communications.
• Other duties as assigned.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
• Conduct regular one‑on‑one meetings and performance evaluations, providing feedback and professional development opportunities.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of direct reports to ensure alignment with organizational standards and practices.
• Monitor and manage team performance, addressing attendance, conduct, or productivity issues promptly and professionally.
• Model professionalism and service excellence, serving as a role model in maintaining quality and operational standards.
• Encourage employee engagement and morale through recognition and open communication practices.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience in roles such as Chief of Staff, Chief Administrative Officer, or Director‑level positions with broad cross‑functional oversight.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Background in academic medicine, healthcare administration, or related fields.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with faculty and key internal stakeholders, including Legal, Communications, Human Resources, Finance, IT, and Facilities.
• Proven track record in leading complex, multi‑stream projects from initiation through successful, on‑time, and on‑budget completion.
• Experience in developing, executing, and overseeing strategic plans and major institutional initiatives.
• Deep understanding of organizational operations, governance structures, and executive office workflows.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with the ability to craft clear, persuasive documents and presentations.
• High level of judgment and discretion in managing sensitive and confidential information.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to operate independently with significant responsibility and autonomy.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and collaboration tools such as Teams.
• Advanced degree (MA, MBA, JD, or PhD) from an accredited institution (preferred).
• Experience in a medical school or higher education environment (preferred).
• Familiarity with accreditation standards and compliance requirements in academic medicine (preferred).
• Experience with organizational change management and process improvement initiatives (preferred).
• Knowledge of project management methodologies and tools (preferred).
• Familiarity with expense reporting tools and virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams (preferred).

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Will sit at a desk, use a computer and telephone for prolonged periods; requires good eye/hand coordination.
• May bend, stretch, and lift/transport a minimum of 10 pounds.
• Work performed full‑time (Monday‑Friday, 8 a.m.‑5 p.m.) in a professional, climate‑controlled office environment with standard office equipment.
• May require some local travel and flexibility to accommodate business needs, including occasional evening and weekend work hours.

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine is an equal‑opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of applicable background checks and a confidentiality agreement. Appropriate identification verifying eligibility to work in the United States is required.