Presidential Operations

Grand Valley State University; Allendale Charter Township (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Life insurance

Wellness resources

Tuition waiver

Job summary

Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI seeks a Presidential Operations & Initiatives Specialist to provide flexible, hands-on support across administrative, operational, project-based, and engagement-focused work for the President's Office.

The role partners with the Director of Presidential Operations to manage budgets, coordinate meetings, advance initiatives, and maintain the Office's web and CMS updates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience providing administrative, operational, project, or program support in a professional setting.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and competing demands.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams and divisions.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, judgment, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with standard office software and collaboration tools; ability to learn Workday and CMS platforms.

Responsibilities

• Oversee operational priorities and logistics in collaboration with the Director of Presidential Operations, including budgeting and finance, Board of Trustees, and commencement support.
• Prepare and provide quarterly budget updates using Workday.
• Assist with preparation and coordination for Senior Leadership Team and other cross-discipline teams organized by the President's Office, including agendas, materials, logistics, and follow-up.
• Oversee project management and coordination for university initiatives in collaboration with the Director of Presidential Operations.
• Support the implementation of the university's strategic framework, Reach Higher Together.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking timelines, deliverables, and outcomes related to university priorities.
• Analyze project requirements, identify gaps and dependencies, and proactively and independently advance assigned projects.
• Manage and coordinate routine updates for the President's Office and Board of Trustees websites, through the CMS.
• Evaluate website content for accuracy, timeliness, consistency, and alignment with institutional priorities.
• Provide backup support to the President's Office Executive Assistant and Executive Assistant to the President during periods of high need or staff absences.
• Ensure continuity of office operations during peak periods.
• Provide additional support for the President's Office events and engagement team as needed.
• Provide support for Board of Trustees-related activities as needed.
• Serve as a front-facing resource supporting faculty, staff, students, and guests within the President's Office and buildings.
• May be required to provide hospitality and help create a welcoming, professional atmosphere at building sites.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve President's Office systems, workflows, documentation, and processes.
• Perform other duties as required/assigned by leadership.

Skills

Administrative support

Project coordination

Communication skills

Cross-team collaboration

Workday & CMS familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Office software

Collaboration tools

Workday

CMS platforms

Job description

Presidential Operations & Initiatives Specialist

Allendale, MI

Full Time

R105077

This position provides flexible, hands‑on support acrossadministrative, operational, project‑based, and engagement-focusedwork, responding to evolving priorities and peak workload periods. This role works closely with the Director of PresidentialOperations and other members of the President's Office, as well as partners across the university.

Salary & Benefits

Minimum starting salary of $50,000, commensurate with experience.

Limited benefits package including medical, life insurance, wellness resources and tuition waiver effective on date of hire.

PRIMARY DUTIES

1. Presidential Operations & Administrative Coordination

• Oversee a variety of operational priorities and logistics incollaboration with the Director of Presidential Operations,including budgeting and finance, Board of Trustees, andcommencement support
• Prepare and provide quarterly budget updates usingWorkday.
• Assist with preparation and coordination for Senior LeadershipTeam (SLT) and other cross-discipline teams organized by thePresident's Office, including agendas, materials, logistics, andfollow-up.

2. Project Management & Strategic Initiatives

• Oversee project management and coordination for universityinitiatives in collaboration with the Director of PresidentialOperations,
• Support the implementation of the university's strategicframework, Reach Higher Together.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking timelines,deliverables, and outcomes related to university priorities.
• Analyze project requirements, identify gaps and dependencies,and proactively and independently advance assigned projects.

3. Web & Communications Management

• Manage and coordinate routine updates for the President'sOffice and Board of Trustees websites, through the applicablecontent management system (CMS).
• Evaluate website content for accuracy, timeliness, consistency,and alignment with institutional priorities.

4. Office Coverage & Executive Coordination

• Provide backup support to the President's Office ExecutiveAssistant and Executive Assistant to the President during periodsof high need or staff absences.
• Ensure continuity of office operations during peakperiods.
• Provide additional support for the President's Office eventsand engagement team as needed.
• Provide support for Board of Trustees-related activities asneeded.

5. Hospitality, Facilities & Front-Facing Support

• Serve as a front-facing resource supporting the needs offaculty, staff, students, and guests within the President's Office(Valley Campus) and John Russell Building (City Campus).
• May be required to provide hospitality and help create awelcoming, professional atmosphere at the John Russell Building onthe City Campus.

6. Other Duties

• Identify and implement opportunities to continuously improvePresident's Office systems, workflows, documentation, and processesto strengthen efficiency, coordination, and operationaleffectiveness.
• Perform other duties as required/assigned by leadership.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education andrelevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience providing administrative, operational,project, or program support in a professional setting.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to managemultiple priorities, deadlines, and competing demands.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communicationskills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams anddivisions.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, judgment, andattention to detail.
• Proficiency with standard office software and collaborationtools; ability to learn institutional systems such as Workday andCMS platforms.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Experience working at Grand Valley State University, in highereducation, executive offices, or similarly complex organizationalenvironments.
• Familiarity with Workday and budgeting or financial trackingprocesses, including quarterly reporting.
• Experience supporting senior leadership, boards, councils, orexecutive-level meetings.
• Experience with project management related to strategicinitiatives.
• CMS or website management experience.

Application Deadline

Application review begins Monday October 5 and this posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/equalopportunity/.

Grand Valley State University is an Antidiscrimination/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.

TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-833-7833 (out of State).