Chief of Staff to the President

Months Per Year:

Work Model:

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.

Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.

Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.

Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.

Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.

Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Position Description:

To apply please use this link: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/seattle-university/chief-staff-president?utm_source=chatgpt.com

The Chief of Staff will be an integral member of the Office of the President and will bring strong communication, project management, and organizational skills to the team. The COS role covers the following key duties and responsibilities:

Act as a trusted advisor, strategic resource, and representative for the President

• Serve as the President’s aide, trusted advisor, and confidant on matters of strategic and institutional importance.
• Advise the President on priorities and provide confidential and candid counsel, recommendations, and strategic guidance on matters requiring presidential attention. Surface competing viewpoints, identify institutional implications, and be attentive to potential structural inequities to be resolved.
• Act as the President’s delegate and representative in leadership meetings, strategic discussions, and other engagements, as assigned, to facilitate executive decision-making, ensure follow-through on presidential directives, and exercise sound judgment to move initiatives forward.
• Brief the President on key initiatives, projects, meetings, and emerging issues across the university.
• Prepare and/or contribute to reports, briefings, presentations, communications, and responses on institutional matters as appropriate. Review, research, and synthesize complex information and data to support the President in decision-making.
• Support the President in addressing faculty, student, parent, alumni, trustee, regent, and public affairs matters and governance, and directly manage issues of institutional importance on the President’s behalf when appropriate.

Advance presidential priorities through strategic projects and initiatives

• Lead and coordinate special projects and strategic initiatives assigned by the President, frequently involving senior leaders across the university to advance institutional priorities.
• Facilitate collaboration, communication, and follow-through among members of the President’s leadership team and across the institution to advance shared goals and priorities.
• Monitor and drive progress on priority initiatives, working closely with campus leaders to ensure accountability, remove barriers, resolve challenges, elevate issues requiring executive action, and communicate progress to the campus community as appropriate in support of university goals.
• Anticipate, identify, and analyze emerging issues, risks, and opportunities that may affect the President’s priorities or the university’s strategic objectives, and recommend courses of action as appropriate.

Lead and coordinate the operations and priorities of the Office of the President and the University leadership teams

• Establish and maintain an integrated view of the President's institutional priorities, commitments, decisions, and emerging issues.
• Assist in optimizing the President’s schedule by managing competing institutional and community priorities and requests, relieving the President of administrative detail.
• Oversee communications and correspondence originating from and directed to the President’s office, including reviewing, screening, routing, and drafting responses.
• Lead the coordination of executive leadership priorities by shaping agendas, facilitating strategic discussions, tracking key decisions and commitments, and ensuring follow-through across the President’s Office, including the President’s Roundtable and Senior Leadership Team, and associated offices.
• Provide leadership and oversight for the day-to-day operations of the Office of the President, including supervision, mentorship, and evaluation of staff and stewardship of the office budget.
• Maintain accurate confidential files, records, and institutional information.
• Maintain a broad understanding of the university’s programs, operations, policies, guidelines, and procedures to support effective leadership and decision-making

Support the President’s fundraising and external engagement efforts

• Partner with University Advancement to support the President’s fundraising, cultivation of donors, and other stewardship activities.

• Participate in planning and strategy discussions related to donor prospects, fundraising initiatives, and advancement events.
• Support the President’s engagement with elected officials, civic leaders, business leaders, and other external stakeholders to strengthen strategic relationships and enhance the university’s visibility and impact.
• Coordinate scheduling priorities and follow-up activities related to donor meetings and engagement efforts.
• Assist in preparing briefing materials, correspondence, and meeting preparations for donor and external constituent engagements.

Serve as the primary liaison resource between the President and the Board of Trustees

• Serve as staff support and liaison between the President and the Board of Trustees, including the Chair and Executive Committee, on behalf of the President’s Office.
• Partner with University Counsel and Board Secretary to support Board of Trustee meetings.
• Assist with planning agendas and overseeing the preparation and distribution of Board materials, meeting notices, and related communications, including preparation and dissemination of monthly reports.
• Oversee the logistics and administration of Board of Trustees meetings.
• Collaborate with the Secretary to coordinate trustee onboarding, orientation, and ongoing communication efforts to strengthen engagement with the President’s Office.

Compensation at a Glance

To view compensation for this position, please follow this link to the Isaacson, Miller job posting.

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/seattle-university/chief-staff-president?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.

Benefits at a Glance

Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person. Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs. Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage. Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to a maximum of 5%. You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events. Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave. For more information explore the Benefits website at: https://www.seattleu.edu/hr/benefits/

Positions designated as hybrid eligible may offer the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule after successful completion of an introductory period of 3–6 months. In these cases, the role typically begins fully on campus to support onboarding and training, with the potential to transition to a hybrid arrangement thereafter.

Positions designated as on-site are not eligible for hybrid work and are expected to remain fully on campus.

All flexible work arrangements are subject to periodic review and may be modified or discontinued at any time at the university’s discretion.