"Chief of Staff and Associate Dean of Academic Initiatives, Yale College"

Overview

The Yale College Chief of Staff serves as a representative of the Yale College Dean and a member of the Yale College Senior Management Team. Will implement the Dean’s academic and student affairs plans, manage the flow of people and information through the Dean’s office, and represent the Dean’s interests. Will assist the Dean of Undergraduate Education with Academic Initiatives.

As the representative of the Yale College Dean and member of the Yale College Senior Management Team, the Chief of Staff will implement the Dean’s academic and student affairs plans, manage the flow of people and information through the Dean’s office, and represent the Dean’s interests.

More specifically, the Chief of Staff:

• Serves as Senior Advisor.
• Works on behalf of the Dean assuring and providing critical, high-level support to optimize and prioritize the Dean’s time. Provides information, interpretation and counsel to the Dean on issues related to the College and University, particularly those involving key relationships and the Dean’s priorities. Elicits counsel from key advisors to the Dean on various issues and matters. Is accountable to the Dean for developing metrics and tracking outcomes of key projects and initiatives, ensuring coordination, communication, accountability, and follow-through across Yale College Dean’s Office.
• Supports the Dean on relations with Internal and External Constituencies.
• Oversees the overall coordination of activities with key internal constituents, as well as other public and private contacts, etc., partnering with the Director of Development. Interacts on behalf of the Dean with various stakeholders (faculty, students, staff, alumni). Represents the Dean at meetings and events, connects senior staff and offices within Yale College Dean’s Office, and acts as liaison to key University offices. Attends, as needed, the Dean’s meetings within Yale College, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Coordinates with the development director and development leadership on the creation of fundraising strategies for significant donors.
• Participates in Strategic Planning.
• Coordinates the creation of academic, student-life, and other strategic plans related to the Dean’s priorities and develops processes to ensure appropriate monitoring and follow-up. Gathers multiple inputs and integrates plans and requests based on the Dean’s priorities, in collaboration with the relevant Senior Associate Deans. Coordinates setting of goals and priorities and development of concepts and approaches; reviews progress and results of projects, drafts reports on project progress and outcomes for various audiences. Generates strategic opportunities for the Dean to introduce College initiatives, values, and mission on a national and international stage. Works closely with the Dean of Undergraduate Education on academic initiatives.
• Acts as Communication Liaison.
• Represents the Dean to the University and public constituents as directed by the Dean. Acts as a communications liaison to leadership and senior staff across the Yale community on behalf of the Dean. Collaborates with the Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Communications on developing, managing and maintaining an effective communication program within the Dean’s office. Supervises the Senior Executive Assistant to ensure the Dean’s daily preparation is complete and timely and, with members of the Senior Management Team and others, that agendas for major standing meetings advance the Dean’s goals. Ensures the timely reciprocal exchange of information among top management, faculty and staff and that the Dean is briefed and advised on all matters by appropriate individuals.
• Oversees Office Activities and Events.
• Working with the Senior Executive Assistant, oversees the planning and organization of various meetings, focus groups, etc., including oversight of the creation of the agenda and preparation and distribution of meeting minutes; and compiles data, statistics and other information along with materials for meetings and presentations. Schedules and discusses the Senior Management Team meetings with the Dean and maintains and distributes agendas. Oversees the Senior Executive Assistant in planning various special projects with attention to the necessary protocol for the events hosted by the Dean.
• Resolves Issues.
• Coordinates with members of the Senior Management Team to resolve issues and requests referred to the Dean’s office by faculty, staff, alumni, or students, including by arranging meetings with concerned parties to discuss requests or complaints. Coordinates with members of the Senior Management Team to determine the best course of action for effective resolution, involving the Dean as needed. Manages crises pertaining to the Dean and College, keeping an ear on key departments to ensure that the Dean is abreast of all situations in need of executive-level response. Coordinates with members of the Senior Management Team, especially the Deans of Students and of Student Engagement, to ensure that the Dean and the Dean’s priorities are represented when managing crises/emergencies.

Coordination of the Dean’s academic and student affairs plans. Manage the flow of people and information through the Dean’s office and represent the Dean’s interests. Responsible for relationships, strategic initiatives, communications, and special projects in support of the school’s strategic priorities. Envisions creates, and authors a wide variety of sensitive and high-level written materials. Serves as coordinator and executor for a range of internal and external initiatives and committees. May participate in decisions regarding committee work. Advises panelists on precedents and prior actions. Serve as a confidential resource to and liaison for the Dean and with a high level of discretion and tact will handle the disposition/resolution of complex/sensitive situations. Supervises the senior executive assistant in anticipating requests for the Dean’s time from a variety of sources, including school and university offices/departments and external organizations, ensuring the Dean’s time is directed to the highest-priority activities. Create systems and processes to organize, communicate and manage requests and activities and exercise judgment to prioritize and determine which require the direct involvement of the Dean and the senior associate deans. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. High-level independent judgment and ability to function as right hand; represent the Dean and the Dean’s viewpoint and priorities including with faculty, university representatives and New Haven community. Knowledge of academic issues and faculty affairs.
2. Superior written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated interpersonal skills with the ability to interact, influence and frame ideas for deans, faculty, administrators, staff, students, and other stakeholders.
3. Expertise in undergraduate education and student life.
4. Excellent time management and project management skills. Ability to work independently and with own initiative.
5. Proven ability maintaining high levels of confidentiality on sensitive issues and on all matters related to relationships with the Dean and other key constituencies.

Preferred Education and Experience

1. Master’s degree or PhD. with a minimum of eight years of higher education experience working with students, faculty and university administration.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Facilitation of the Dean’s academic and student affairs plans.
2. Manage the flow of people and information through the Dean’s office, and represent the Dean’s interests.
3. Responsible for relationships, strategic initiatives, communications, and special projects in support of the school’s strategic priorities.
4. Serve as coordinator and executor for a range of internal and external initiatives and committees. May participate in decisions regarding committee work.
5. Serve as a confidential resource to and liaison for the Dean and with a high level of discretion and tact will handle the disposition/resolution of complex/sensitive situations.
6. In coordination with the Senior Executive Assistant, anticipate requests for the Dean’s time from a variety of sources, including school and university offices/departments and external organizations, ensuring the Dean’s time is directed to the highest-priority activities.
7. Create systems and processes to organize, communicate and manage requests and activities and exercise judgment to prioritize and determine which require the direct involvement of the Dean and the senior associate deans.
8. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of five years of higher education experience working with students, faculty and university administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.