"Deputy Chief of Staff & Director of Community Impact Operations"

About San Francisco Bay University (SFBU)

San Francisco Bay University (SFBU) is a private, nonprofit institution dedicated to advancing educational equity, innovation, and community impact. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, SFBU is transforming access to higher education through AI-enabled learning, bilingual engagement, and neighborhood-based campuses that empower learners to thrive in the modern economy.

Guided by our Strategic Plan, SFBU is reimagining higher education through:

• Academic Innovation - integrating applied learning, entrepreneurship, and technology. Community Impact - cultivating partnerships that strengthen our regional and global ecosystem.
• Student Success - fostering personalized engagement and career readiness.
• Institutional Excellence - promoting transparency, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.

Position Summary

The Deputy Chief of Staff & Director of Community Impact Operations is a senior strategist, operator, and thought partner to the Chief of Staff & Vice President for Presidential Initiatives & Community Impact. This role ensures the Office of the President operates with excellence and discipline-driving execution across strategic planning, presidential initiatives, cabinet coordination, board support, and community impact partnerships.

The Deputy Chief of Staff leads program management, data-driven planning, and cross-functional coordination to translate strategy into action. Working across academic, administrative, and external divisions, this role ensures SFBU's institutional priorities are well structured, well communicated, and well executed. The Director also oversees the operational delivery of community impact initiatives, aligning regional partnerships with the university's mission and presidential vision. Located in Fremont, CA, this is an exempt, full-time position eligible for hybrid work.

Key Responsibilities

1) Strategy, Planning & Portfolio Management

• Translate presidential and institutional priorities into actionable plans, frameworks, and measurable outcomes.
• Lead annual and multi-year planning cycles; align cabinet, board, and university-wide strategies.
• Develop and maintain institutional dashboards, KPIs, and performance tracking systems in collaboration with Institutional Research and Finance.
• Manage the portfolio of presidential initiatives with clear scoping, resourcing, and progress reporting to the President and Board.
• Design and facilitate strategic planning retreats, cabinet offsites, and cross-functional workshops.
• Synthesize data and insights into concise analyses and briefing materials for executive decision-making.
• Support scenario planning, risk assessment, and organizational alignment across priorities.

2) Operational Excellence & Rhythm of Business

• Serve as the operational backbone of the Office of the President, ensuring smooth execution of planning, meetings, and deliverables.
• Co-manage SFBU's Rhythm of Business (RoB)-leadership council, cabinet, and board cycles-including agenda design, materials, documentation, and follow-up.
• Track institutional action items, drive accountability, and ensure timely progress updates across leadership teams.
• Champion continuous improvement and process simplification across executive workflows.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR, Legal, and Institutional Research to integrate planning, budgeting, and reporting.
• Support change management, policy implementation, and internal communications that reinforce alignment and transparency.

3) Community Impact Operations

• Oversee planning, implementation, and performance management of community impact and neighborhood campus initiatives.
• Manage partnerships with community organizations to advance SFBU's mission and regional impact.
• Oversee contracts, budgets, and performance frameworks; ensure compliance and measurable outcomes.
• Develop dashboards and reports highlighting SFBU's social and regional impact; coordinate related communications with Marketing & Communications.
• Provide insights on partnership development, funding opportunities, and policy alignment.
• Support external representation for the CoS/VP and coordinate community-based events, roundtables, and strategic convenings.

4) Board, Cabinet & Leadership Coordination

• Support board operations-materials, logistics, action-item tracking, and communications-in partnership with the General Counsel.
• Prepare briefings, reports, and executive communications for the President and Board, synthesizing risks, milestones, and progress against goals.
• Partner with cabinet members on goal setting, progress tracking, and integrated reporting.
• Drive leadership meeting agendas, manage follow-ups, and maintain institutional memory of key decisions.

5) Team Leadership & Organizational Enablement

• Lead and mentor staff and contractors supporting strategy, project management, and community impact operations.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and accountability with clear roles and expectations. Oversee internal knowledge-management systems to enhance coordination, transparency, and information flow.
• Design and facilitate team retreats, leadership development sessions, and learning opportunities.

Core Competencies

• Strategic & Systems Thinking: Connects long-term vision to executable roadmaps; designs structures that enable clarity and accountability.
• Operational Excellence: Orchestrates complex workflows with precision; delivers disciplined follow-through.
• Executive Communication: Writes and presents with clarity, brevity, and influence; strong executive presence.
• Collaboration & Influence: Builds trust across functions; navigates organizational dynamics with political and interpersonal acumen.
• Data Fluency: Uses analytics, dashboards, and research to inform decisions and demonstrate outcomes.
• Equity & Inclusion: Advances community-centered leadership and inclusive practices in planning and operations.
• Adaptability: Thrives in fast-moving environments; solutions-focused and mission- driven.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Master's degree in Public Administration, Business, Education, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 8-10 years in strategy, planning, project management, or organizational operations- ideally in higher education, philanthropy, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success managing enterprise-level projects and executive planning cycles with cross-functional partners.
• Proficiency with project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Asana, Smartsheet, Monday.com or equivalent).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to synthesize complexity into actionable plans.
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and executive writing skills.
• Experience developing and managing dashboards, KPIs, and reporting frameworks; proficiency with Tableau or Power BI.

Preferred

• Experience supporting a President/Chancellor, Chief of Staff, or senior executive team.
• Familiarity with board governance practices and executive-level briefing standards.
• Background in community partnerships, civic collaboration, or regional initiatives.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• Primarily office-based with hybrid flexibility.
• Occasional evening/weekend commitments for board meetings, events, or emergent priorities.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs; extended periods of computer use and meeting facilitation.

Compensation & Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus comprehensive benefits including health, vision, dental, retirement, generous PTO, and professional development support.

Application Process

Please submit:

• Current Resume or CV
• Cover Letter (detailing your interest and qualifications for this role)

This position description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

Equal Opportunity Statement

SFBU is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations are available throughout the application and interview process.