Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff

About the Position:

The Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff will serve as the Presidents senior strategic advisor and institutional integrator. Reporting directly to the President and serving as one of the universitys most senior executives this role provides leadership in advancing presidential priorities guiding complex institutional initiatives and ensuring alignment between institutional strategy governance and operational execution.

The Executive Vice President works closely with the President Provost Senior Leadership and Board of Visitors to advance the universitys strategic priorities while preserving the integrity of shared governance strengthening academic excellence and ensuring that students remain at the center of decision-making.

The Executive Vice President functions as a trusted advisor and executive partner to the President stewarding enterprise initiatives advancing institutional priorities and ensuring disciplined execution across the university.

Scope and Impact of the Role:

• Serve as a principal member of the Presidents executive leadership team shaping institutional strategy and advancing university-wide priorities.
• Provide enterprise leadership for strategic initiatives requiring coordination across multiple divisions and executive leaders.
• Exercise broad institutional influence across academic and administrative units in advancing presidential priorities.
• Provide executive oversight for key institutional functions that support organizational integrity operational effectiveness and global engagement.
• Speak for and represent the President in institutional governance and external forums whenappropriate.

Personal Characteristics

• High integrity discretionand mature judgment;
• Exceptional discretion and professionalism;
• Strong executive presence and leadership credibility;
• Strategic perspective and intellectual curiosity;
• Ability to build trust with faculty senior leaders and external stakeholders; and
• Commitment to student success and academic excellence.

Measures of Success

• Execution on strategic initiatives as assigned by the President;
• Strategic initiatives advance the universitys institutional competitiveness and reputation;
• Presidential priorities are translated into effective institutional strategies and outcomes;
• Alignment across executive leadership strengthens institutional coordination and execution;
• Relationships with faculty governanceand the broader staff and student communitiesremainconstructive and credible;
• Institutional resources are aligned with strategic goals; and
• The President is positioned for effective leadership through informed counsel and disciplined execution of priorities.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Advisor to the President

• Serve as the Presidents principal strategic advisor on matters of institutional strategy governance policy and organizational leadership;
• Advise the President on strategic priorities institutional policy and initiatives affecting the university;
• Provide strategic analysis and executive recommendations that inform presidential decision-making;
• Anticipate institutional risks opportunities and emerging issues that may affect the universitys trajectory;
• Shape strategic options and policy responses for complex institutional challenges; and
• Deliver candid independent judgment on sensitive or complex institutional matters.

Strategic Initiatives and Institutional Priority Leadership

• Provide executive leadership for enterprise initiatives that advance the universitys strategic priorities and long-term institutional trajectory;
• Lead the development and implementation of presidential initiatives that require coordinated action across multiple divisions;
• Translate presidential priorities into clear institutional strategies implementation frameworks and measurable outcomes;
• Drive institutional transformation initiatives that enhance the universitys competitiveness operational effectiveness and national reputation;
• Establish governance structures implementation frameworks and performance metrics for major strategic initiatives;
• Steward initiatives that span academic administrative and external partnerships across the university;
• Identify and remove institutional barriers that impede progress on enterprise initiatives; and
• Ensure sustained progress and accountability for major initiatives that shape the universitys future.

Institutional Integration and Executive Coordination

• Ensure strategic alignment across the universitys executive leadership and organizational units;
• Drive coordination among members of the universitys leadership team around institutional priorities and strategy;
• Lead cross-divisional collaboration on complex institutional initiatives;
• Strengthen institutional coordination across academic and administrative leadership;
• Ensure major initiatives are implemented effectively across divisions; and
• Promote disciplined execution and accountability across the executive leadership team.

Stewardship of Shared Governance

• Advance constructive engagement with the universitys shared governance structures;
• Steward relationships with faculty leadership and the Faculty Senate;
• Ensure governance processes remain transparent credible and aligned with university policies and Board of Visitors bylaws;
• Uphold the principles of academic freedom and shared governance while advancing institutional priorities; and
• Represent the President in governance discussions and institutional forums when appropriate.

Resource Stewardship and Institutional Effectiveness

• Promote disciplined stewardship of institutional resources and operational effectiveness;
• Ensure institutional resources are aligned with strategic priorities and long-term sustainability;
• Evaluate major initiatives for mission alignment institutional impact and operational feasibility;
• Promote accountability and disciplined execution across major initiatives; and
• Advance institutional effectiveness across areas within the roles portfolio.

Academic Excellence and Student-Centered Outcomes

• Advance initiatives that strengthen the universitys academic mission and student success;
• Ensure institutional priorities reinforce academic excellence and research distinction;
• Promote initiatives that improve student access experience and outcomes;
• Strengthen efforts that enhance faculty excellence and research competitiveness; and
• Champion a culture where student success and academic rigor are mutually reinforcing.

Board of Visitors and External Engagement

• Steward key relationships with the Board of Visitors and external stakeholders;
• Ensure effective preparation and strategic alignment for Board of Visitors meetings and engagement;
• Advise the President on matters involving Board governance and institutional strategy;
• Maintain awareness of legislative regulatory and policy developments affecting higher education; and
• Advance engagement with government leaders community partners and strategic stakeholders as directed by the President.

Institutional Risk and Complex Issues Advisory

• Advise the President on institutional risks emerging issues and matters that may affect the universitys reputation operations or strategic priorities;
• Work across university leadership to assess complex issues and develop coordinated executive-level responses;
• Facilitate alignment among senior leaders when institutional challenges require cross-divisional collaboration and resolution;
• Ensure executive awareness of risks and issues that may require presidential attention or strategic intervention; and
• Partner with relevant institutional leaders and the universitys Enterprise Risk Management function to support informed decision-making and effective resolution of complex issues.

Portfolio Leadership

• Provide executive leadership and oversight for key institutional units that support the universitys mission and operational integrity;
• Establish strategic direction and leadership for areas within the portfolio;
• Ensure these units operate with excellence integrity and alignment with institutional priorities;
• Promote collaboration between portfolio units and the broader university community; and
• Strengthen institutional capability responsiveness and operational effectiveness across the portfolio.

The following units operate through the EVP for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff who provides executive leadership and coordination in partnership with the President:

• Human Resources
• University Police
• Ombudsperson
• International and Global Affairs

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Significant senior executive leadership experience in higher education government or a complex mission-driven organization;
• Demonstrated experience leading institutional strategy and enterprise initiatives;
• Understanding of shared governance and academic culture;
• Exceptional strategic analytical and communication skills;
• Demonstrated political acumen and stakeholder management capability; and
• Proven ability to lead complex initiatives across large organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree;
• Experience working directly with governing boards;
• Leadership experience within a large public research university; and
• Experience leading enterprise-wide strategic initiatives.

Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants should submit the following materials:

• Letter of interest outlining qualifications and interest in the position
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume

Application materials should be submitted confidentially to:

All materials must be receivedno later than 11:59 PM EST on March 20 2026.

Posting Open Date:March 16 2026

Posting Close Date:March 20 2026

Open Until Filled:No