Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff drives the engagement and implementation of the strategic plan and alignment of operational planning, institutional effectiveness, data governance and strategic initiatives to maximize College outcomes, and organizational and student success. This role is responsible for the college’s legislative and community relations program, which includes developing a comprehensive engagement plan, directing the college’s lobbying efforts, and building and maintaining critical relationships with local, state, and federal contacts to ensure ICC partnerships and funding streams are maintained and support our strategic agenda. The Chief will manage VP, Cabinet and Strategic Forum strategy and champion change and project management and data-based decision making to support the Colleges strategy.

The Chief of Staff provides leadership for innovation, higher education best practices and facilitates the design and implementation of change management and project management systems to support strategic plan implementation and cultural change. The COS also acts as the chief strategy advisor to the President. This position will provide institutional leadership for the Achieving the Dream (ATD), EAB and other industry leadership organizations to leverage best practices for the College. This position serves as a steward of highly confidential information and acts as a trustworthy liaison between the President and internal and external stakeholders on key initiatives. The role includes a wide range of administrative duties including special assignments, agenda preparation and preparing the President for participation in community, and legislative events. The COS will manage projects of institutional significance as assigned by the President and coordinate the alignment of key strategic initiatives across divisions as required. The COS represents the president to external organizations and supervises the following departments: Institutional Research, Planning, Accreditation and Assessment, Change and Project Management.

The job will be posted until filled with candidate review starting on 9/6/24.

Essential Functions

This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. Some incumbents may not perform all the duties listed while in other cases related duties may also be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Manage the strategic initiatives to ensure alignment, timeliness and advancement of institutional strategies and priorities and the strategic and operational planning processes.
2. Connect to local, state, and national legislators and agency leaders to ensure the College remains a trusted partner, go to agency and receives partnership and grant funding in support of our strategy goals and organizational and student success.
3. Provide leadership for College Institutional Effectiveness efforts including accreditation, assessment, annual publications (the Student Success Data Book and the Institutional Accountability Report) and oversees the data governance, quality, and access.
4. Act as designee in the absence of the President and other senior officers.
5. Represent the views of the President and introduces and promotes college projects and initiatives to a variety of internal and external stakeholders, including members of local, regional, state and federal government, alumni, friends, and Trustees of the college, and college employees.
6. Manage communications, in coordination with the Communications Office, with internal and external stakeholders and interested parties to increase and maintain visibility of the college’s projects and programming.
7. Work with campus leadership to oversee complex, high-priority projects with responsibility for outcomes.
8. Develop and review strategies to ensure College projects align with the strategic plan and desired outcomes.
9. Develop and deliver complex presentation materials including charts, graphs and other data representations and makes recommendations for new operational strategies, programs and/or revisions to existing policies to senior leadership and other diverse groups.
10. Develop and manage college strategy for legislative affairs and community relations, strengthening relationships with elected officials and government agencies and increasing their understanding of and support for the College.
11. Develop/review annual division budgets, monitor monthly expenditures and provides updates on progress of annual goals and profitability.
12. Identify new business opportunities, both with partner organizations and current, former and potential clients for the College.
13. Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to satisfactorily perform the essential duties and responsibilities.

1. Master's degree in Education, Business, Social Science, or related field.
2. 10 years of experience in employment, education, training, or equivalent field.
3. 3 years of supervisory experience.
4. Experience in higher education, planning, developing, and managing budgets.
5. Strong project management and program design skills.
6. Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities.
7. Strong presentation skills.
8. Strong attention to detail.
9. Strong problem-solving skills.
10. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
11. Strong interpersonal skills including abilities to build, maintain, and establish cooperative and professional working relationships with diverse audiences from various backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Executive experience in higher education.
2. Experience in partnership development.
3. Knowledge of community college accreditation requirements, policies, and procedures.
4. Academic administrative experience, including roles such as department or division chair/director.