Chief of Staff and Vice President for Presidential Operations

About the role

The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the University and is responsible for all operational and strategic aspects of the University, including student recruitment, retention, and graduation, academic policies and programs; state and non-state operating budgets; personnel policies and procedures; external outreach, collaboration and fund raising.

The Chief of Staff and Vice President for Presidential Operations (Chief of Staff/VP) serves as a senior advisor who provides strategic counsel, executive leadership, and operational coordination in support of institutional priorities and presidential initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a key member of the President’s Cabinet and provides strategic counsel to the President on university priorities, policies, and organizational matters.
• Collaborates with Cabinet members and senior administrators to identify, advance, and implement institutional initiatives and presidential priorities.
• Acts independently within broad policy and organizational guidelines, exercising sound judgment on complex and sensitive matters.
• Identifies emerging campus and systemwide issues, researches implications, and develops recommendations for presidential consideration.
• Provides leadership and input on key university initiatives as directed by the President.
• Serves as the primary liaison for the President’s Office with campus constituents, community stakeholders, and external partners.
• Represents the President at campus and external meetings and events, as appropriate.
• Advises the President on campus, CSU, legal, contractual, and community matters, including sensitive and high-impact issues.
• Reviews and provides input on contracts, agreements, and other matters presented on behalf of the President.
• Interacts with University Counsel and other partners on legal and policy issues and provides recommendations to the President as needed.
• Identifies and elevates potential problems, risks, or concerns affecting policies, procedures, personnel, and institutional operations.
• Develops high-level briefing materials, reports, presentations, correspondence, and other executive communications on behalf of the President.
• Reviews, edits, and tracks critical strategic communications and documents prepared for the President’s signature or review.
• Covers research, analysis, and evaluation to support presidential decision-making and executive action.
• Ensures the President is fully apprised of key issues, timelines, and implementation progress related to institutional priorities.
• Supports management of the varied requests, obligations, and administrative needs of the President’s Office.
• Captures and coordinates the completion of required reports and time-sensitive deliverables to internal and external entities.
• Leads executive communications in close partnership with the director of executive communications to ensure speeches, remarks, and correspondence reflect the President’s voice.
• Provides leadership, direction, and oversight to staff and functional areas assigned to the President’s Office.
• Serves as the President’s Designee for NAGPRA/CalNAGPRA compliance working closely with the Director of Tribal Relations and NAGPRA coordinator.
• Serves as the President’s Designee for the campus Civil Rights program working closely with the AVP for Equity and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator and in collaboration with the CSU Office of Civil Rights.
• Supervises the work of administrative and support staff assigned to the office.
• Supports staffing, budget administration, office operations, and coordination of executive workflows within the President’s Office.
• Coordinates special events with University Events staff, coordinates CSU Trustee visits, and other executive-level activities requiring cross-campus collaboration.
• Leads or supports sensitive investigations, dispute resolution efforts, and other special assignments as directed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Driver License, Valid and in State - Required upon hire.
• Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible professional experience in executive leadership, administration, strategic planning, policy development, or operations in a complex organization.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives, coordinating complex organizational priorities across multiple stakeholders and ability to maintain collaborative working relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, manage competing priorities, and drive follow-through in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, and diplomacy in handling confidential, sensitive, and politically nuanced matters.
• Demonstrated strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including preparation of executive correspondence, presentations, and briefing materials.
• Demonstrated knowledge of executive operations, higher education governance and policy, and administrative processes within a complex organizational environment.
• Demonstrated initiative, ownership, and strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including the ability to assess risk and recommend appropriate action.

Preferred Experience

• Master’s degree in higher education, public administration, business administration, or related field.
• Experience working in higher education, the California State University system, or another large and complex public-sector organization, with demonstrated knowledge of and experience in a shared governance environment.
• Experience serving in a chief of staff, executive officer, cabinet-level support, or comparable senior leadership role.
• Experience advising executive leadership on policy, governance communications, and strategic initiatives.
• Experience managing budgets, supervising staff, and coordinating institutional projects with campus-wide impact.
• Experience managing sensitive, institutional risk and compliance matters.

Benefits

This position offers access to the CSU's robust Total Compensation package, including employer-paid dental and vision, a CalPERS pension, generous paid leave, and tuition fee waiver benefits.

Pay

The salary for this position is between $300,000 - $315,000 annually, commensurate with skills and qualifications.

Schedule

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm, unless otherwise notified.

Benefits

See the CSU’s Benefits Summary.

Out of State Work

The California State University (CSU) system is a network of twenty-three public universities providing access to a quality education through the support of California taxpayers. Part of CSU’s mission is to prepare educated, responsible individuals to contribute to California’s schools, economy, culture, and future. As an agency of the State of California, the CSU’s business operations almost exclusively reside within California. The CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.

Background Check

Cal Poly Pomona will make a conditional offer of employment to final job candidates, pending the satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).

CSU Classification Salary Range

This position is part of the Management Personnel Plan unit M80. The CSU Classification Standards for this position are located on the CSU Classification Standards website. The CSU Salary Schedule is located on the CSU Salary Schedule website. Please refer to the anticipated hiring range for the appropriate salary rate for this particular position.

Outside Employment Disclosure

Executive and Management Plan Personnel employees must disclose all current outside employment at the time of hire as a precondition of hire and at the following times after hire: annually in July, within 30 days of accepting outside employment, and upon their manager’s request.

Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Security & Fire Safety

For more information, go to the CSU’s Security & Fire Safety Policy.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination

As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against e