Deputy Chief of Staff and Clerk of the Board of Visitors

About the role

The Deputy Chief of Staff and Clerk to the Board of Visitors serves in a dual leadership role within the Office of the President, providing strategic and operational leadership in support of the President and Chief of Staff while also serving as the University’s principal officer responsible for the effective governance and administration of the Board of Visitors.

Responsibilities

• Executive Leadership and Strategic Advising:
  • Serves as principal deputy to the Chief of Staff on executive priorities, organizational effectiveness, and emerging issues requiring presidential attention.
  • Anticipates institutional risks and opportunities, develops recommendations, and coordinates implementation of decisions.
  • Leads institutional initiatives and enterprise-wide projects involving multiple divisions, executive leaders, and external stakeholders.
  • Monitors progress toward presidential and institutional goals and provides executive leadership to ensure successful outcomes.
  • Collaborates with the Chief Communications Officer in developing presidential speeches.
  • Exercises delegated authority on behalf of the Chief of Staff in representing the Office of the President and resolving organizational issues.
  • Provides continuity and leadership within the Office of the President during periods of transition, significant institutional activity, or absence of the Chief of Staff, as delegated.
• Board of Visitors Governance and Leadership:
  • Serves as Clerk to the Board of Visitors and principal institutional liaison to the Rector and members of the Board.
  • Serves as a trusted governance advisor to the Rector, President, Chief of Staff, Board members, and senior University leadership.
  • Maintains comprehensive knowledge of the Board’s statutory authority, Bylaws, policies, procedures, committee structure, and governance responsibilities.
  • In consultation with University Counsel, ensures Board activities are conducted in accordance with applicable Virginia law, Board Bylaws, University policies, and recognized governance practices.
  • Advises the Rector, President, and Chief of Staff in developing annual Board priorities, meeting agendas, retreats, educational opportunities, and other activities designed to strengthen Board effectiveness.
  • Maintains continuity of institutional knowledge regarding Board actions, precedents, practices, and governance matters across changes in Board membership and leadership.
  • Facilitates effective communication between the Board and University administration and ensures Board members receive timely, accurate, and appropriate information necessary to fulfill their fiduciary and governance responsibilities.
  • Partners with senior University leaders in preparing matters for Board consideration and ensures appropriate follow-through on Board actions and directives.
  • Coordinates orientation and onboarding of new Board members and supports ongoing Board education and development.
  • Oversees preparation and execution of Board and committee meetings, including agendas, materials, resolutions, minutes, official records, and required notices.
  • Supports the Rector and committee chairs in the effective execution of their governance responsibilities.
  • Serves as a key point of coordination with the Board during institutional crises, significant University developments, and other matters requiring timely Board communication.
  • Supervises the Administrative Assistant responsible for Board operations and logistics.
  • Ensures the preservation and appropriate management of official Board records.
• Executive Operations:
  • Provides executive oversight of the Office of the President, ensuring alignment of daily operations with presidential priorities and institutional objectives.
  • Supervises the staff in the Office of the President.
  • Develops agendas for Cabinet meetings and liaises with Cabinet members to monitor action items and ensure appropriate follow-up on projects and initiatives.
  • Exercises independent judgment in managing competing presidential priorities and ensuring the highest and best use of presidential time.
  • Ensures executive office operations are responsive, efficient, professional, and aligned with the expectations of the President and Chief of Staff.
  • Oversees the Office of the President operating budget of approximately $3 million.
  • Exercises sound fiscal judgment in allocating state and private resources while maintaining flexibility to address emerging opportunities, presidential priorities, and unexpected institutional needs.
  • Serves on university committees as determined by the Chief of Staff.
• Customer Service Excellence:
  • Upholds a positive and professional attitude, demonstrating a commitment to the “Student’s First” value and providing exceptional service to all constituencies.
  • Demonstrates a positive and professional attitude.
  • Practices inclusive leadership and treats everyone with dignity and respect.
  • Values diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
  • This position is designated as a “responsible employee” who has the authority to redress sexual violence, who has the duty to report incidents of sexual violence or other student misconduct, or who a student could reasonably believe has this authority or duty.
  • Follow workplace safety regulations and adhere to applicable standards, processes, and programs established for your position.
  • Report unsafe work conditions to your supervisor.
  • Immediately report work-related incidents to your supervisor and participate in accident investigation requests.
  • Promote a safe and healthy work environment by ensuring the implementation of safety regulations and applicable standards, processes, and programs established for employees under your supervision.
  • Ensure employees under your supervision are trained in safety standards and procedures for their positions.
  • Report work-related incidents within 24 hours according to the procedures established by the university, state and federal guidelines.

Qualifications

• Must have a Master’s Degree in a related field, or a Bachelor’s Degree with work experience which equates to an advanced degree.
• Additional consideration given for a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a senior executive environment, exercising exceptional judgment, discretion, diplomacy, political acumen, and confidentiality.
• Strong strategic and organizational leadership skills, with demonstrated ability to anticipate issues, solve complex problems, develop recommendations, and translate executive priorities into action.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives, build consensus among senior-level stakeholders, manage competing priorities, and drive initiatives to successful completion.
• Exceptional executive presence and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish trusted relationships and effectively represent senior leadership with a wide range of internal and external constituencies.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information and communicate clearly and persuasively with executive audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise significant independent judgment and delegated authority while recognizing matters requiring consultation with or action by senior leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including the ability to supervise professional staff, foster accountability and collaboration, and responsibly manage organizational and financial resources.
• Ability to leverage artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency, strengthen decision-making, support business operations and best practices in the President’s Office.

Experience

• Progressively responsible professional experience involving executive leadership, organizational management, strategic initiatives, governance, or comparable responsibilities within a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience working with senior executives and managing complex, sensitive, and high-level organizational matters.
• Demonstrated experience leading projects or initiatives involving multiple departments, functions, or senior-level stakeholders.
• Supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Additional consideration given for:
  • Experience working with a governing board, board chair or rector, president, chief of staff, cabinet, or comparable senior executive leadership.
  • Experience with strategic planning, organizational change, crisis management, executive communications, government relations, or other complex institution-wide initiatives.
  • Significant leadership experience within higher education, government, public administration, or another complex mission-driven organization.
  • Experience working in a president’s, chancellor’s, chief executive’s, or chief of staff’s office.
  • Experience supporting or working directly with a governing board and its leadership, particularly within higher education or the public sector.
  • Experience with institutional governance, strategic planning, organizational change, executive communications, government relations, or crisis management.
  • Experience within Virginia public higher education or familiarity with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s governmental, legislative, and regulatory environment.