Description
The Chief of Staff serves as the President’s senior strategic advisor and executive integrator. This role ensures alignment of strategy, operations, governance, and cross-functional execution across academic and administrative divisions. Acting on behalf of the President, the Chief of Staff advances institutional priorities, strengthens cabinet effectiveness, oversees governance coordination, and ensures disciplined follow-through on strategic initiatives within a shared governance framework.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in a relevant field
• 8–12+ years of progressive leadership experience in higher education or similarly complex mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting executive leadership and board governance processes.
• Experience working within shared governance and accreditation environments preferred.
• Strategic thinking combined with disciplined operational execution.
• Deep understanding of higher education governance and institutional effectiveness.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Strong political acumen and stakeholder engagement capability.
• High discretion, integrity, and institutional judgment.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
Specific Duties:
Duty:
Executive Strategy, Leadership, and Advisory Support
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President on institutional strategy, organizational design, and executive decision-making.
• Drive implementation and monitoring of the University’s strategic plan and presidential priorities.
• Provide confidential executive analysis, policy review, and research to inform complex institutional decisions.
• Support crisis management coordination and sensitive institutional matters with discretion and sound judgment.
Percentage of Time: 30%
Duty:
Cabinet, Cross Functional, and Institutional Coordination
• Coordinate and strengthen Cabinet operations, including agenda development, executive briefings, and action tracking.
• Lead cross-functional institutional initiatives aligned with enrollment growth, retention, student success, and operational effectiveness.
• Facilitate collaboration across academic and administrative leadership to ensure alignment and accountability.
• Lead or coordinate special projects, organizational assessments, and restructuring initiatives as directed by the President.
Percentage of Time: 25%
Duty:
Board of Trustees Governance and Support
• Oversee preparation, coordination, and distribution of Board of Trustees and committee materials.
• Maintain governance records, board resolutions, and tracking systems for board action items.
• Support preparation of institutional dashboards, academic reports, financial summaries, accreditation documentation, and performance metrics for trustee review.
• Ensure timely follow-through on board directives and governance commitments.
Percentage of Time: 20%
Duty:
Institutional Representation and Presidential Delegation
• Serve as primary liaison between the President’s Office, Office of the Provost, Vice Presidents, and the Board of Trustees.
• Represent the President in campus meetings, trustee engagements, and external forums as delegated.
• Represent the University at the direction of the President.
Percentage of Time: 15%
Duty:
Operational Oversight, Reporting, and Administration
• Coordinate information flow, executive briefings, and institutional reporting required by the President’s Office.
• Ensure accurate documentation, timelines, and accountability for presidential and board driven initiatives.
Percentage of Time: 10%
Salary Range
Maximum: $280,000
Minimum: $200,263.42
Benefits Summary:
Applicants, please note that actual compensation is determined by several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, certifications, relevant education or training, and specific work location, among others. The offered wage or salary is only one aspect of an employee’s total compensation
Benefits include a comprehensive health and wellness plan, tuition remission program for employee, spouse, and dependent children, a generous contribution to the University’s 403B retirement plan, and a generous time off plan.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion and clearance of a background check and employment verification.
Location: La Verne Main Campus
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: No
To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://apptrkr.com/7182182
Institutional Profile
Located in Southern California, the University of La Verne offers a distinctive and relevant educational experience to a diverse population of students, preparing them for successful careers and a commitment to lifelong learning across the liberal arts and professional programs. The academic units of the not-for-profit university include the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Public Management, the LaFetra College of Education, and the College of Law. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate programs, including degree programs tailored for working adults. The university's central campus is located 30 miles east of Los Angeles in the historic Old Town section of La Verne, a city with a population of approximately 35,000 at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The university also has eight regional campuses throughout California and the College of Law campus in Ontario, California. The university is classified as a Carnegie Doctoral Institution with moderate research activity. Core values are reflected throughout all curricular and co-curricular programs, its emphasis on close professor-student interaction, personal support of its students, and its diversity.
The University of La Verne prides itself in being reflective of the diversity of Southern California. Approximately 80 percent of its nearly 8,500 students come from diverse backgrounds and the U.S. Department of Education has designated the university as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). With 80,000 alumni, the university fulfills a critical community function in educating students from underserved populations, many of whom are the first generation in their family to attend college.
The University of La Verne is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against employment or employees on any basis prohibited by state and federal law. University of La Verne hires and promotes individuals based on their qualifications and is consistent with applicable state and federal laws, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, disability, medical condition a or sexual orientation
To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://apptrkr.com/7182182
