Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations

Position Summary

The Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations serves as an operational leader within the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost (EVPP), working in close partnership with the Associate Vice President and Chief of Staff (AVP/COS) as a trusted advisor and critical operational partner to ensure organizational success. Reporting directly to the AVP/COS, this role is responsible for translating executive priorities into operational excellence by aligning strategy, people, processes, and performance across the EVPP internal organization.

The position serves as the vital bridge between executive strategy and frontline execution, providing leadership over operational planning, business processes, cross-functional initiatives, and strategic leadership for talent development and team effectiveness to ensure strategic priorities are implemented effectively and consistently. Drawing on expertise in operations management, project and portfolio management, organizational effectiveness, systems thinking, and continuous improvement methodologies, the Deputy Chief supports enterprise-wide initiatives and leads efforts to strengthen operational performance, improve organizational agility, and enhance service delivery across the Office.

The role partners closely with the Chief of Staff to anticipate organizational needs, solve complex operational challenges, and ensure the Office operates with efficiency, accountability, and strategic alignment. Through visible leadership and strong cross-functional partnerships, this role enables the Office to operate with clarity, adaptability, and sustained impact in a dynamic and highly visible University environment.

Leadership, Operations and Strategic Initiatives Management (60%)

• Serve as a strategic partner to the associate vice president/chief of staff, advancing the EVPP's priorities through coordinated planning, execution and leadership.
• With the AVP/COS and Senior Assistant to the Provost, build and sustain a high-performing, service-oriented team by attracting, developing, coaching, and empowering talent; fostering trust, collaboration, and accountability; and ensuring individual strengths are aligned to maximize the collective effectiveness and impact of the Office.
• Establish, implement, and maintain an operating framework of the Office, ensuring effective workflows, clear processes, coordinated execution and a consistent level of responsiveness and follow-through that allow the team to respond with agility to emerging priorities and institutional needs.
• In partnership with the AVP/COS, oversee office operations; budget management; human resources; organizational planning; technology, facilities and space utilization; and implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Develop high-impact executive summaries and recommendations to the AVP/COS from institutional data, policy briefs, and university and other communications.
• Act as a key operational liaison between executive leadership, academic deans, and university administrative and academic units to facilitate seamless communication, resolve complex issues, and advance university-wide initiatives.
• Serve as operational lead in the absence of the AVP/ COS, representing the office across high-level university committees, governance groups, and cross-functional meetings.

Project Management & Strategic Execution (20%)

• Lead, manage and execute multiple, concurrent and high-impact projects that support the EVPP's priorities and university initiatives, ensuring accountability, timely follow-through, and alignment among multiple stakeholders.
• Provide senior administrative support for executive searches for senior leadership positions reporting to the EVPP, coordinating a rigorous, equitable, and effective assessment and selection process that attracts and evaluates exceptional leadership talent while advancing institutional priorities. Partners with AVP/COS and Human Resources Director to prepare and advise search committee chairs and committees; manage timelines, and logistics; and serves as EVPP representative throughout the search process.
• Guide the utilization of structured project management frameworks to ensure the provost's academic initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Evaluate issues, risks, and interdependencies, and escalate issues appropriately. Proactively provide options, pros and cons of each, and final recommendations.
• Promote and cultivate cross-functional collaboration and project follow-through and maintain high-level tracking of action items, deliverables, and commitments arising from project plans and other strategic planning activities.

Operational Excellence & Lean Transformation (20%)

• Apply Lean thinking principles and tools to drive the adoption of new technologies and automated processes to gain agility, strengthen and streamline administrative operations, reduce duplication, and eliminate inefficiencies.
• Design, implement, and lead operational frameworks that…