Executive Operations Assistant Vice President & Chief of Staff

Executive Operations Assistant for Vice President & Chief of Staff

Salary Range $90k to $100K; depending on qualifications

Pay Basis Monthly

Position Status Regular full-time

Desired Start Date 03/16/2026

The Executive Operations Assistant serves as a strategic partner to the Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff, providing high-level operational support for an executive office responsible for coordinating university-wide strategic initiatives and advising the President. This role requires exceptional political acumen, institutional knowledge, and the ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment. This is not a traditional executive assistant role.

We seek a proactive, seasoned professional who understands the complexity of higher education administration, has deep knowledge of UT Dallas and/or the UT System, and possesses the judgment to navigate sensitive situations with discretion and strategic thinking.

Bachelor’s degree and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience working in a higher education environment. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• Experience supporting executive-level leadership in higher education or complex organizations
• Familiarity with strategic planning processes and university governance structures
• Established network of relationships across UT Dallas divisions and UT System offices
• Experience with Board preparation or materials development
• Familiarity with, or interest in learning, modern data visualization tools and techniques
• Knowledge of Texas public higher education policy environment
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with 10+ years of experience

To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

• Serve as primary liaison between the VP and campus stakeholders, maintaining awareness of institutional dynamics, priorities, and politics
• Anticipate the VP’s needs across short-term deliverables and long-term strategic cycles (including quarterly UT System Board of Regents meetings)
• Staff coordination efforts between the VP and the Associate Vice President for University Initiatives, particularly around strategic plan implementation
• Monitor institutional landscape and flag emerging issues, opportunities, or concerns requiring VP attention
• Coordinate with the President’s executive associate on shared priorities and Board of Regents preparation

• Own the VP’s calendar with full authority to schedule, decline, and optimize time allocation
• Proactively identify scheduling conflicts and resolve competing priorities using institutional knowledge and judgment
• Prepare comprehensive briefing materials for meetings, including background on attendees, institutional context, and anticipated issues
• Manage meeting follow-up, tracking commitments and ensuring timely closure of action items
• Coordinate logistics for cross-divisional working groups and task forces related to strategic initiatives
• Travel

• Manage confidential information with absolute discretion
• Handle correspondence requiring institutional knowledge and political sensitivity
• Maintain organized systems for tracking strategic initiatives, commitments, and key relationships
• Coordinate with other executive offices to ensure alignment and information flow
• Perform other duties as assigned to advance the office’s mission
• Manage budget responsibilities for the office
• Office supplies and management, ordering, etc.
• Anticipatory thinking: Stay two steps ahead without constant direction
• Institutional fluency: Leverage existing relationships and knowledge to solve problems efficiently
• Discretion: Handle sensitive information and…