Chancellor: Chief of Staff for Chancellor

POSITION: The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire seeks a highly organized individual with proven communication and interpersonal relationship skills to support the Chancellor. Reporting directly to the Chancellor and serving on his executive team, the Chief of Staff is the primary liaison for the Chancellor with the University community on strategic and operational matters.

The position provides an opportunity for a proven leader to work collaboratively with all divisional leaders and with shared governance on institutional initiatives and strategic goals. The Chief of Staff manages all Chancellor communication, working closely with the Executive Director of University Relations and Marketing; assists in implementing Chancellor and institutional initiatives; and oversees the institution’s strategic planning efforts. The position requires an individual who is politically astute, has sound judgement, is results-driven, possesses a deep commitment to collaboration, and has the ability to operate with the highest level of diplomacy and confidentiality.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Institutional Initiatives

• Advance the Office of the Chancellor by providing strategic, operational and administrative leadership on university priorities and initiatives.
• Foster and support collegial partnerships with all divisions that support the strategic vision and goals of the University.
• Lead a variety of initiatives managed at the level of the Chancellor’s Office, fostering collaboration, setting goals, facilitating action, and monitoring and communicating progress to the Chancellor and executive leadership. 
• Plan agendas and itineraries for ongoing and major Chancellor meetings and events, providing meeting support and followup as needed.
• Participate in key constituent and shared governance meetings to guide strategy and policy implementation to ensure responsive follow-up and accountability.
• Actively contribute to fostering an inclusive and welcoming community that will enable faculty, staff and students to thrive.
• Work with the Executive Assistant to the Chancellor to manage the Office of the Chancellor, including overseeing communication to the campus, independently handling high-level or sensitive concerns, and consulting with professional resources at the university and UW System level as needed.

Communication

• Prepare all communication for Chancellor meetings and events, including speechwriting, research and talking points for on- and off-campus meetings, media recordings, presentations and forums, etc. Oversee Chancellor preparation and delivery as needed.
• Prepare and oversee all Chancellor communication, both externally and internally, from emails and blogs to reports and policy documents.
• Organize and execute major Chancellor events, such as the annual Blugold Breakfast, and UW System and Board of Regent visits and meetings. Collaborate with the UW-Eau Claire Foundation on major donor and university relations events that require Chancellor participation.
• Oversee the operation and meetings of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council, a national group of CEOs who provide counsel to the Chancellor.
• Work closely with Integrated Marketing and Communications and University Relations to communicate the reputation and value of the University across all channels.

Planning and Assessment

• Lead university-wide strategic planning efforts, in collaboration with the Vice Chancellors. Lead the University Planning Committee and provide communication to shared governance and the campus on goals, progress and key performance indicators.
• Work with the divisional Vice Chancellors to assure collaborative development, implementation, and monitoring of divisional and institutional strategic plans.
• Work with Institutional Research to assure ongoing assessment, access to relevant data, and reporting for all Chancellor initiatives.

Expectations

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• The ability to manage multiple, high-priority projects within specified deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to perform in a collaborative, dynamic, team-based environment.
• High degree of integrity and the ability to work with a wide range of individuals in a diverse community.

QUALIFICATIONS & DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS
The successful candidate will be an experienced higher education leader, with the energy and interpersonal and leadership skills needed to support a visionary, action-focused Chancellor and leadership team. The successful candidate will have:

• A high degree of skill in relationship-building and partnering with individuals and students across the university.
• The ability to initiate and lead cross-divisional programs and projects. 
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusivity demonstrated by leadership, active planning, and accountability.
• A passion for results and data-driven action.
• An appreciation of UW-Eau Claire’s mission of excellence and inclusion, and an ability to communicate what makes the institution distinctive.

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five years of experience supporting senior leaders in complex organizations. 
• Experience working with diverse populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree (or equivalent) or terminal degree from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of five years of experience in higher education.
• Experience developing and executing collaborative institutional strategic planning.

UNIVERSITY and the EAU CLAIRE COMMUNITY
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is a leader for academic excellence, undergraduate research and high-impact practices in the University of Wisconsin System. Consistently ranked among the top 10 public Midwestern universities, UW-Eau Claire is home to about 10,000 students, who are drawn to Wisconsin’s most beautiful campus. Innovation, collaboration, leadership, diversity and inclusion, and sustainable stewardship are core values at UW-Eau Claire. About 90% of students participate in at least one high-impact practice such as student-faculty research. UWEC students undertake more than 100,000 hours of community service each academic year.

UW-Eau Claire has approximately 1,400 faculty and staff, with a faculty/student ratio of 1:19. Groundbreaking community partnerships in manufacturing, business, health care and the cultural arts produce myriad opportunities for faculty scholarship/creative activities and student internships. UW-Eau Claire is one of the only universities in the world to have a master collaborative research agreement with Mayo Clinic Health System.

Eau Claire is western Wisconsin’s largest city, home to nearly 70,000 residents who live, work and play in the area situated at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers. The Eau Claire metropolitan area of approximately 173,000 people is 90 miles east of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Eau Claire is known for its beautiful parks and trails, small-town neighborhoods, excellent schools, vibrant arts scene, diverse local food culture, and abundant recreational opportunities. UW-Eau Claire’s campus is within walking distance of two popular shopping districts that feature coffee shops, art galleries and live music venues.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applications are submitted electronically. Please follow instructions found on the following UW-Eau Claire Web site: https://www.uwec.edu/job-postings/. You must create an account and login before you can apply.  If you have not yet registered, click on the "Click here to Register" link to begin the registration process. If you are already a registered user, input your "User Name" and "Password" and select "Login."  Click the link to the Chief of Staff to the Chancellor position (Job ID # 19682) and then click the "Apply Now" button to submit your application electronically.  Your application will not be considered complete until all required documents are attached and all required fields are completed.  Please be sure you have included the following in PDF format:

• Letter of application
• Curriculum vita/Resume
• Unofficial undergraduate or graduate school transcript
• Names and contact information for three references.

Please direct requests for additional information to:

Search Chair Ms. Kimera Way;  waykk@uwec.edu

Applications continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

The University reserves the right to contact additional references with notice given to the candidates at an appropriate time in the process. Employment will require a background check. Employment will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding past conduct related to sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7).

The UW-Eau Claire Police Department is dedicated to maintaining a safe and secure environment for learning and working. Although crime at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is limited, the University Police want students, faculty and staff to be aware of crime on campus and the area surrounding the campus. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose annual information about campus crime. Visit Campus Security and Fire Report. Also visit our Campus Security Authority(CSA) policy.

UW-Eau Claire is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disability employer.