Chief of Staff to the President

University of the People (UoPeople) is the first non-profit, tuition-free, American, accredited, 100% online university. Dedicated to opening access to higher education globally, UoPeople helps high school graduates overcome financial, geographic, political, and social constraints.

UoPeople believes that access to higher education is a basic right that promotes world peace and global economic development; and it is committed to providing those young people a quality higher education – tuition-free. As the United Nations High Commissioner for Education (and former British Prime Minister) Gordon Brown has put it: “University of the People is offering a quality education to tens of thousands of qualified students who, without it, would have no chance at all.” We believe that higher education is a basic human right and that it can transform not only the lives of students, but also their families' lives, their communities, their nations, and, by extension, the world.

The Chief of Staff to the President is responsible for ensuring that the President’s time is maximized and spent on those activities that drive forward the organization’s vision and intended outcomes and priorities. This individual will possess exceptional communication skills, outstanding executive abilities with great attention to detail, and the skillset and character to interact with both internal and external stakeholders at the highest managerial levels.

While the position may be based remotely, proximity to New York City is ideal.

Responsibilities:

Governance:

• Lead the planning and project management of the Board of Directors, Advisory boards, and President's Forum meetings
• Develop agendas and coordinate materials
• Work with President and Board chairs to prepare for meetings

Executive Support:

• Assist the President in daily operations, including scheduling, correspondence, and meeting preparation.
• Attend senior leadership meetings, take detailed notes, and follow up on action items.
• Prepare presentations, reports, scorecards, and documents for the President and senior leadership.

Project Management:

• Lead or support key projects identified by the President, providing research, analysis, and implementation support, within the scope of the President’s Office.
• Develop and monitor project timelines and deliverables.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure projects are completed on time and within scope.

Strategic Initiatives:

• Support the development and execution of strategic initiatives.
• Create dashboards and summaries of strategic initiatives for senior leadership.
• Collect and analyze data to support decision-making and strategic planning.
• Stakeholder Engagement:
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, and partners.
• Represent the President in meetings and communications as needed.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across departments.

Operational Efficiency:

• Identify and propose improvements to organizational governance processes and workflows.
• Implement governance process improvements and monitor their effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking and reporting on key metrics and performance indicators, including the President’s Scorecard.
• Field lower-priority requests and take on special projects on behalf of the President
• Execute follow-up on ad hoc requests from the President

Basic Qualifications:

• MBA or other Master’s degree preferred
• 2-3 years of relevant work experience preferred
• Consulting experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Mindset :

• Track record of success in a complex, global, fast-paced, and results-oriented work environment
• Demonstrable skill at managing laterally, building solid relationships, and working across teams and functions
• Possess comfort working with leaders at the highest level of the organization; demonstrable skills in managing up
• Exceptional project management skills; demonstrated success in planning and managing complex projects through to completion
• Proven ability to handle and effectively prioritize a high volume of work, and adapt to new information and changing priorities s
• Ability to influence others to outcomes and set a high bar for the quality of work
• Ability to communicate effectively at the executive level (written, verbal, and presentation skills)
• Ability to liaise across the entire organization, facilitating meetings, drafting correspondence, managing action items
• Strong affiliation with the not-for-profit educational mission of the University
• High degree of flexibility and adaptability to meet the dynamic needs of our global operations
• Possesses a growth mindset characterized by:
• A relentless drive for continuous learning and improvement
• An embrace of challenges, and values effort and perseverance
• An ability to adapt to changing environments
• A desire to foster a culture of growth and development

Additional Information:

• Skills testing may be a component of the interview process for this position.
• The University of the People is committed to diversity. We welcome applicants who bring varied experience, thought, and practice to the department’s mission to maintain and enhance an engaged community of alumni and friends worldwide and to lead the University’s fundraising efforts.

Note: Please include a cover letter in which you address how your experience, competencies, and interest in access to education for all aligns with UoPeople’s mission and values.