Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff
The University of California, San Diego
About this position
Position Description
For a senior leader (i.e. direct report to the Chancellor or Health System CEO), develops divisional and / or organizational policies and authorizes their implementation. Provides advice, guidance, and assistance to senior leader and may also support members of management team. Represents the organization in location-wide and systemwide meetings and discussions. Recognized as an influential leader. Makes final decisions for the organization and ensures achievement of objectives. Erroneous decisions will have a serious impact on the overall success of division or the organization. Reporting to UC San Diego's Vice Chancellor for Marine Sciences (VCMS) and Director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and serving as a member of their senior management team, the AVC and Chief of Staff (AVC-COS) works as a partner to the Vice Chancellor on all University and Divisional matters. As needed, the AVC-COS makes decisions on behalf of the VC and represents them in discussions with their senior management team, the Chancellor's Office, other Vice Chancellors, the Office of the President, and other campus leadership regarding policies, initiatives, andl issues within their portfolio. The Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff advises senior management on matters concerning multiple functional areas, plans, designs and implements programs, establishes direction, policies, and procedures, represents the VCMS on executive committees and strategic planning groups, negotiates solutions with senior stakeholders, and provides leadership through subordinate functional leaders and managers. The AVC-COS serves as the primary representative to campus and external partners in a variety of areas and leads strategic institutional positioning across groups for externally-facing activities. The AVC-COS directs and manages the assignment of action items to senior administrators and is responsible for helping VCMS manage priorities. Advises and provides analytical support and leadership on a variety of projects of importance to the institution. AVC-COS acts as an advisor to the VCMS and oversees flow, prioritization, and execution of issues and projects aligned with the VCMS agenda. The position maintains confidentiality of privileged information and performs a wide range of duties requiring tact, sensitivity, independent judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and flexibility. The AVC-COS plays an essential role in internal communications and in engagement with campus and external constituencies. The position broadens the VCMS’s institutional perspective and facilitates implementation of priorities within the Vice Chancellor’s Office and throughout Scripps. The AVC-COS communicates policies, initiatives, and activities of the office, synthesizes information and advises on office initiatives The AVC-COS oversees executive office operations, research and program development, strategic partnerships, government and industry relations, innovation, institutional events and venue rentals, executive communications, crisis management, and special initiatives. The AVC-COS coordinates with UC San Diego's Federal, State, and Local Government Relations, serving as the executive liaison responsible for developing VCMS institutional priorities for elected representatives. The AVC-COS supervises the VCMS executive office and its administrative support staff. Performs other duties as assigned in support of VCMS and strategic mission of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and UC San Diego's Division of Marine Sciences.
Qualifications
Thorough knowledge of the organizational environment of higher education and large research universities to understand client priorities, issues, motivations and constraints. Broad knowledge of UC governance, organizational structure, instructional and research programs, and research policies and procedures to encompass a global perspective for the VCMS Office. Extensive experience in a management role developing and supporting implementation of institutional strategic plans that align executive priorities, institutional positioning, partnerships, program development, and external engagement with institutional needs. Prior success in the creation, management and oversight of a successful institutional positioning/strategic partnership engagement/government relations program resulting in increased funding and new programs. Demonstrated success developing, negotiating, and sustaining strategic partnerships with government agencies, research institutions, industry, foundations, community organizations, and other external stakeholders to advance institutional priorities. Demonstrated ability to work with senior officials and executives from within and outside the University, and ability to think strategically and serve as a sounding board for executive managers.