Scheduled Hours
40
Position Summary
Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine) seeks a strategic and analytical leader to serve as Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff to the next Executive Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Bruce D. Levy, who will begin his new role on July 1.
At WashU Medicine, we’re transforming lives and shaping the future of medicine through groundbreaking research (ranked #2 in NIH funding), world-class education, and unmatched patient care. As the medical enterprise of Washington University in St. Louis—one of the world’s foremost research universities—WashU Medicine brings together exceptional faculty, clinicians, and trainees to translate discovery into impact.
As the Chief of Staff, you will serve as the Dean's senior advisor, providing strategic oversight, leadership, and coordination across key academic, clinical, and administrative priorities. You will partner closely with the Dean to advance the school’s mission in education, research, and patient care by driving strategic initiatives, facilitating decision-making, and ensuring effective execution of institutional priorities.
As a senior leader within the School of Medicine, you will collaborate closely with department chairs, university leaders, and academic and administrative partners to advance enterprise priorities and ensure alignment across the organization. You will represent the Dean in internal and external engagements and support the effective functioning of the Dean’s Office through team leadership, communication, and execution of leadership priorities.
Job Description
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
Develops and drives strategic and long-term planning initiatives that enable the EVC/Dean to implement a forward-looking vision for the School of Medicine. Leads the execution of academic, research, clinical, and operational strategies that advance the school’s mission and optimize the deployment of people, technology, processes, and systems.
Serves as a thought partner and chief advisor to the EVC/Dean, providing insights, analysis, and recommendations to inform institutional priorities, policy development, and executive decision-making. Supports alignment and execution across research, education, clinical enterprise, faculty affairs, and administrative operations.
Leads and oversees high-priority, cross-functional initiatives in support of the school’s strategic objectives. Builds and maintains strong relationships across departments, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders, ensuring coordination and alignment across the School of Medicine, the university, and BJC HealthCare, our hospital affiliate.
Represents the EVC/Dean in internal and external engagements, serving as a key voice in departmental, university-wide, and external discussions. Communicates institutional priorities and strategy across academic, research, clinical, and operational domains.
Drives communication and execution of leadership priorities, ensuring alignment across the EVC/Dean’s leadership team. Monitors progress on key initiatives, ensures timely follow-through on executive directives, and escalates risks or issues as appropriate.
Leads the development of executive communications, including presentations, reports, and correspondence for internal and external stakeholders. Partners with Marketing and Communications to ensure consistent, strategic messaging aligned with institutional priorities.
Leads strategic process improvement and organizational change efforts, identifying opportunities to enhance effectiveness, reduce silos, and improve operational performance across the School of Medicine. Utilizes data and analysis to inform recommendations and drive continuous improvement.
Advances initiatives that support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and fostering a culture that supports faculty, staff, and students.
Provides coordination and strategic input on budgetary and financial matters related to the Executive Office and broader School priorities. Supports financial planning, analysis, and decision-making by ensuring leadership has clear, actionable insights into financial and operational impacts.
Leads the operations of the Executive Office, including oversight of administrative and executive support staff. Establishes processes and expectations that ensure a high-performing, responsive, and well-coordinated executive function aligned with the needs of the EVC/Dean and senior leadership.
Salary Range:
A competitive salary will be offered commensurate with experience.
Applicant Special Instructions:
Confidential inquiries may be sent to: ndonohoo@wustl.edu.
Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions
Physical Effort
Equipment
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor's degree
Certifications /Professional Licenses :
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
Work Experience:
Progressively Responsible Leadership (10 Years)
Skills:
Not Applicable
Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.
More About This Job
Required Qualifications:
- The successful candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of eight years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
- An advanced degree (MBA, MHA, or similar).
- Prior experience supporting a senior executive (e.g., Dean, CEO, or equivalent).
- Experience in academic medicine, higher education, healthcare, or similarly complex organizations.
- Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional initiatives.
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and organizational leadership skills.
- Proven ability to influence without authority and operate effectively in a highly matrixed environment.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong executive presence and stakeholder management capabilities.
- Advanced project management and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.
- Sound judgment, discretion, and ability to handle confidential information.
- Ability to translate strategy into execution.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- High emotional intelligence and interpersonal acuity, with the ability to navigate sensitive faculty and institutional dynamics with discretion and care.
Preferred Qualifications
Education:
Master's degree
Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Work Experience:
No additional work experience unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
Skills:
Accountability, Collaborative Partnerships, Highly Developed Interpersonal, Innovation, Oral Communications, Relationship Building, Staff Leadership, Work Collaboratively, Written Communication
Grade
G00
Questions
For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.
Accommodation
If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.
All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.
Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.
Benefits Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.
EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.