Chief of Staff-College of Engineering and Architecture

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission.

At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer: 

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match 
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us! 

https://hr.howard.edu/benefits-wellness

BASIC FUNCTION:     

The Chief of Staff serves as the Dean’s principal strategic partner, operational integrator, and institutional liaison. This position is responsible for driving execution of the Dean’s strategic priorities, aligning leadership operations across academic, research, and administrative functions, and serving as an empowered proxy for the Dean when appropriate.

The Chief of Staff ensures that the College operates as a unified, high-performing enterprise by translating vision into execution, strengthening governance and accountability systems, leading strategic initiatives, and proactively managing institutional risk, communications, and stakeholder relationships.

SUPERVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY:    

Supervisory authority is limited to the direction of an administrative assistant and students. Provides functional leadership to administrative professionals, project managers, and special initiative teams.

NATURE AND SCOPE

This role operates at the highest level of college leadership and interacts routinely with stakeholders across the University, Board of Visitors, faculty, corporate and foundation partners, government agencies, and accreditation bodies. The Chief of Staff exercises broad discretion and independent judgment in sensitive and high-impact matters.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:      

Strategic Leadership & Execution

• Serve as chief integrator for the Dean’s strategic agenda.
• Help translate the Dean’s vision into actionable strategic plans, performance dashboards, timelines, and accountability structures.
• Proactively identify risks, barriers, and opportunities impacting the implementation of the College’s vision and mission.

Executive Operations & Governance

• Architect and manage the operational cadence of the Dean’s Office, including leadership councils, Board of Visitors activities, strategic retreats, and governance workflows.
• Establish college-wide systems for tracking decisions, initiatives, commitments, and follow-through.
• Serve as advisor on sensitive policy, personnel, and governance matters.
• Prepare the Dean for high-stakes engagements, negotiations, and external presentations.

Leadership Coordination & Institutional Alignment

• Act as liaison between the Dean and associate deans, department chairs, and administrative directors to ensure unity of effort and strategic coherence.
• Coordinate cross-unit initiatives that require collaboration among academic, research, advancement, and administrative divisions.

External Relations & Partnerships

• Support development of high-impact partnerships with industry, foundations, federal agencies, and alumni.
• Represent the Dean in selected meetings, negotiations, and institutional forums.
• Ensure consistent executive-level messaging across internal and external stakeholders.

Accreditation, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with University policies, accreditation standards, and regulatory expectations.
• Help to maintain documentation systems and readiness protocols for audits and reviews.

Office of the Dean Leadership

• Build a high-performance culture focused on service excellence, discretion, accountability, and strategic execution.
• Oversee workflow management, resource allocation, and continuous improvement efforts.

CORE COMPETENCIES:              

• Executive judgment and discretion
• Strategic planning and enterprise project leadership
• Political acuity and institutional navigation
• High-stakes communication and negotiation skills
• Change management and organizational design
• Complex problem solving in large and/or complex organizations
• Cultural competence and inclusive leadership

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:   

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university. • Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience which includes managing administrative and strategic initiatives in higher education. Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience. Proven experience with ability to handle confidential information with discretion, to manage a large variety of details and coordinate complex projects during numerous interruptions, and to meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.

Preferred education and experience working with executives, a board of trustees/directors. Proven successful administrative experience in a university sett.

Note: This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required. The university has the right to revise this position description at any time. This position description is not construed as a contract for employment.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

$93,000 - $113,000