Chief of Staff to the Provost and Vice Provost for Academic Strategy and Engagement

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Description

Reporting directly to the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Chief of Staff serves as a strategic advisor, operational architect, and trusted partner to the University's chief academic officer. 

 

This is a high-leverage leadership role that amplifies the Provost's impact across the full portfolio of academic leadership, institutional strategy, faculty affairs, and stakeholder engagement.  Operates both as a behind-the-scenes force multiplier and as a visible representative of the Provost, extending leadership capacity across the institution.  Requires sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as the Provost's primary thought partner on strategic priorities, institutional positioning, and academic affairs.
• Frames issues, synthesizes competing inputs, and presents clear options to support effective decision-making.
• Anticipates emerging challenges and opportunities, ensuring the Provost is positioned to lead proactively rather than reactively.
• Manages the Provost's time, attention, and decision-making bandwidth, ensuring that the right issues reach the appropriate level at the right time.
• Establishes systems and processes that prioritize high-impact work and align engagements with institutional strategy.
• Drives execution of the Provost's strategic agenda across deans, vice presidents, and faculty governance bodies.
• Maintains oversight of the full portfolio of initiatives, tracks progress, identifies risks, and ensures accountability while avoiding unnecessary bottlenecks.
• Partners closely with the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Finance and Operations to align academic strategy with financial planning, resource allocation, and long-term sustainability.
• Brings strong financial acumen to the role, including the ability to interpret budget models, assess trade-offs, and support data-informed decision-making.
• Works in close coordination with the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and the Chief of Staff to the President to ensure alignment across academic priorities, institutional strategy, and executive leadership.
• Helps integrate efforts across the Provost's Office and the President's Office, strengthening coherence and coordination at the highest levels of the University.
• Represents the Provost in meetings, communications, and institutional relationships across campus and externally.
• Engages credibly with senior leaders, faculty, staff, trustees, and external partners, serving as an extension of the Provost's leadership and voice.
• Leads and coordinates special projects and cross-functional initiatives that advance institutional priorities.
• Ensures alignment across units, facilitates collaboration, and delivers results in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Oversees the operations of the Office of the Provost, including supervision of staff, workflow management, and process improvement.
• Establishes effective practices, policies, and systems that promote efficiency, responsiveness, and high-quality execution.
• Exercises independent judgment in handling sensitive, high-profile, and confidential matters.
• Determines when to act, when to escalate, and when to engage the Provost directly.
• Maintains the highest standards of discretion and professionalism in all aspects of the role.
• Builds and sustains strong relationships across the University, recognizing that the Chief of Staff's relationships are an extension of the Provost's leadership.
• Communicates with clarity, precision, and alignment to the Provost's voice and priorities. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree and 8 years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including direct support to senior executives in complex organizations.
• A doctoral degree or significant experience in a research university or similarly complex academic environment supporting the provost's office, president's office, or equivalent senior leadership setting is preferred.

NOTE: This role will be granted the opportunity to work from home regularly but must be able to commute to Emory University on a flexible weekly schedule based upon business needs.  Schedule is based on agreed upon guidelines of department. This role requires residency in the state of GA. Emory reserves the right to change remote work status with notice to employee.

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