Chief of Staff

Title: Chief of Staff

Institution: Volunteer State Community College

Job Summary:

The Chief of Staff (CoS) serves as a senior executive advisor and strategic partner to the President of Volunteer State Community College. Operating at the highest levels of institutional leadership, the CoS collaborates closely with the President, Vice Presidents, and senior leaders to ensure execution of the College’s strategic priorities and manages short and long-term critical projects, initiatives, and activities.

The CoS oversees Marketing, Communications, and Media Services including all public relations and branding for the College and is responsible for budgetary oversight of this department. This role also provides oversight to the regional locations regarding all marketing, branding, and public relations. The role functions as a strategic integrator streamlining operations, aligning cross-divisional efforts, and driving key initiatives across the institution.

The CoS plays a pivotal role in Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM), the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) funding formula, and the development and execution of 1-, 3-, and 5-year strategic plans. The CoS leads change by innovating institutional approaches, methods, and processes through data-informed decision-making to enhance operational effectiveness.

This position also serves as the primary liaison with external organizations such as the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), THEC, SCORE, and other state agencies to ensure Vol State is meeting or exceeding system and state expectations and advancing its mission through aligned advocacy and policy strategy.

Job Duties:

Strategize with the senior leadership team to guide and support implementation of the SEM Plan, Achieving the Dream, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year strategic plans, and other college-wide projects. Provide department leaders with guidance and recommendations on ways to ensure Vol State institutional initiatives align with TBR and THEC priorities and ensure cross-departmental strategies align with THEC funding metrics regarding completion outcomes. Strategize and implement changes in institutional approaches, methods, and processes using data-informed decision-making. Facilitate project management processes to enhance accountability and drive results and identify and resolve operational challenges in partnership with faculty, staff, and leadership. Provide executive oversight and budgetary responsibility for the Marketing, Communications, and Media Services department. Oversee public relations, marketing, and branding strategies for the College including all regional locations and elevate internal and external messaging to strengthen Vol State’s brand, visibility, and community impact. Develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy to ensure institutional alignment, transparency, and engagement and serve as the key content developer for presidential and leadership communications. Represent the institution with state and local officials, business leaders, and education partners to support institutional growth and workforce development and strengthen partnerships with TCATs and four-year institutions to improve articulation agreements and student pathways. Work directly with TBR to ensure compliance with and advancement of system-wide initiatives and collaborate with THEC, SCORE, and other statewide agencies to elevate Vol State’s policy presence and mission alignment. Advocate for funding and policy opportunities at the local, state, and federal level. Partner with Human Resources to lead professional development initiatives for faculty and staff and guide onboarding and leadership development for key hires and new employees. Provide the President with relevant insights and institutional intelligence for effective decision-making. Lead high-level projects on behalf of the President focused on institutional success and strategic advancement and foster a culture of innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement. Represent the President in key meetings, events, and initiatives as needed. Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Master’s degree.
Seven years of experience in a senior administrative, strategic, or advisory role or combined experiences, certifications, and education.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in higher education administration, business administration, public administration, communications, or a related field.
Experience in a higher education setting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strategic vision to align operations with institutional goals.
Expertise in higher educatio