Chief of Staff & Assistant/Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives

Chief of Staff & Assistant/Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives

This position works in-person in Rochester, MN. This role is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship.

The young and innovative Rochester campus of the University of Minnesota seeks a Chief of Staff (CoS) and Assistant/Associate Vice Chancellor* (AVC) for Strategic Initiatives during a period of growth in facilities, academic programs, and enrollment. The chancellor's CoS and AVC reports to and provides direct strategic support to the chancellor of the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMN Rochester) in addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the office, including supervising staff to ensure all responsibilities of the Office of the Chancellor are met in a timely and effective manner. The CoS/AVC provides strategic advice and counsel, possesses a high level of integrity, communicates respectfully, drives collaboration and innovation to ensure priority initiatives are completed, analyzes opportunities, and demonstrates discretion in sensitive and confidential matters.

This role is a 100% appointment that serves as the in-person primary partner to the chancellor to coordinate and facilitate the chancellor's campus and University-wide priorities. The University's new strategic roadmap will provide five strategic imperatives to be achieved by each campus; further, the UMN Rochester campus vision is aligned with and anticipated to contribute significantly to the strategic imperative focused on innovation to transform the future of learning. This CoS/AVC will coordinate with the University's Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and the President's Chief of Staff on behalf of the chancellor and the Rochester campus. Further, the CoS/AVC is a member of the chancellor's senior leadership team. The role takes initiative, leads, manages, and facilitates, on the chancellor's behalf and for the purpose of advancing the campus leadership toward its stated priorities.
This is a new position for the Rochester campus, with expectations anticipated to evolve as the campus expands.

Primary Responsibilities

Internal Coordination - 35%

• Build and maintain positive working relationships and leadership with UMN Rochester senior leaders, faculty, staff, and students, generating respect and serving as the chancellor's designee in a variety of settings while modeling UMN Rochester's grounding values.
• Oversee engagement among leaders who report to the chancellor as they relate to
  strategic and operational matters including agenda setting for weekly Cabinet meetings; project management design, oversight, and tracking; oversee and manage the budget for
  strategic projects based on the Chancellor's monitoring; and follow-up on action items as
  needed.
• Serve as the primary project manager for select campus and University priorities, facilitating interaction and coordinating the execution of strategic priorities and initiatives including strategic plan implementation, annual priority actions, and institutional assessment.
• Maintain and manage documents, records, meeting notes, and other materials critical to the ongoing successful operation of the chancellor's office and for the advancement and completion of special projects, providing materials in formats aligned with varying constituents and optimizing the resource of the executive assistants in that process.
• Filter email from the UMR Chancellor's email account to the appropriate leader to address, ensuring DPA compliance with a high level of discretion in sensitive and confidential matters.
• Facilitate idea generation, analyze opportunities, move ideas to comprehensive analysis, and steer the implementation of select projects.
• Monitor compliance with University policy on campus-level matters during a period of rapid change by becoming familiar with University
• Convene appropriate roles to ensure project completion, especially for initiatives that require staff and/or faculty from multiple focus areas across the campus community
• Recommend new organizational structures to ensure project completion as needed (e.g., rapid innovation teams, temporary task forces, subcommittees of existing committees, etc.).

System Connections and University Strategic Plan Implementation and Alignment- 25%

• Provides strategic advice and counsel related to the University's strategic plan and other University-wide priorities with Chief of Staff colleagues from the President's Office and the Chancellor's Offices on the Duluth, Crookston, and Morris campuses as well as the System Vice President for Strategic Initiatives.
• Partner with the chancellor to drive the University's strategic imperatives, with a special focus on the following imperative: "innovate to transform the future of learning."
• Maintain records and materials related to University System interactions, including UMN
  Rochester's participation in Board of Regents' meetings, audits, annual budget documents, and other University System level expectations and/or ensure such record clarity by optimizing the resource of the executive assistants.

External Project Management - 15%

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with key external partnerships at the direction of the chancellor, including UMR's primary industry partner Mayo Clinic as well as
  emerging life sciences partners in Discovery Square, representing UMR to ensure strategic coordination of development, internship, academic program, community event, and other types of collaborative activities with key partners.
• Navigate complex relationships and partnerships, both internal and external, to ensure the optimal constituents are connected and engaged.
• Analyze needs and discern the viability and value of potential new external partnerships.

Senior Leadership Team Strategy, Participation, and Support - 25%

• Provide direct strategic support as an equal and contributing member of the senior
  leadership team, asking critical questions, driving collaboration to ensure priority initiatives are completed, including ensuring agendas that reflect annual and emerging priorities.
• Serve as the chancellor's partner, supporting, advising, and focusing on the chancellor's success in executing University and campus priorities through "other duties as assigned" as priorities evolve.
• Actively participate in and facilitate strategy discussions, providing background information for evidence-based practices to inform decisions for strategic initiatives.
  
  Qualifications
  Required Qualifications
  * BA/BS with at least 10 years of experience
  * Experience leading a team to achieve strategic initiatives
  * Experience in complex project management
  
  Preferred Qualifications
  * Experience and Education
  Doctoral or masters degree.
  Experience supporting a senior leader within an educational organization
  Understanding of the culture, organization, systems, and practices of higher education.
  Knowledge of and familiarity with the University of Minnesota or a similar complex higher education institution.
  Experience advancing new educational initiatives.
  Experience handling sensitive or confidential information with discretion.
  * Project Management
  Experience with complex strategic project planning and/or change management.
  A track record of leading and delivering complex projects and developing and maintaining key partnerships, with project management certification.
  A track record of evidence-based analysis and decision making to inform strategic project selection and viability.
  Ability to use technical tools for project management, and to ensure that staff are also able to navigate those tools.
  * Leadership
  Credibility to serve as the chancellor's designee, including generating respect and results through productive relationships in a collaborative campus community.
  Dedication to the Vision and mission of the Rochester campus of the University of Minnesota.
  Experience supervising professional staff.
  * Skills and Competencies
  Demonstrated ability to quickly adjust to changing priorities and situations.
  Ability to convene multi-faceted teams to collaborate to achieve common goals that successfully support the mission of the UMR campus and University.
  Demonstrated strength in critical and strategic thinking, including the ability to listen well and to ask critical questions.
  Strong problem-solving abilities, resourcefulness and ingenuity ("thinking outside the box").
  Demonstrated ability to contribute to strategic thinking while also being able to accomplish tactical tasks in a timely and effective manner.
  Excellent organizational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and delegate effectively.
  Ability to communicate effectively and confidently with faculty, staff, students, donors, and community partners to promote and gain support for ideas and plans.
  Ability to write professionally, track project progress and summarize meetings, and to use AI as a tool for efficiency.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS with at least 10 years of experience
• Experience leading a team to achieve strategic initiatives
• Experience in complex project management

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and Education
  Doctoral or Masters degree.
  Experience supporting a senior leader within an educational organization.
  Understanding of the culture, organization, systems, and practices of higher education.
  Knowledge of and familiarity with the University of Minnesota or a similar complex higher education institution.
  Experience advancing new educational initiatives.
  Experience handling sensitive or confidential information with discretion.
• Project Management
  Experience with complex strategic project planning and/or change management.
  A track record of leading and delivering complex projects and developing and maintaining key partnerships, with project management certification.
  A track record of evidence-based analysis and decision making to inform strategic project selection and viability.
  Ability to use technical tools for project management, and to ensure that staff are also able to navigate those tools.
  
• Leadership
  Credibility to serve as the chancellor's designee, including generating respect and results through productive relationships in a collaborative campus community.
  Dedication to the Vision and mission of the Rochester campus of the University of Minnesota.
  Experience supervising professional staff.
  
• Skills and Competencies
  Demonstrated ability to quickly adjust to changing priorities and situations.
  Ability to convene multi-faceted teams to collaborate to achieve common goals that successfully support the mission of the UMR campus and University.
  Demonstrated strength in critical and strategic thinking, including the ability to listen well and to ask critical questions.
  Strong problem-solving abilities, resourcefulness and ingenuity ("thinking outside the box").
  Demonstrated ability to contribute to strategic thinking while also being able to accomplish tactical tasks in a timely and effective manner.
  Excellent organizational and planning skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and delegate effectively.
  Ability to communicate effectively and confidently with faculty, staff, students, donors, and community partners to promote and gain support for ideas and plans.
  Ability to write professionally, track project progress and summarize meetings, and to use AI as a tool for efficiency.

The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR), located in downtown Rochester, serves nearly 1,200 students and recently welcomed its largest class ever in fall 2025. Faculty and staff are dedicated to innovative education, student development and applying research to enhance learning every day. With a strong focus on health sciences and student-centered learning, UMR partners closely with Mayo Clinic and emphasizes research-driven teaching to meet the evolving demands of the health care industry.

UMR's Vision is to inspire transformation in higher education through innovations that empower our graduates to solve the grand health challenges of the 21st century. The campus facilities are adjacent to the world-class Mayo Clinic and other industry leaders in the life sciences in downtown Rochester, Minnesota. Rochester is the fastest growing city in Minnesota, currently experiencing exponential growth with facilities expansion and the University's continued growth.

Pay Range: $130,000 - $145,000 annually, depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Resume and Cover Letter Required.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR)

At the University of Minnesota Rochester, our vision is to transform higher education through innovations that empower graduates to solve the grand health challenges of the twenty-first century. UMR prepares students for a broad spectrum of career pathways including pre-med and patient care; psychology and mental health; business and leadership; health technology; public policy and global health; and research, discovery, and cures.

The campus community serves almost 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students in the heart of downtown Rochester and continues to grow in size and influence through creative partnerships. At UMR, relationships and research drive student success. Learn more about UMR.

The University of Minnesota is proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022-24).