Chief of Staff

Department
 

SING Polsky Operations - Administration

About the Department
 

A unit of the Office of Science, Innovation, National Laboratories, and Global Initiatives, the Polsky Center brings the power of ideas in the laboratory, classroom, and community to the world. Through education, resources, and programs, the Polsky Center commercializes discoveries, partners with companies, and attracts venture capital. The Polsky Center runs a top-ranked business accelerator, the Edward L. Kaplan, ’71, New Venture Challenge; operates a 34,000 square-foot, multi-disciplinary co-working space called the Polsky Exchange; manages the George Shultz Innovation Fund that invests in early-stage ventures; and offers a state-of-the-art Fabrication Lab for prototyping new products. Finally, the Polsky Center houses the University of Chicago’s technology transfer unit, which manages all University-based intellectual property originating from faculty research and discoveries that can be licensed to industry partners and investors.

Job Summary
 

The Chief of Staff is a high-visibility strategic partner that supports the Associate Vice President and Managing Director of the Polsky Center with effective decision-making, project management, and execution of strategic initiatives across all Center units. The Chief of Staff provides the organizational and communication framework for stakeholders, employees, and leadership team members to implement the AVP’s vision and achieve short- and long-term goals.
This role is recognized as an expert within the University, leading the planning, development, and implementation of University objectives, long-range and strategic plans, and identifying the University’s strengths and weaknesses.

Responsibilities

• Builds and leads the daily operations of the office of the AVP.
• Builds and runs cadence for Polsky leadership meetings, council and advisory meetings, and leadership offsites, including structuring and helping to deliver Polsky-wide communication.
• Leads cross-functional strategic initiatives, facilitates special projects, and ensures action items are executed on behalf of the AVP.
• Operates at a tactical, strategic, and operational level, handling the oversight of projects that do not neatly fit within the organizational chart or that fall between units or leadership areas of responsibility.
• Acts as an extension of the AVP and information funnel, filter, and facilitator with internal and external stakeholders.
• Assesses all inquiries directed to the AVP, determining priority and the proper course of action.
• Acts as the point of contact for the AVP’s direct reports. Triages all incoming requests for the AVP’s time and work collaboratively with the AVP’s Executive Assistant to ensure the calendar is aligned with the priorities of the organization.
• Works with SING and Polsky leadership to define, deliver, monitor, and communicate progress on key organizational metrics aligned with long term plan.
• Proactively follows up with the AVP’s team if and when goals are not being achieved to determine why objectives are not being met. Provides actionable recommendations for improvement.
• Promotes team integration as well as cross-functional communication and collaboration.
• Manages key relationships and builds a process to track and nurture key stakeholders, faculty members, donors, and program participants.
• Tracks high priority initiatives for the AVP to identify any potential obstacles.
• Serves as a thought partner and strategic advisor to AVP, standing in on meetings, challenging ideas and offering a different perspective, and following up on action items with the team accordingly.
• Provides analysis, recommendations, and options to the AVP regarding high impact decisions.
• Manages the AVP’s brand and reputation.
• Develops and maintains an active database of peer and competitor profiles. Helps establish and maintain a database of faculty (international) research topics and international inter-institutional collaborations.
• Identifies new external partners to advance strategic priorities. Communicates and collaborates with internal and external community members and leadership to achieve strategic priorities.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in business, management, or related field.

Experience:

• More than 10 years of experience with increasing responsibility strongly preferred.
• Broad government, industry, and/or higher education experience driving execution and adoption of key strategic programs across large teams strongly preferred.
• Development and implementation of a strategic plan strongly preferred.

Preferred Competencies

• A dedicated professional who leads through ambiguity and independently runs projects with minimal direction.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and executive presence.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on structure and execution.
• Force for change who is open to new insights, accepts challenges, and leads with positive energy.
• Trusted professional with the ability to lead strong personalities and drive open items to effective resolution.
• Think and act creatively, championing and promoting new ideas that contribute to the goals of the organization and the department.
• Influential leader with robust critical thinking, strategic mindset, and transform abstract concepts into actionable solutions.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Administration & Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.