The Chief of Staff and Senior Director leads coordination across units and programs within Northwestern Buffett, including the offices listed above as well as the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Program and the Equality Development and Globalization Studies (EDGS) program. The Chief of Staff and Senior Director is also Northwestern Buffett’s point person for and liaison to the Office of the Provost on staffing, policy implementation and other organizational issues as well as the Office of Alumni Relations and Development, Office for Research and Office of Global Marketing and Communications. The COS/Senior Director is also responsible for building strong relations and working collaboratively with Northwestern’s schools and units including the Institute for Sustainability and Energy (ISEN) and SustainNU. The Chief of Staff and Senior Director of Global Communications and Operations also staffs the Northwestern Buffett Board of Advisors, Global Council and Faculty Advisory Council, chairs Northwestern Buffett’s senior leadership team, which meets biweekly and includes all Northwestern Buffett unit directors, and manages staff members responsible for both facilities and operations as well as communications, outreach and engagement.
The COS and Senior Director also leads the development and implementation of Northwestern Buffett’s communications, engagement and outreach strategy, and serves as Northwestern Buffett’s principal liaison to Northwestern’s Offices of Global Marketing and Communications and Alumni Relations and Development. The COS/Senior Director is responsible for developing annual endowment reports, including the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Studies Fund report, managing relationships with Northwestern Buffett’s internal and external stakeholders and partners, including donors, and communicating the impact of Northwestern Buffett’s strategic initiatives and programs.
Please note: Potential for infrequent domestic and/or international travel with advanced notice. Availability to participate periodically in programs and events outside of normal business hours.
Specific Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning and Implementation
Serves as member of Northwestern Buffett’s senior leadership team, alongside Executive Director and Deputy Director responsible for establishing strategic priorities
Provides strategic oversight of all programs and administrative units within Buffett
Provide strategic oversight of risk management processes and crisis response protocols
Advances the Executive Director’s strategic vision by developing and overseeing programs and strategic initiatives while ensuring that the budget, staff, and priorities are aligned with the Center’s multi-dimensional mission and the University’s strategy.
Drives the development of measurable objectives attached to organizational priorities
Develops and systematizes processes designed to promote consistency in decision-making and policy implementation across units
Works with the Executive Director to prioritize among competing goals and initiatives, to identify and develop solutions to organizational challenges and to find creative and sustainable ways for Northwestern Buffett to lead laterally across university units to further university-wide globalization objectives.
Develops budgets with Executive Director, Associate Director of Finance & Administration and senior staff to ensure the organization is operating in a manner that supports the strategy and mission of the Institute and University, writ large.
Provides leadership and direction to Northwestern Buffett unit directors, and ensures the continued development and management of a professional and efficient organization; establishes effective processes that will enable the Institute to achieve its long- and short-term goals and objectives.
Cultivates a strong and transparent working relationship with the Office of the Provost and other central units, the schools, and other research institutes at Northwestern to further the Institute’s collaborative vision and ensure open communication about financial, programmatic, and resultant impact toward strategic goals.
Management – Units and Programs
Drives the planning, development, and allocation of resources for Institute activities to ensure the delivery of high quality, interdisciplinary research and programming while managing for current and future growth. Oversee the administrative support for these programs, some of which include:
Provides day-to-day mentorship and guidance to unit directors on staffing, budget, risk management and organizational challenges
Serves as the chief administration lead for Northwestern Buffett unit director and faculty-led activities, including affiliated programs, Northwestern Buffett Global Working Groups, the Northwestern Buffett Global and Faculty Advisory Councils, the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies program and the Equality Development and Globalization Studies program.
Provides strategic and administrative direction to the Global Learning Office, Office of International Students and Scholars and Office of Global Safety and Security.
Establishes and implements processes as they relate to new or ongoing programs and initiatives.
Leads the senior team of the Institute to ensure alignment across units and drive strategic results for the organization; chairs biweekly senior leadership team meetings that include all unit directors and advance cross-Institute strategic initiatives.
Board Relations and Development
Serves as primary liaison to ARD, oversees all annual reporting on grants, including the Buffett Endowment Funds, etc.
Supports the proceedings of the Northwestern Buffett Faculty Advisory Council, the Global Council, and external Board of Advisors; oversees the implementation of their decisions.
Provides strategic input and supports the director in donor relations and alumni and development activities.
Develops annual endowment fund reports, in coordination with Northwestern’s Office of Alumni Relations and Development
Management – Staff
Oversees the attraction, retention, and development of high-performance staff throughout the Institute. Develops and implement professional development plans as appropriate for each individual.
Supports and motivates the organization’s staff, to contribute to the success of Institute programs, research and activities.
Guides training and development of staff throughout the Institute. Develops and models a culture of ethical conduct in operations and personal interactions.
Facilitates collaboration and strong internal communications with faculty and staff leaders throughout the organization.
Creates and promotes a positive work environment that supports consistency throughout the organization’s strategy, operational methods, and evaluation.
Management – Space Resources
Work collaboratively with the Northwestern Buffett business team, the Office of the Provost and Facilities to plan for growth and the associated need for additional space. Oversee the development of plans for the reassignment of space, movement of faculty/staff/student offices, etc. This will be especially important during 2020-2025 to manage the planning for, and move of, all Institute operations into the Jacobs Center.
Oversee the development of optimal processes for the use of conference/event, shared office, and classroom spaces assigned to the Institute.
Communications, Outreach and Engagement
Serves as Northwestern’s liaison to U7+ Alliance partner university communications teams worldwide
Serves as Northwestern Buffett’s liaison to external partner institutions and foundations or prospective donors
Leads all Northwestern Buffett marketing and communications initiatives; manages Northwestern Buffett’s communications, outreach, engagement, development and events staff
Develops and implements multifaceted communications and public relations strategies to support the goals and mission of Northwestern Buffett and the University’s global strategic direction.
Ensures Northwestern University’s global strategy and Northwestern Buffett programming priorities are understood, embraced and consistently presented to Northwestern constituencies (faculty, staff, students, alumni) and external audiences through a range of communication channels.
Works with key partners across the University to elevate the University’s global rankings.
In partnership with OGMC, creates and implements a calendar of international and globally-oriented communications, including press releases, op-eds, announcements, conferences, presentations, etc.
Measures communication, outreach and engagement impact, effectiveness and growth across all platforms and adjust as necessary to ensure desired results.
Manages the creation of Northwestern Buffett content across all communication channels to ensure consistency of brand, timeliness and alignment.
Identifies opportunities and implements strategies to engage community partners and other key stakeholders in Northwestern Buffett events and activities.
Leads development and implementation of outreach and engagement strategies across a range of Northwestern Buffett activities, including teaching, research, and service.
Manages independent contractor relationships focused on highlighting Northwestern University and Northwestern Buffett in global markets.
Miscellaneous
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Master’s Degree in International Affairs or related field
10+ years’ work experience with progressively larger responsibilities, or equivalent of education and experience. Work experience should include at least 5 years supervisory experience.
Experience or strong interest in the business of higher education, globalization, and/or research.
Marketing leadership experience focused on content and communications, preferably within an agency setting, ideally with international clientele.
Outstanding content strategy, strategic writing, and editing experience.
Available for occasional evening and/or weekend events. Potential for infrequent domestic and/or international travel with advanced notice.
Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)
Demonstrated leadership ability and excellence in organizational management with the proven ability to coach staff, manage, and develop high-performance teams in a higher education context.
Culturally competent: associates effectively with people from different cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, and identities. Able to create an environment of understanding and acceptance.
Demonstrated competency in organization management and financial stewardship.
Demonstrated ability to set and achieve strategic objectives.
Able to work independently and also be an accomplished team player.
Excellent analytical and abstract reasoning skills: demonstrated ability to think creatively, solve problems, plan directions, overcome obstacles and successfully manage multiple projects from concept through final delivery.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders including faculty, university administrators, staff, alumni, students, benefactors, and external partners.
Able to maintain confidentiality, act diplomatically, and handle difficult situations.
Adept at developing and improving processes; proficient in project management.
Able to work under pressure, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
Proactive, energetic, innovative.
Experience leading the development of global communication, outreach and engagement strategies
Exceptional verbal and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to present to colleagues across the organization.
Demonstrated ability to develop best practices for content creation, distribution, maintenance, repurposing and implementation across communication channels.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience working in the higher education and/or non-profit sectors
Experience living, studying, or working abroad.
Foreign language skills.
Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)
Research experience in international and global issues.
Experience building international partnerships.
Experience in supporting philanthropic development.
Experience leading the development of multimedia communications for a global audience
Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.
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