Chief of Staff

CHIEF OF STAFF

To advance the college's mission, vision, principles, values and strategic initiatives through continuous improvement decisions.

This position will close at 5:00 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday, July 28. Applications must be submitted by that time to be considered.

The Chief of Staff serves as a primary strategic advisor and trusted proxy to the President of Kirkwood Community College. This executive leadership role operates at the intersection of institutional strategy, community engagement, and government relations.

The position is bifurcated into two primary areas of impact: 70% of the executive's focus is dedicated to executing presidential initiatives, driving special projects, and acting as a high-level proxy for the President; 30% of the focus is dedicated to advancing Kirkwood's legislative agenda at the local, state, and federal levels.

The ideal candidate possesses exceptional political acumen, deep experience in higher education or public administration, strong communication skills, and the ability to professionally represent the President in high-stakes environments. Demonstrated ability to act as an effective proxy, possessing the maturity and poise to manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

This position works on-site at the Main Campus in Cedar Rapids. The typical schedule is 8:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with occasional travel.

UNIVERSAL CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Advocate for Continual Improvement- empowering each other to identify opportunities for excellence.
• Collaborate with Mutual Accountability- working together with a willingness to take ownership and account for our actions.
• Champion Service- anticipating needs and create a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Perseverance- commitment to excellence even in the face of adversity or delay in achieving success.
• Lead- regardless of title, through positive influence.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Institutional Leadership & Presidential Proxy (70%)

• Executive Proxy & Liaison: Act as a primary point of contact and proxy for the President with internal and external stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees, Cabinet members, community leaders, and county leadership councils. Ensure alignment across all executive communications.
• Board and President's Office Management: Serve as Board Secretary for the elected board and Kirkwood Facilities Foundation. In collaboration with President, develop board agendas and materials. Oversee the daily operations of the President's Office including supervising the Executive Assistant, who supports both the President and Chief of Staff.
• Strategic Project Management: Direct and execute high-priority, complex initiatives on behalf of the President's Office.
• Cabinet & Meeting Integration: Drive the agenda for Cabinet and executive-level meetings, ensuring that decision-making processes are efficient, recommendations are vetted, and action items are tracked to completion.
• Executive Advisory: Synthesize complex data, financial overviews, and policy briefings to advise the President on critical institutional risks, operational priorities, and resource alignment.
• Crisis & Issues Management: Troubleshoot and resolve highly sensitive, confidential, or escalated matters on behalf of the President, utilizing exceptional diplomacy and judgment.

Legislative & Government Relations (30%)

• Legislative Advocacy: Serve as the institution's primary point of contact for local, state, and federal legislators and staffers. Actively advocate for Kirkwood's interests.
• Policy & Fiscal Analysis: In coordination with state and federal association partners; monitor and analyze state and federal legislation, fiscal notes, and administrative rules. Collaborate with Cabinet colleagues to quantify their operational and budgetary impacts on Kirkwood.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Events: Design and execute strategic advocacy initiatives, campus legislative visits, annual legislative reception, and coordination with Community Colleges for Iowa and national bodies such as the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) for Day on Hill visits.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Be able and willing to represent the College in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, colleagues, and the community we serve.
• Must be a self-motivated, energetic, and creative individual with proven leadership, planning and strategic planning skills.
• Possess excellent organizational and communication skills and be able to relate well with other professionals within the college and at other institutions.
• Possess strong human relations skills. Must be able to get along with diverse personalities.
• Read, understand, and express oneself clearly and effectively in oral and written form.
• Establish and maintain good team working relationships with students, colleagues, staff, administrators, and general public.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the essential job duties/responsibilities and performance expectations of the job, which should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned.

Position involves working in an office setting. Occasional (10-33%) standing, pushing, pulling and grasping. Frequent (34-66%) reaching and viewing a computer and other types of close visual work. Constant (67-100%) sitting, walking, repetitive motion, talking and hearing. The position involves occasional (10-33%) driving to events and meetings away from KCC's main campus.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree and at least 10 years, or Master's degree and at least 7 years, of progressive leadership experience in higher education, the public sector, or business
• Experience in or supporting executive leadership, such as a President, CEO, or Vice President
• Experience with enterprise-level initiatives
• Experience leading cross-functional teams or initiatives

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS:

• Experience in a community college or higher education environment
• Familiarity with board operations
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Ability to represent senior leadership in external or high-stakes environments
• Experience working with performance metrics

It is the policy of Kirkwood Community College not to discriminate in its programs, activities, or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, and actual or potential family, parental or marital status.

Kirkwood Community College prides itself on fostering a diverse workforce and values unique perspectives throughout its campus community. The college is a convenient, innovative, visionary educational leader striving to remain affordable and accessible. With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life.