Senior Vice President for Presidential Initiatives

Senior Vice President for Presidential Initiatives

As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.

At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.

Although, geographically, we are two campuses - as humanists, we are one: to enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities and achieve excellence in everything we do. We attract diverse, professional faculty, staff and students that thrive in an environment of humanistic health care education. Join our team of faculty and staff and make a difference.

Position Title

Position Title Senior Vice President for Presidential Initiatives

Position Control Number

Position Control Number A04299

Type of Position

Type of Position Administration

Position Status

Position Status Full-time

Department

Department 1100-Office of the President

Campus

Campus Western University Campus-Pomona, CA

Position Location

Position Location California

Job Summary

The Senior Vice President for Presidential Initiatives ( SVP , PI) serves as a senior executive of Western University of Health Sciences, acting as the President’s principal strategic advisor, executive partner, and institutional integrator. Reporting directly to the President, the SVP , PI leads the development, coordination, execution, and assessment of the President’s strategic priorities, ensuring seamless alignment among the President, Board of Trustees, executive leadership, and key institutional stakeholders. The position combines the responsibilities of an executive Chief of Staff with enterprise-wide leadership, working across the University’s academic, administrative, clinical, and external divisions. In this capacity, the SVP , PI translates presidential vision and Board priorities into coordinated strategies, actionable initiatives, measurable outcomes, and sustainable practices. The SVP , PI also directs the executive operations of the Office of the President, facilitates coordination among senior leadership, and advises the President on complex organizational, operational, governance, and reputational matters. The SVP , PI drives presidential strategic planning and implementation by ensuring that priorities are aligned across divisions, progress is measured, organizational barriers are addressed, and leadership remains focused on the President’s long-term goals; while also collaborating with other Senior Leaders who may be responsible for institutional strategic planning, priorities and initiatives. The position also provides executive oversight over core functions related to board governance, governmental and community affairs, university events and ceremonies, and executive communications and engagement.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication and customer relations skills. Strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact, communicate, and negotiate with administration, faculty, staff, and community partners in building influence and consensus.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment while maintaining flexibility and a high standard of professionalism in multi-faceted operations and pivot institutional-level resources in response to emerging University-wide opportunities or crises. Exceptionally organized and adept at managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Must be a proactive team player who assumes ownership of assigned projects and can work independently as needed. Ability to cultivate high-performing, collaborative executive teams and drive accountability across diverse academic and administrative divisions.
• Dependability and timeliness are essential to ensure a smooth workflow.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and be flexible in job assignments while maintaining strict deadlines.
• Exceptional organizational, prioritizing, tracking, and follow-up skills, including mastery of complex program governance, and execution of high-priority institutional initiatives under compressed timelines.
• In all areas, the SVP , PI is expected to be able to determine when independent action and decision-making is appropriate. Provide direct executive leadership and strategic direction to the Office of the President staff, defining clear performance objectives and cultivating a high-performing team environment.
• Experienced in understanding and incorporating the standard protocols of strict confidentiality, and maintaining and safeguarding sensitive and confidential information.
• Independent critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving required for assessing various levels of communication, policies and procedures, etc. Excellent anticipation skills and attention to detail required. Must have crisis management knowledge and superb prioritizing skills to assist in resolution of advocacy matters.
• Previous administrative employment in an institution of higher education, including demonstrated experience supervising other employees.
• Advanced knowledge of budget and/or accounting practices and knowledge of the English language relative to budget computations, creation of detailed presentations and correspondence aligned with strategic University and Presidential goals.
• Advanced computer skills are necessary to create documents, spreadsheets, tables, and/or forms in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Acrobat Professional, and any other software programs as required by the position.
• Demonstrate a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism.
• Demonstrated success operating at or near the President level, including board-facing responsibilities.
• Proven ability to lead enterprise initiatives with significant scope, complexity, and ambiguity.
• Exceptional executive communication, judgment, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• A terminal degree in business, leadership or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education is required.

Experience:

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in complex, matrixed organizations, with responsibility spanning strategy and operations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, healthcare systems, research enterprises, or similarly regulated and mission-driven environments.
• Prior role as Chief of Staff, SVP /VP Strategy, Deputy COO , or equivalent executive leadership position.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the translation of the President’s vision into coordinated, actionable strategies.
• Partner with key stakeholders to establish implementation frameworks, set priorities, monitor progress, and ensure accountability for results.
• Drive strategic planning initiatives, develop performance dashboards, manage organizational change, and assess progress toward long-term objectives.
• Serve as the institutional integrator, ensuring that divisional strategies collectively advance the University’s overarching direction without supplanting the strategic responsibilities of other senior executives.

Key Responsibilities

Chief of Staff & Presidential Operations:

• Serve as the President’s principal executive partner, coordinating the daily operations and workflow of the Office of the President.
• Manage complex, multi-divisional matters, prepare critical issues for executive decision-making, and facilitate follow-through on presidential directives.
• Act as a central connector and liaison among the President, executive and academic leadership, governance bodies, and internal/external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Board of Trustees & Governance:

• Provide executive leadership and coordination for the University’s relationship with the Board of Trustees, supporting effective board governance.
• Oversee Board and committee operations, governance planning, trustee engagement, executive retreats, and the presidential evaluation process.
• Ensure Board priorities are effectively communicated throughout the institution and that the administration provides the Board with timely, strategic, and actionable information.

Key Responsibilities

Special Initiatives:

• Direct high-priority, cross-functional special initiatives designated by the President, such as organizational restructuring, institutional growth initiatives, executive searches, and accreditation priorities.
• Convene and lead cross-divisional teams, maintaining full accountability for deliverables, timelines, and successful implementation of rapid-action initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Governmental Affairs, Community Benefit & External Relations:

• Provide executive oversight for coordinated governmental and community engagement across the California and Oregon campuses.
• Direct legislative and public policy strategy, civic partnerships, and relationships with elected officials and governmental agencies.
• Ensure external engagement strategies directly support institutional priorities, academic growth, healthcare workforce development, and philanthropy.

Key Responsibilities

Institutional Events, Ceremonies & Presidential Engagement:

• Provide strategic oversight for major institutional events and traditions that advance the University’s mission, reputation, culture, and stakeholder relationships.
• Direct the strategic execution of Commencement, Board of Trustees events, White Coat ceremonies, Institutional Awards, executive retreats, and donor engagements, ensuring that events are viewed not simply as operational activities but as strategic institutional assets.
• Leverage university traditions and ceremonies as strategic assets to engage graduates, families, donors, elected officials, and community partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Other duties, as assigned.

Posting Details Continued

Work Schedule

Full-time; flexible executive schedule aligned with the University President’s calendar and institutional needs. Evening and weekend availability, as well as domestic travel, may be required.

We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable. We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits.

• Our faculty, staff and administrators are 100% focused on student success.
• Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment.
• Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community.
• As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic