Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences

Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences

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Duke University

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Occupational Summary

As the Dean’s senior strategic partner and principal advisor, the Chief of Staff is responsible for advancing the mission and priorities of Trinity College of Arts & Sciences through exceptional organizational leadership, coordination, and execution. This role requires a unique combination of strategic judgment, operational excellence, political acumen, and emotional intelligence.

The Chief of Staff functions as one extension of the Dean within the leadership team, helping represent the Dean’s perspective, managing institutional relationships, and ensuring that the College’s priorities are advanced with discipline, coherence, and clarity. Reporting directly to the Dean, the Chief of Staff provides leadership across the Dean’s Office, overseeing strategic communications, special projects, faculty governance engagement, and Trinity Board of Visitors liaison functions. The Chief of Staff also serves as the Dean’s senior advisor and trusted representative, ensuring continuity of leadership and decision‑making when operational or strategic demands require it.

Worked Performed

Strategic Leadership And Partnership

• Serve as a principal advisor to the Dean on institutional priorities, governance matters, and organizational challenges.
• Coordinate execution of the College’s strategic ambitions, ensuring follow‑through, accountability, and alignment across divisions.
• Represent the Dean’s perspective in meetings, committees, and institutional decision‑making processes.
• Support continuity and coordination in the Dean’s absence, as appropriate.
• Anticipate emerging challenges and opportunities, providing strategic counsel grounded in political and institutional insight.
• Lead the Dean’s Office in issue‑response, crisis coordination, and reputational risk management, partnering with University Communications, Legal, and senior leadership.

Organizational Management And Integration

Communications And External Engagement

Strategic Planning And Special Projects

Faculty And Governance Engagement

Institutional Representation And Relationship Management

Minimum Required Qualifications

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

Master’s Degree

Skills & Experience

Equal Opportunity Employer

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and / or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Seniority Level

Executive

Employment Type

Temporary

Job Function

Administrative

Industries

Higher Education

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