Chief of Staff to the Executive Director & VP of Federal Strategy, Hopkins Bloomberg Center

The Hopkins Bloomberg Center (HBC) and the Office of Federal Strategy work across the enterprise to support evidence-based policymaking and engagement in pursuit of the university’s goal to provide knowledge for the world through the tripartite mission of discovery, education and service. The team at HBC initiates and coordinates programming and events with internal and external stakeholders to create opportunities for conversation, collaboration and action on key policy issues and challenges facing all levels of government. The Office of Federal Strategy represents Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the Johns Hopkins Health System (JHHS) in Congress and with Executive Branch agencies, works with trade associations on behalf of the enterprise and advises and supports key JHU/JHHS leaders and faculty in their engagements with federal officials and agencies.

The Executive Director and VP of Federal Strategy (ED/VP) is seeking a Chief of Staff (COS). The COS serves as a key member of the ED/VP’s leadership team and represents the ED/VP, internally and externally, on matters relating to the critical functions and goals of the offices. The COS supports the work of the ED/VP by fostering an efficient and effective organization, helping to direct and manage the short- and long-term priorities, initiatives and activities related to projects and goals of the HBC, and collaborating closely with the Office of Federal Strategy.

This individual will work with HBC colleagues, providing direction, input, and project management and tracking in order to support general operations excellence. This role requires strong organizational and collaboration skills, including planning, project management and supervisory skills, and the ability to navigate a highly complex organization with diverse stakeholders.

This individual will serve as a conduit to the ED/VP, providing critical information and updates on matters of significance in a timely and expeditious manner. This individual will participate in senior-level discussions and decision-making, presenting relevant information and research findings, tracking and following up as appropriate on deliberations, decisions and action plans, as well as drafting policies, reports, correspondence and other materials.

This individual will also develop, direct, and coordinate presentations, major addresses, remarks, and high-level briefings for the President, Provost and other members of the University and health system leadership and/or outside constituencies and stakeholders. The COS may also manage staff in the immediate office of the ED/VP.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

General 

• Supporting the ED/VP in leading the HBC, working in close consultation and collaboration with both the programming and operations staff of HBC, as well as with leadership in offices of the Deans, Directors, University Administration and a variety of faculty and offices across the enterprise.
  

• Acting as a key adviser to the ED/VP, identify and brief the ED/VP on key issues requiring a detailed understanding and broader context of programs, initiatives, goals and objectives beyond day-to-day operational issues. Ensure matters requiring the ED/VP’s attention are developed, researched and evaluated thoroughly before presentation.
  

• Serving, with the Executive Specialist, as the conduit to the ED/VP, providing critical information and updates on matters of significance in a timely and expeditious manner.
  

• Reviewing correspondence, communications, reports and presentations submitted to the ED/VP; obtaining additional information and/or recommending appropriate changes to facilitate effective engagement.
  

• Participating in senior-level discussions and decision-making, presenting relevant information and research findings, taking notes on deliberations, decisions, and action plans as well as drafting policies, reports, correspondence and other materials, including those presented to JHU senior leaders, philanthropic partners and other key internal and external stakeholders.
  

• Ensuring that the agenda and priorities of the ED/VP’s office are understood, supported and advanced by HBC staff, serving as the ED/VP’s voice - conducting briefings or meetings, providing clarification, direction or the necessary coordination, and/or carrying out key or vital initiatives on behalf of the ED/VP.
  

• Conducting and/or researching activities that support planning, decision-making and evaluation, including benchmarking with peer organizations and identification of best practices.
  

• Exercising independent discretion and judgment, and able to assume responsibility for resolving issues and problems of material importance.
  

• Managing operations of the ED/VP office, including leading a team of direct reports, and provide guidance and support to other ED/VP direct reports.
  

• Staying current on contemporary issues of the day and being able to offer thoughtful insights and consideration to the variety of current and strategic issues and topics before HBC in order to support proactive and reactive programming and activities.
  

• Participating in crisis management and response, drafting and disseminating communications as needed or appropriate.
  

• Under the ED/VP’s direction and in partnership with the Executive Specialist, developing and supporting a culture of shared ownership, cooperation, efficiency, and professionalism within the office.

Management

• Responsible for directing several key HBC programs, as needed, and providing indirect oversight on behalf of ED/VP of other programming and event activities as needed.
  

• Providing daily management of administrative support functions for the ED/VP.
  

• Helping to guide scheduling decisions for HBC conference space requests.
  

• Establishing and managing processes to create and revise, as needed, key HBC policies and procedures.
  

• Shepherding contracts and other documents through relevant JHU offices (e.g. Offices of General Counsel, Procurement, Finance, etc.)
  
  

Represent the Center/Office

• Establishing and maintaining close working relationships and coordination with a wide range of offices and staff, internal or external to JHU.
  

• Independently attending meetings, representing the ED/VP and the needs of the office, and making decisions at internal and external meetings.
  

• Interacting with the senior leadership team and senior leaders of the JHU schools or divisions on matters of importance to the ED/VP (on their behalf or in their absence).
  

• Convening, managing and facilitating workgroups as assigned by the ED/VP or designee, facilitating task completion of workgroups, as appropriate.

Project Management

• Independently managing critical, timely and important short-term and long-term special projects on behalf of the ED/VP.
• Collaborating as required with other team members, including developing plans, defining and communicating alternatives and making recommendations regarding appropriate courses of action based on a thorough understanding of desired outcomes, expectations and timelines.
• Assuming responsibility for keeping broad HBC initiatives on track and completed on a timely basis. This includes working directly with Deans and Directors (or their designees) from schools and divisions across the University, and health system leadership to obtain and track pertinent, and frequently sensitive and confidential, information.
• Tracking and assessing progress toward goals/priorities and taking appropriate action to influence outcomes.

Communications

• Advising the ED/VP on invitations, speaking engagements and professional commitments.
• Coordinating all media requests and internal communications with the HBC communication team, in collaboration with central university communications team, when appropriate.
• Working with autonomy while collaborating with others to find agreement.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Outstanding management skills, particularly in strategic and operational planning, facilitation, team building, change management and process improvement.
  

• Experience working closely with senior-level executives in government, education, foundation, corporate or comparable setting.
  

• Demonstrated ability to manage large and complex initiatives to successful completion, with the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities simultaneously.
  

• Ability to think and plan strategically and possess a leadership style that works in collaboration with a wide variety of constituencies, building effective and enjoyable working relationships.
  

• Excellent oral, written, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
  

• Perceptive and politically savvy with a high degree of diplomacy, tact and discretion.
  

• Proven ability to professionally handle highly confidential information.
  

• Must have the ability to exercise good judgment, make independent decisions, establish and maintain cooperative relationships with senior leadership, university officials, philanthropic partners, HBC peers and colleagues and diverse teams within and external to JHU.
  

• Strong supervisory abilities and proven experience in managing and developing high-performance teams.
  

• Understanding of and commitment to the mission of discovery/research, teaching, and patient care in a premier university and health system.
  

• General knowledge of Microsoft Office, presentation, database, and web applications required.
  

• Strong organizational skills required.
  

• Strongly prefer substantial experience working in a complex, highly visible organization, with an active and dynamic environment.
  

• Demonstrated ability to multi-task, manage and triage competing and changing priorities, supervise and develop staff, and show results and achievements.
  

• Experience in senior government roles, higher education or health care organizations preferred.
  

• Flexible, highly skilled and independent position able to handle other appropriate matters as assigned by the ED/VP.

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Minimum of 10 years related experience

• Master’s Degree preferred
• Ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends, as needed, to support key HBC activities

Classified Title: Special Advisor, Federal Affairs 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Chief of Staff to the Executive Director & VP of Federal Strategy, Hopkins Bloomberg Center   
Role/Level/Range: L/05/LI  
Starting Salary Range: $143,500 - $251,200 Annually (Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm 
Exempt Status: Exempt 
Location: Hybrid/District of Columbia 
Department name: ​​​​​​​555 Penn 
Personnel area: University Administration