Summary

How to Apply:

A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience. In the cover letter, in two pages or less, please let us know how this role aligns with your career aspirations and skill set. Submit your attachment as one file (because of system limitations).

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. The University of Michigan is committed to fostering learning, creativity and productivity, and to supporting the vigorous exchange of ideas and information.

We are establishing this new role to act as an advisor and strategic partner to the President and support our executive team in implementing the President's priorities. You will manage presidential initiatives and special projects along with coordinating the administrative responsibilities of the office. You will report directly to the President, be a member of the university's executive team and manage 3 staff: an Executive Assistant, the Director of Special Projects and Initiatives and the Director of Office Operations. This role is on-site, 5 days a week and may require work outside of regular business hours.

A complete job description is available here. For more about our office, visit https://president.umich.edu/. If you have questions about this posting, reach out to talent.acquisition@umich.edu.

Highlights of Responsibilities:

• Help develop, plan, support and lead initiatives. Past examples include the President's Commission on Carbon Neutrality, the Arts Initiative, and the Biosciences Initiative.
• Provide strategic advice to the President and keep him informed about issues.
• Help with ad hoc or emerging matters and troubleshoot with collaborative partners using impeccable judgment and problem-solving skills.
• Represent the President on committees and manage standing committees. Facilitate meetings of the executive team including developing agendas and organizing support materials.
• Build productive partnerships across a large, decentralized organization to aid in the development and implementation of projects.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures. Past examples include investments in fossil fuel, public art, building naming, and the tobacco-free initiative.
• Support the implementation of the President's priorities by coordinating with the executive team.
• Be responsible for our office's administrative functions working with the Executive Assistant to the President to ensure that our office is a welcoming, safe, and professional environment for staff and visitors.
• Work with the central human resources office on staff and executive team employee matters.
• Coordinate recruiting and hiring for positions reporting to the President including a new role focused on office operations.
• Support professional development and nurture the talents of the team through mentoring, coaching and team building.
• Use your strong written and verbal communication skills to speak with and listen to a variety of audiences with the goal of understanding their needs to develop aligned solutions.

Required Qualifications:

• 7 years of demonstrated relevant experience in a high-level, academic or executive level setting.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Personal and professional ethics and integrity to the highest degree.
• Impeccable judgment (sensitivity and discretion) in handling confidential materials and situations.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to lead effectively within a non-hierarchical, de-centralized, and highly collaborative campus community.
• Good political acumen with a keen sense of how and when to engage the participation of different constituencies and the ability to build productive alliances.
• Skill in working with all campus stakeholders in a climate of openness and transparency, integrity, trust, mutual respect, and collaborative problem solving.
• Understanding of and commitment to the academic, research, and service missions of a leading residential public university.
• Outstanding oral and written communications skills with an ability to speak to a variety of audiences, transform ambiguity into clarity, and articulate campus needs with persuasiveness and conviction; excellent listening skills; and the capacity and willingness to engage in intellectual debate and discussion.
• High degree of energy, initiative, and organization; self-confidence, creativity, and willingness to take risks and to develop and evaluate new programs with knowledge of national best practices, including the ability to use research, data, and assessment to guide decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to work alongside colleagues, at all levels, respectfully and inclusively to foster a positive environment that promotes employee engagement and recognizes their contributions.
• Ability to model a commitment to personal growth and development, and to nurturing the talents of others through strong mentoring, coaching, and team building.
• Approachable, optimistic, and intellectually curious with personal warmth, generosity of spirit, a can-do attitude, and strong resilience in the face of criticism.

Benefits at the University of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

U-M COVID-19 Vaccination Policy

COVID-19 vaccinations, including one booster when eligible, are required for all University of Michigan students, faculty and staff across all campuses, including Michigan Medicine. This includes those working remotely and temporary workers. More information on this new policy is available on the U-M Health Response website or the UM-Dearborn and UM-Flint websites.