0019 Chief of Staff/Assistant to the President for Governmental Relations

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Chief of Staff/Assistant to the President for Governmental Relations

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 0019

GRADE Unclassified

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR President

MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR President

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Chief of Staff/Assistant to the President for Governmental Relations serves as chief of staff to the President and the coordinator of state and federal governmental relations. This position oversees the President’s schedule, facilitates access to the President, represents and speaks for the President, and coordinates projects and initiatives as assigned by the President. The Chief of Staff/Assistant to the President for Governmental Relations is responsible for facilitating the University’s achievement of its local, state and federal legislative agenda; supervises state and federal governmental services representatives and contracts; and coordinates the governmental relations activities of university officials.  This position helps to ensure that the President’s vision is effectively translated into action by coordinating efforts across the university leadership, supporting institutional priorities, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and leading implementation of an communication about the University’s strategic plan.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

 Education: A Baccalaureate degree is required. A master's or terminal degree is  preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.

Experience: A minimum of five years of experience in higher education administration or public/government relations practice, preferably with management experience, is required.

• Skills Desired: Strong verbal, written, visual, and interpersonal communication skills, including exceptional listening skills, the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, clearly communicate complicated and/or ambiguous subjects, and articulate university needs with persuasiveness and conviction.

• Ability to approach work with high degrees of energy, initiative, organization, self-confidence, creativity, positivity, attention to detail and resilience. A proven record of diplomacy.

• Strategic planning, goal setting, project management, evaluation, event planning, speech writing and budgeting experience.

• Ability to understand, synthesize, and apply knowledge of higher education finance, demographic, and policy trends.

• Experience with supervising and evaluating staff.

• Ability to understand, synthesize, and apply knowledge of the University’s strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities.

• Ability to develop and maintain relationships that enhance the University’s presence and reputation in the community and at the state level.

• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with individuals throughout the University community and to foster a climate of openness and transparency, integrity, trust, mutual respect, and team-oriented collaborative problem-solving.

• Substantive knowledge of state and federal executive branches; experience working with and advocating to state and federal legislators.

• Personal and professional ethics and integrity.

• Sensitivity and discretion in handling confidential or sensitive matters.

Other: The scope of the job frequently requires travel and attendance at evening and/or weekend activities, meetings, events, and seminars.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Oversees workplan development, workplan monitoring and recommendations for funding of initiatives as well as monitoring of mid-year progress.  Additionally oversees development, dissemination and collection of end-of-year reports.
2. Monitors annual progress toward goal achievement.
3. Works closely with goal and strategy leaders.

3. Supports the President and President’s office through the following:

1. Provides strategic and analytical support for the President. Gathers information and completes analysis to prepare potential solutions and specific recommendations for the President’s consideration.  Provides an independent perspective, which may include providing observations about key dynamics during meetings, challenging the President’s assumptions, or sharing relevant information of which the president might not be aware.
2. Facilitates relationship-building for the President. Represents the university through involvement with external partner organizations. As appropriate, serve the university’s primary point of contact for the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, Council on Public Higher Education, and other state-level organizations.
3. Works with all members of the President’s Office team to facilitate the President’s ability to manage executive responsibilities by prioritizing their schedule; completing delegable work; managing presidential email account; advising them regarding key issues and constituencies; coordinating research, projects, and initiatives; and tracking progress toward the university goals.
4. Oversees daily operations and budget of the President’s office and, in this capacity, serves as the direct supervisor for the professional, support and student staff within the office. Provides daily briefings for the President to assist in accomplishing university tasks and goals.
5. Anticipates and tracks critical dates, events, and organizational issues for follow-up with appropriate parties to ensure deadlines are met and follow-up is conducted.
6. Represents the President when the president is unavailable, or when the Chief of Staff is the President’s designee for a specific issue, committee, or group.
7. Attends meetings with the President when needed and ensures appropriate follow-up from those meetings.
8. Drafts communication on behalf of the President, in partnership with Marketing & Communications when appropriate. Prepares presentations and speeches as needed.
9. Plans meetings and events, including weekly President's Cabinet meetings, monthly University Council meetings, an annual President's Cabinet retreat, as well as other gatherings as directed by the President.
10. Works with the President to coordinate searches for President's Cabinet-level positions, including identifying search committee chairs, contracting with search firms when needed, and providing other support as required.
11. Works with the President to coordinate evaluation processes of those reporting to the President.
12. Coordinates onboarding activities for new members of the President's Cabinet.
13. Works with athletics, advancement, event planning and marketing/communication to plan events such as filling the football/basketball suites, concert venues, etc. Work on invitations and delivery of tickets.  Manages game day logistics.
14. Reviews, refers or resolves complex and sensitive problems and concerns from internal and external constituencies, including employees, students, State Board members and other policymakers and their staff.

4. Facilitates the University's achievement of its short- and long-term legislative agenda at the state and
    federal level.

1. Prepares and coordinates implementation of the Governmental Relations Plan which includes preparing informational materials, meeting with representatives of the executive and legislative branches of the state government to conduct governmental relations business for the University, coordinating and communicating regularly with the University's lobbyists at both the state and federal levels, helping track legislation that affects the University, and coordinating the governmental relations activities of university officials.
2. Ensures that the Governmental Relations Plan is fiscally sound by exercising management practices which result in operations within the allocated Governmental Relations budget.
3. Oversee and manage the visit of any dignitary coming to Missouri State to visit with the president, i.e. Missouri Governor.

5. Promotes a positive image of the University and higher education by representing theUniversity in
    community, state, and regional activities.

6. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional
    contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or
    courses as required by the President.

SUPERVISION

The Chief of Staff/Assistant to the President for Governmental Relations supervises full-time professional and support staff. 

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES 

REVISED APRIL 2025