Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, System Office
Application
Details
Posted: 23-Oct-24
Location: United States - Nationwide
Salary: Open
Internal Number: JOB_POSTING-3-2586
Job Description
The Head of Staff assists the President, Executive Cabinet, and BSU/NTC Cabinets in administering all aspects of Bemidji State University (BSU) and Northwest Technical College (NTC) educational, administrative, and executive activities. The Head of Staff also serves as the senior development officer for NTC. This position requires thorough knowledge of BSU and NTC policies, procedures, and operations, and understanding of the Collegeâ™s and Universityâ™s role within the Minnesota State system, region, and local community. Particular areas of focus include (a) management of the Office of the President (OTP) including engagement and the coordination of assignments given by the President to members of the Executive Cabinet and BSU/NTC Cabinets, supervision of OTP administrative professionals, supervision of the BSU/NTC Title IX Coordinator, and strategic oversight of the Presidentâ™s long-term calendar, particularly in coordination with BSU and NTC Foundations and with Minnesota State government relations efforts; (b) external relations with the Minnesota State System Office, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, and other educational institutions and with community, business/industry, and non-profit organizations; (c) government and external relations with particular focus on liaising with elected officials and government employees at the state, county, and city level; (d) communications for the OTP; (e) strategic planning coordination and support; and (f) community engagement and fundraising.
The Head of Staff works closely and maintains relationships with senior University and College administrators; Minnesota State system leaders; Board of Trustees members; union leaders; student leaders; faculty, student affairs educators, and staff; Tribal leaders; federal, state, and local elected officials; non-profit and business leaders; alumni; and members of the media to promote the mission, values, and goals of BSU and NTC. The Head of Staff facilitates communication, promotes alignment with stakeholders, fosters trust and credibility, drives collaboration, and advocates for institutional priorities. Discretion and confidentiality in the dissemination of information to faculty, students, student affairs educators, staff, and the various publics served by BSU and NTC is required.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Executive Leadership
Serving as a member of the Presidentâ™s Executive Cabinet Team; planning and facilitating meetings of the BSU Cabinet and attending NTC Cabinet meetings when appropriate.Â
Providing thought leadership related to the scope of responsibility in planning and decision-making for BSU and NTC including service as a senior advisor and partner to the President in pursuit of the vision and mission of BSU and NTC.Â
Centering holistic student learning, success, and achievement leading to long-term educational value in all professional practices.
Demonstrating self-awareness of one's own cultural beliefs, perspectives, and privileges as a part of oneâ™s orientation toward leadership.Â
Acknowledging the specific and particular realities of Indigenous, Black and persons of color, 2SLGBTQIAP+ individuals, first-generation college students, people from low-income families, and other minoritized communities within Northern Minnesota while also connecting communities to local and regional experiences in order to foster a greater sense of belonging among employees and students.Â
Advancing a campus culture of proactive, transparent, and inclusive engagement with shared governance. Actively and visibly engaging with campus, local, and regional communities.
Promoting practices that are environmentally sustainable and consistent with practices advanced by American Indian stewards of the regionâ™s land, water, and air.Â
Proactively engaging in data-informed practices that lead to continuous improvement.Â
Committing to the highest level of ethical practice including allocation of time and resources for reflection, rest, mentoring/consultation, etc.
Maintaining currency in areas of responsibility including strategic planning; diversity, equity, and inclusion; fundraising; event management; and executive leadership and support through engagement with strategically selected and agreed-upon professional organizations.Â
Managing the Office of the President
Supervising OTP administrative staff and providing direction to employees who may be occasionally assigned to support certain presidential initiatives.
Supervising the BSU/NTC Title IX Coordinator, supporting coordination with Title IX Deputy Coordinators for employees, student-athletes, and students.
Advising on the most effective and meaningful use of the President's time, especially regarding the President's engagement with key stakeholders, and strategically planning, coordinating, and assessing 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month internal/external calendaring for the OTP.
Developing and maintaining efficient administrative processes within OTP to ensure smooth operations and effective support for presidential initiatives.
Triaging issues, decisions, actions, and initiatives to determine the most effective response and help prioritize the President's time.
Exercising considerable judgment with the responsibility for analyzing emerging policy issues and trends, identifying impacts spanning the college and university, and coordinating responses to the President on strategies and alternatives for dealing with the issues.
Providing follow-up, support, coordination, and guidance to BSU and NTC leaders and their teams to advance presidential initiatives and decisions.
When necessary, act as a point of contact with Cabinet in raising critical or time-sensitive issues and obtaining responses, guidance, and decisions from the President.
As requested by the President, serving as a delegate from the OTP with other NTC and/or BSU leaders to support and coordinate initiatives including service on committees on behalf of the President.
Cultivating relationships with key stakeholders, including alumni, donors, government officials, and community leaders, on behalf of the President.
Legislative Engagement
Serving as the Government Relations Officer for BSU and NTC, managing the interactions with government entities and advocating for the interests of BSU and NTC in legislative and policy matters.
Developing and implementing strategies to build and maintain relationships with local, state, and federal elected officials and policymakers to advocate for BSU and NTC's interests, priorities, and funding needs.
Monitoring legislative proposals, policy developments, and funding opportunities that may impact higher education, particularly BSU and NTC, and providing analysis, recommendations, and advocacy to support the institutions' positions and goals.
Coordinating legislative outreach efforts, including meetings, briefings, and advocacy campaigns, to educate legislators and policymakers about the importance of BSU and NTC to their communities, regions, and the state as a whole.
Collaborating with institutional leaders, government relations staff, and external partners to develop and advance legislative priorities and agendas that align with BSU and NTC's mission, strategic goals, and initiatives.
Coordinating federal earmark funding requests with US House Representatives and US Senators in consultation with senior administration, faculty, student affairs educators, and staff.
Fundraising, Cultivation, & Stewardship
Serving as the Senior Development Officer at NTC, leading the day-to-day operations of the NTC Foundation and leading donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities to maximize giving and donor engagement.
Facilitating an aggressive schedule of presidential engagement with BSU and NTC donors, strategically prioritizing top 10% prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; additionally coordinating presidential engagement with all major and estate donors to support major gift officer cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship visits, contacts, and written correspondence.
Planning, facilitating, leading, and continually assessing and improving NTC Foundation hallmark events and activities, including the student online scholarship application process, scholarship selection committee, annual Day of Giving, and Scholarship Breakfast.
Convening regular meetings (typically every other month) of the NTC Foundation Board and supporting the Board chair in facilitating meetings; coordinating the presidentâ™s engagement with the NTC Foundation Board and the BSU Alumni and Foundation Board including support for reports, proposals, and strategic direction.
Working with the BSU Vice President of Advancement to coordinate BSU and NTC fundraising efforts with common donors, businesses, foundations, and other sources of philanthropic support.
Developing and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies to support the financial needs and priorities of NTC with a focus on cultivating relationships with donors, foundations, and businesses and securing philanthropic support.
Identifying and prioritizing funding opportunities aligned with NTC's strategic priorities, collaborating with institutional leaders and stakeholders to articulate compelling cases for support.
Cultivating and stewarding relationships with major donors, alumni, corporations, foundations, and other potential funding sources, fostering long-term partnerships and investment in the institutions' mission and programs.
Managing donor databases and tracking systems to ensure accurate and up-to-date records of donor interactions, contributions, and pledges, facilitating effective stewardship and communication.
Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of fundraising efforts, tracking progress toward goals and making data-informed decisions to optimize strategies and outcomes.
Serving as a spokesperson for NTC's fundraising priorities and initiatives, communicating impact and success stories to inspire philanthropic support and engagement.
Strategic Planning
Helping to facilitate strategic management processes critical to meeting NTCâ™s and BSUâ™s shared and unique strategic planning goals.
Assuming responsibility for interacting with colleagues across the college and university to ensure institutional alignment and synergy with the strategic plan.
Collaborating with institutional leaders to identify emerging trends and opportunities in higher education, informing the development of forward-thinking strategic priorities.
Partnering with the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to compile, analyze, and interpret relevant data for strategic and data-informed decision-making as related to the scope of responsibility.
Facilitating the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion goals into the strategic planning process, ensuring that initiatives promote a culture of belonging and support for all members of the campus community.
Leading, facilitating, or participating in strategic initiatives as an OTP representative, particularly in highly sensitive or complex matters.
Ensuring efficient alignment of various campus plans (e.g., strategic enrollment, facility, academic, fundraising, etc.) with the BSU-NTC master strategic plan.
Fostering cross-functional collaboration and teamwork among departments and units, leveraging the expertise and resources of diverse stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives.
Community Engagement
Coordinating/supporting, implementing, and assessing significant internal and external events for the university and college including start-up days at the beginning of semesters; commencement; events for significant individuals visiting BSU and NTC; OTP socials and/or events honoring cultural and identity-based history and heritage experiences (months); socials celebrating faculty, staff, and student accomplishments; alumni and donor recognition and visits; and other community stakeholder engagements.
Developing and implementing strategies to strengthen BSU and NTC's connections with the local and regional community, fostering partnerships, collaborations, and mutually beneficial relationships.
Organizing and facilitating community outreach events, programs, and initiatives that promote engagement, dialogue, and interaction between the institutions and the community.
Serving as a representative and ambassador of BSU and NTC in community forums, meetings, and events, advocating for the institutions' interests, priorities, and contributions to the community.
Promoting a culture of civic engagement, social responsibility, and community involvement within BSU and NTC, encouraging members of the campus community to actively participate in community-building efforts.
As necessary, serving as a liaison between the OTP and the Foundations for BSU and NTC to achieve efficient and effective use of the Presidentâ™s time in philanthropic-related activities and work.
Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of community engagement activities, soliciting feedback from stakeholders, and making adjustments as needed to ensure alignment with institutional goals, community needs, and desired outcomes.
Office of the President Communication
Serving as the OTP liaison with the Office of Communications and Marketing (OCM) and the Minnesota State System Marketing and Communications Office, ensuring alignment of messaging, branding, and communication efforts with the President's objectives, institutional priorities, and systemwide goals and concerns.
Partnering with OCM to develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy to effectively convey the President's priorities, initiatives, and messages to internal and external stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, government officials, and the broader community.
Ensuring exceptional communication regarding University and College decisions to various units within BSU and NTC and to external stakeholders.
Assisting the President with correspondence dealing with issues and subject matter that requires considerable sensitivity, discretion, judgment or negotiation.
Collaborating with institutional leaders, departments, and committees to disseminate information, gather feedback, and facilitate dialogue on key initiatives, decisions, and issues affecting the institution.
Minimum Qualifications
Masterâ™s degree from an accredited institution.
An ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds, interrupt oppressive structures and practices, and create an institutional culture that is equitable, inclusive, and just.
Excellent demonstrated judgment and diplomacy in working with diverse groups to address complex issues.
Exceptional written, presentation, and verbal communication skills that can be applied across levels.
A disposition for team leadership with executive peers and a proven capacity to lead cross-divisional and/or cross-functional teams to attain strategic outcomes.
Preferred QualificationÂ
Doctoral or terminal degree in an appropriate and relevant discipline or field.
Understanding of current federal and state higher education policies, issues, regulations, trends, and/or collective bargaining agreements.
Demonstrated record of fundraising achievements.
Ability to manage policy, protocol, and process details while attending to broad institutional priorities within a dynamic and often ambiguous organizational setting.
Experience working in a public state college and university system, and demonstrated ability to effectively lead in a collective bargaining, shared governance environment.
Experience working with executives in (a) higher education, non-profit, or government organization(s).
Experience working with government and elected officials.
Knowledge of emerging trends, challenges and opportunities, current standards, and effective practices in higher education and university operations, at the international, national, and state/system levels.
Other Considerations
Must be able to lawfully accept employment in the United States at the time of an offer of employment.
Official transcript(s) must be provided to Human Resources upon hire.
In accordance with the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (Minn State) Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, faculty and staff driving on college/university business, who use a rental or state vehicle, shall be required to complete a vehicle Use Agreement form and conform to Minn Stateâ™s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.
About Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, System Office
With its 31 institutions, including 24 two-year colleges and seven state universities, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is the largest single provider of higher education in the state of Minnesota. The colleges and universities operate 54 campuses in 47 Minnesota communities and serve about 250,000 students in credit-based courses. Overall, the system produces about 33,500 graduates each year. In addition to credit-based courses, the system offers customized training programs that serve about 153,200 employees from 6,000 Minnesota businesses each year. The law creating the system was passed by the Minnesota Legislature in 1991 and went into effect July 1, 1995. The law merged the state's community colleges, technical colleges and state universities into one system. The system is separate from the University of Minnesota.