Edtech.com's Summary

The College of Western Idaho is hiring a Chief of Staff. This role involves advancing institutional strategy, supporting the President with executive leadership, managing governance and Board relations, and overseeing operations and cross-functional projects to ensure alignment with the college’s mission and strategic priorities.

Highlights

Serve as the President’s principal aide, advisor, and thought partner to execute strategic priorities
Lead coordination of governance activities and serve as liaison to the Board of Trustees
Foster collaboration and represent the President with faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders
Oversee daily operations and staff of the Office of the President and manage special projects
Support institutional strategic planning, policy development, and organizational effectiveness
Manage Office of the President budget and monitor expenditures
Requires a bachelor’s degree and five years of progressively responsible senior administrative or leadership experience
Strong judgment, communication, political acumen, and ability to manage multiple priorities
Preferred experience includes governance support, higher education, and supervising professional staff
Comprehensive benefits package with premium healthcare, retirement contributions, tuition discounts, and personal leave

Chief of Staff Full Description

Reports To:

President

Position Status:

FT - Full-Time

Advance Institutional Strategy and Executive Leadership as Chief of Staff at CWI!

Are you a strategic leader who excels at driving organizational effectiveness, managing complex initiatives, and building alignment across diverse stakeholders? The College of Western Idaho (CWI) is seeking a Chief of Staff to serve as the principal aide and trusted advisor to the President, providing leadership, strategic counsel, and operational oversight in support of the College’s mission and vision.

In this highly visible role, you will help advance presidential priorities, coordinate institution-wide initiatives, support governance operations, and foster collaboration across the College’s leadership team, Board of Trustees, and community partners.

Why Join CWI?

At CWI, leadership is rooted in collaboration, innovation, and student success. As Chief of Staff, you will play a pivotal role in supporting executive decision-making, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring alignment across the institution. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the future direction of Idaho’s largest community college while working closely with senior leaders on issues that impact students, employees, and the broader community.

Benefits:

CWI offers one of the most affordable and comprehensive benefits packages in higher education, including:

Premium healthcare plans
11%+ employer retirement contributions
Tuition discounts
Generous personal leave
Professional development opportunities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Partnership:

Serve as the President’s principal aide, advisor, and thought partner
Partner with executive leaders to execute the President’s agenda, strategic priorities, and institutional initiatives
Ensure presidential directives, projects, and priorities maintain momentum and progress across the college
Provide strategic guidance and support on complex institutional matters
Prepare briefings, reports, presentations, and recommendations that support executive decision-making

Governance & Board Relations:

Lead the development and coordination of agendas, materials, and strategies for governance bodies, including the Board of Trustees, President’s Cabinet, and Administrative Council
Serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees on matters not directly managed by the President
Support governance policy implementation, trustee communications, and election administration activities
Ensure effective coordination and follow-through on Board actions and institutional priorities

Institutional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement:

Serve as a liaison between the President and faculty, staff, students, alumni, community leaders, elected officials, and external stakeholders
Represent the President’s views and priorities in internal and external settings, as appropriate
Foster productive relationships and partnerships that support institutional goals
Ensure timely, accurate, and strategic communication between the Office of the President and the broader college community

Operations, Administration & Project Leadership:

Oversee daily operations of the Office of the President, including administration, staffing, policies, and procedures
Supervise President’s Office employees and support a high-performing, service-oriented team culture
Manage special projects and strategic initiatives on behalf of the President
Coordinate cross-functional teams, establish timelines, and monitor progress toward project goals
Ensure appropriate review and processing of presidential contracts, agreements, and signature requests
Coordinate strategic management of the President’s and Board’s schedules

Strategic Planning, Policy & Organizational Effectiveness:

Provide oversight and support for institutional strategic planning and performance reporting efforts
Support the development, review, and implementation of college policies
Promote alignment among leadership teams, departments, and institutional priorities
Utilize data, assessment, and best practices to evaluate initiatives and recommend improvements
Contribute to college-wide planning, policy development, and organizational effectiveness efforts

Budget & Resource Management:

Manage the Office of the President budget and monitor related expenditures
Support budget planning, resource allocation, and financial stewardship activities
Ensure operational decisions align with institutional priorities and fiscal responsibility

What We’re Looking For:

Bachelor’s degree and five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a senior administrative, executive, academic, or leadership environment
Exceptional judgment, discretion, and ability to handle highly confidential information
Demonstrated ability to lead and influence within a collaborative, decentralized organization
Strong political acumen and ability to build productive relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
Experience managing complex projects, priorities, and organizational initiatives
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
Ability to translate ambiguity into clear direction and actionable outcomes
Proven organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience supporting executive leadership, boards, or governance organizations
Experience in higher education, public sector, or similarly complex organizations
Demonstrated success in strategic planning, policy development, and organizational effectiveness initiatives
Experience supervising professional staff and leading cross-functional teams
Strong understanding of shared governance and stakeholder engagement practices

Leadership Competencies:

Collaborative and relationship-focused leadership style
High degree of initiative, professionalism, and accountability
Intellectual curiosity and commitment to continuous improvement
Ability to foster trust, transparency, and inclusive decision-making
Resilience, adaptability, and sound judgment in dynamic environments
Commitment to creating a positive workplace culture that values employee contributions and supports institutional success

Additional Instructions For Applicants:

Most positions at CWI are in-person and based on campus. While some roles may allow up to two remote workdays per week, eligibility for remote work is determined on a case-by-case basis at the hiring manager's discretion. All candidates must reside within, or be willing to relocate to, a reasonable commuting distance from CWI. Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other applicable legally protected status.

Original Job Description