Chief of Staff (CoS)

Job Title: Chief of Staff (CoS)

Department: President G&A**

Reports to: President **

Location: Remote working, with possible future travel to Education City-Doha/AUAF Qatar**

No. of position: 1**

Vacancy #: AF-Int-02-2022

Position Announcement close date: April 30, 2022**

Overview

For its first fifteen years, the American University of Afghanistan was the only nationally accredited, private, not-for-profit, non-partisan, and coeducational institution of higher education within Afghanistan’s borders. It opened its doors in 2006 with an initial enrollment of 51 students, and since that time has grown to enroll more than 1,700 full- and part-time students across undergraduate, graduate, and professional training programs. Despite a changing political and security climate in Afghanistan, AUAF has successfully lived up to its mission to provide equal access to high-quality higher education across gender, ethnicity, and socio-economic background. Nearly half of our undergraduate students are female, and generous support from the U.S. government and other funding partners has allowed us to support a secure, inclusive, residential campus environment in Kabul. Our professional community comprises a diverse, talented Afghan and international faculty and staff who work together in support of our students and toward a sustainable, ambitious future for the provision of American-style education in Afghanistan.

With the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban regime during August, 2021, AUAF was forced to evacuate from its physical campuses and continue to operate as a university in exile through online programs, relocation of students to partner institutions and other universities willing to sponsor their continued educational careers, and establishment of a satellite campus in Doha, Qatar, through the generosity of the Qatar government.

AUAF is seeking a qualified candidate for the full time position of Chief of Staff (CoS).

Position Summary: Chief of Staff (CoS):

The Chief of Staff serves as a key partner to American University of Afghanistan’s Chief Executive in management of the university’s professional staff, creation and implementation of strategy, and engagement with strategic partners in the government, corporate, foundation, and education sectors, as well as the Board of Trustees and Board of the Friends of AUAF. Especially important aspects of the Chief of Staff’s portfolio will be oversight of internal and external communications, marketing and development, and legal affairs. Additionally, the Chief of Staff will manage daily activities of the President’s Office, maintain the President’s Office budgets, and serve as a spokesperson for the President’s Office and proxy in the President’s absence. Speechwriting and written communications to the university’s internal and external communities will be required, along with occasional international travel to represent the university. The Chief of Staff will manage the president’s schedule and allocation of time at a strategic level, in alignment with university goals and priorities.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

· Manage the President’s Office budget.

· Supervise the President’s Office staff as well as key personnel in the Communications, Development, Alumni Relations, and Public Affairs Section departments.

· Serve as the university’s Chief Communications and Marketing officer, with oversight of media relations, advertising, branding, and internal communications.

· Coordinate and develop university communications plans, including policy and procedures for crisis communications, social media, public relations, and all other aspects of communications.

· Coordinate the President’s activities with the Board of Trustees (BoT), including collaboration with the Executive Assistant to the BoT for scheduling and planning of Board meetings and events.

· Stand as spokesperson for the university as needed, and act as proxy in the President’s absence (N.B. general management of the university falls to the Vice President for Operations & Administration when the President is unavailable, while the Chief of Staff provides continuity in the President’s internal and external engagement, activities of the President’s Office, key standing meetings, and formal responsibilities as appropriate).

· Draft and/or edit the President’s public remarks, speeches, and written communication in close coordination with the President; provide research and background for internal and external communications from the President’s Office; maintain talking points for key meetings and engagements.

· Liaise with legal representatives of the university and coordinate legal affairs.

· Assist the President in strategic planning and implementation of strategy.

· Synchronize university-wide activities with attention to strategy, priorities, and goals of the university.

· Plan and oversee events hosted by the President’s Office.

· Manage the President’s schedule and allocation of time at a strategic level, in alignment with university goals and priorities.

· Coordinate the President’s international business travel.

· At times, accompany and/or represent the President on business travel.

· Participate as a member of and secretary to the President’s cabinet, along with the other members of the executive leadership team.

Required Qualification (Experience and Education):

· MA or equivalent in one of the following fields: Communications, Law, Education, Higher Education Administration, Business, Public Policy, or a field related to one of these; or BA in one of the above plus demonstrated professional experience equivalent to the above; or MA or equivalent in a liberal arts field of study plus significant experience in higher education, legal affairs, management consulting, not-for-profit administration, or business administration.

· Experience in organizational structure and staff management.

· Familiarity with budgets and finance.

· Ability and availability to travel.

· Preferred experience in strategic planning.

· Preferred experience in higher education administration from the perspective of at least one of the following: executive management, academic management, communications and marketing, management consulting, finance, board management, or operations.

· Preferred experience in an international sector.

Required Skills:

· Excellent written and verbal communication.

· Ability to work collaboratively and adaptively in a dynamic, often unpredictable context.

· Strong interpersonal and management skills.

· Sound personal and professional integrity and ethics.

· Orientation toward mission-driven work.

· Adeptness in balancing high-altitude planning (e.g. mission and strategy) with low-altitude problem-solving and implementation (e.g. management and coordination).

· Cultural competency.

Benefits:

The American University of Afghanistan offers a generous benefits package which includes flexible working hours, a competitive salary, international health care and life insurance, paid vacation leave, paid sick leave and location specific allowances when travelling if applicable.