The chief of staff serves as a dynamic, diplomatic and forward-thinking trusted senior advisor to the president of the University of Maine (UMaine) and its regional campus the University of Maine at Machias (UMM). The president is also vice chancellor for research and innovation for the University of Maine System (UMS). The chief of staff plays a vital role in fostering collaboration, enhancing communication, and advancing the president’s vision and strategic initiatives by translating them into action through coordination across external and internal stakeholder groups. A fundamental responsibility of the chief of staff is the comprehensive preparation and support of the president. This involves maintaining ongoing situational awareness of a wide range of current and emerging contexts within the university and beyond; anticipating consequences or challenges; and proactively advising on communications. The chief of staff ensures the president is thoroughly prepared for all daily engagements by identifying key issues in advance; assembling high-quality materials appropriate for a CEO; and managing priorities, timelines, and scheduling decisions effectively to enable the president’s success. The chief of staff is responsible for building relationships across constituencies and keeping the president informed on diverse viewpoints and issues. The chief of staff collects input and information and provides post-event briefings and summaries to the president; serves on committees and commissions; and participates in meetings as assigned. The chief of staff serves as liaison for the president with a wide range of groups and individuals, including the chancellor and other UMS leaders; the UMS Board of Trustees; the UMaine and UMM Boards of Visitors (BOVs); UMaine faculty senate and student organizations; the UMaine Alumni Association and the UMaine Foundation. The chief of staff also supports the president as needed with leaders of federal and state government, federal and state legislators, business leaders and other internal and external constituencies, as well as staff of boards on which the president sits. The chief of staff serves as a key member of the president’s executive cabinet. At the request of the president, the chief of staff provides coordination with other key leaders to collect advice and counsel on institutional policy development; university and UMS communication; administration and university operations; shared governance; faculty, staff, and student well-being; and research and economic development to further the mission and success of the university. In consultation with the president, the chief of staff advises on how to build a coherent team within the cabinet, sets agendas and coordinates the delivery of time-sensitive activities of this group. The chief of staff also assists with the management of other senior personnel who report directly to the president. The incumbent further provides overall management and coordination of the president’s office, including budget oversight, personnel, and office planning. The chief of staff role is fast-moving, often operating in shifting environments that require agility and focus. Success in this role depends on advancing the president’s priorities rather than initiating efforts that are not closely aligned with the president’s agenda. Complete Job Description (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T4aFjvc-5K7VLxQUdo-kqCt-uXGHBLZD/view?usp=sharing) About the University: The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System's flagship institution. UMaine is the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu. The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits (https://umainesystem.sharepoint.com/sites/USERVICES-UMS-Benefits-Public) for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Visit the Maine Office of Tourism (https://themainehighlands.com/places-to-visit/greater-bangor-region/) to learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer. Qualifications: Required: + Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. + Significant experience in higher education administration or public policy or within large, complex organizations to support senior executives. + Appreciation and respect for the roles and responsibilities of a university president/chief administrative officer and an understanding of the level and nature of support required, and the pace and demands of the position. + Exceptional communication skills (written and oral), clear record of effective writing and editorial experience along with experience in direct strategic, tactical and crisis communication. + Ability to identify issues that can escalate to problems in advance and be an effective, resourceful, and independent problem solver who can also gauge when to consult with the president and others. + Demonstrated prior success in functioning independently, prioritizing work, and managing multiple and competing priorities, along with unexpected situations, while meeting deadlines. Possess a system and process approach, with attention to continuous process improvement. + Ability to convey alternative opinions and perspectives to leaders with confidence and rationale. + Self-motivated and resourceful, strong emotional and analytical intelligence, organizational savvy, and sensitivity to political contexts. + Superb attention to detail and high standards for quality of materials. + Demonstrated commitment to maintaining collegial relationships with a wide-ranging group of constituencies. + Ability to use new AI tools effectively for efficiency, increased productivity and responsiveness and improved management. Preferred: + Experience in public higher education. + Broad knowledge and understanding of university policies and procedures. + Experience working with the press and with government bodies. + Solid understanding of budget preparation and fiscal management. Other Information: To be considered for this position you will need to “Apply” and upload the documentation listed below: 1.) a cover letter which describes your experience, interests, and suitability for the position 2.) a resume/curriculum vitae Candidates selected to proceed to the final stages of the search process will be requested to provide a list of names and contact information for references. Incomplete application materials cannot be considered. Materials received after the initial review date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University. For full consideration, materials must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. EST on September 22, 2025. For questions about the search, please contact search committee chair Grace Garland at grace.garland@maine.edu. The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening. In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System). Clery Act The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report, (ASR) and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. You may view the University’s Annual Security Report (https://umaine.edu/police/clery-annual-safety-report/) . If you wish to have a paper copy of the ASR or you need to have a copy of the ASR in an accessible format, the University will provide such a copy upon request. Please contact: UMaine Police Department, 81 Rangeley Rd., The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5794, or call 207.581.4053.