Kenyon College seeks a qualified applicant to fill the position of Senior Director of Presidential Operations and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees. The Senior Director of Presidential Operations and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees will serve in a critical leadership position in the President’s Division as a strategic partner to the President, the Chief of Staff, and the Vice President and General Counsel. This position will report to the Chief of Staff but will also be responsible to the General Counsel for the work of the Board of Trustees. The Senior Director will oversee the operations of the President’s Division, including staff supervision, budget oversight, administrative work, and the management of Ransom and Stephens Halls. The Senior Director will also be a liaison between the President’s office and constituents within Kenyon and Knox County. As Assistant Secretary to the Board, the Senior Director will support the General Counsel with Board management and the planning, organization, and execution of Trustee meetings.
The individual in this role maintains confidential and sensitive information with a professional demeanor and completes projects and special assignments promptly. This individual must have exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail. The ability to work with a great deal of flexibility, multi-task, function in a busy office environment, and meet deadlines is required. The Senior Director must be highly dependable and have a very high level of accountability concerning confidential material and sensitive documents. Discretion and good, independent judgment are mandatory. The individual in this position may represent the Office of the President, as needed, on special committees or projects within the College or externally.
Essential Functions for Presidential Operations
- Partner. Serve as a key partner to the President, Chief of Staff, and General Counsel in the management and operation of the President’s office and division as well as the Board of Trustees.
- Administrative Oversight. Manage the operations of the President’s Office, including budgets, website, Google Groups, data, and general communications, among others. In addition, the Senior Director will ensure the proper maintenance and upkeep of Ransom and Stephens Halls. This person will also be available to respond to general feedback and concerns.
- Fiscal Management. Ensure proper management and oversight of the president’s divisional budgets, with particular attention to the President and Board of Trustees accounts. Indirectly responsible for other divisional budgets through direct reports. Oversee the executive and administrative assistants in their oversight of these budgets. Ensure timely processing of financial forms for purchasing and reimbursements including requisitions, check requests, and contracts to ensure timely payment.
- Direct Reports: Oversee the Office of Campus Events, the Executive Assistant to the President, and the Administrative Assistant to the President’s Division. However, people in these positions will maintain direct communication with the President and Chief of Staff given the nature of their work and responsibilities.
- Campus Outreach. Works with the President, the Chief of Staff, and others to strategize and plan on- and off-campus outreach efforts of the Office of the President. Discuss big questions such as the best ways to use conversations to enhance and achieve the community development goals of the Office of the President. Ensure coordination and communication between and among other offices on campus including the Provost, admissions, advancement, alumni engagement, and others.
- Campus Senate. The President’s Office provides administrative support to Campus Senate, including website management, Google group maintenance, handling calendar entries, and other administrative functions. The Senior Director will ensure the office prepares agendas and produces meeting minutes promptly. The Senior Director may attend meetings.
- Community. Develop and maintain positive relationships to connect Kenyon with off-campus local and regional community groups. Help connect the President to the Gambier, Mt. Vernon, and Knox County communities through events and community conversations.
- Other Duties. The Senior Director will also serve as the backup to the Chief of Staff for the Kenyon Emergency Preparedness Team, assist with senior-level searches, and perform all other duties, as assigned.
Essential Functions for Board Relations
- Board Development. Work with the President, Chief of Staff, General Counsel and Board Chair to design and implement strategies for board development. This may involve supporting trustees to help them understand their roles and the expectations of membership, providing learning opportunities, mentorship of new or younger board members, and building community among board members at and between board meetings.
- Board Meetings and Logistics. In collaboration with the Secretary of the Board, maintain the board calendar and plan with a two-year schedule. Coordinate and implement all details for board meetings, including, but not limited to, attendance, hotel and travel logistics for trustees and other guests, board book preparation, dinners, celebrations, and social activities. Maintain a logistics checklist and timeline for planning and execution of the meetings. Prepare and distribute the board book, all meeting materials, and related correspondence through the electronic board management system, with backup materials maintained on the President’s Office drive. Script board events, when necessary. Collaborate with Advancement and other colleagues, as appropriate, when developing meeting plans and logistics.
- Board Member Onboarding and Appreciation. Coordinate and manage the orientation of all new board members, including a comprehensive introduction to by-laws, board expectations, the use of BoardEffect, meeting protocols, and Board culture. Ensure that all trustees leaving the board receive resolutions and an appropriate celebration of their service.
- Data Management. Regularly maintain and update board committee lists and trustee profiles. Maintain the Board of Trustees website.
- Assistant Secretary of the Board: In addition to the above responsibilities, this individual will also serve as Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees. The Senior Director will work collaboratively with the President, the General Counsel, the Chief of Staff, and members of senior staff to prepare agendas, draft written communication when necessary, attend meetings, and take minutes, as needed. This person will be familiar with governing documents and protocols.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Success Factors
The successful candidate must:
- Safeguard highly confidential information.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Establish priorities and use time wisely to accomplish assignments.
- Be highly motivated and very adaptable to change.
- Have outstanding organizational skills and event planning expertise.
- Be adaptable to take on new responsibilities and job duties on a regular basis.
- Be extremely dependable and able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Have excellent written and oral communication skill.s
- Prioritize tasks and work under pressure to meet deadlines without immediate and constant supervision with a high level of accuracy.
- Work independently with minimal supervision.
- Make independent judgments regarding the prudent use of College funds when authorizing department purchases.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Supervise the Director of Campus Events, the Executive Assistant to the President, and the Administrative Assistant to the President’s Division.
Working Conditions
The successful candidate must maintain a professional appearance and demeanor while representing the president and the College in a busy senior-level executive’s office, perform all job functions and duties with minimal or no supervision in a fast-paced working atmosphere, and maintain a high level of confidentiality concerning sensitive campus-wide issues and material handled by the office/position on a regular basis. The person in this position will be exposed to a constant flow of board members, faculty, students, administrators, alumni, community members, and others. This individual must be available to work extended hours due to special projects or events.
Minimum Qualifications
- B.A. required with at least five to seven years experience in higher education or in a related field, with preference given for experience related to a governance body or board of trustees.
- Possess excellent written and oral communication skills, including proofreading and editing.
- Extremely organized and attentive to detail with the ability to prioritize complex assignments, handle multiple tasks at once, and meet deadlines.
- Maintain a high degree of professionalism, work well with others, and be extremely flexible.
- Ability to maintain diplomacy and discretion.
Kenyon College is a nationally prominent, private liberal arts college where academic excellence goes hand in hand with a strong sense of community and close relationships among students and professors.
Compensation and Benefits
Salaries at Kenyon are competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition to an attractive salary, Kenyon offers benefits for employees and their family members. Children of employees are eligible for 100% tuition waivers at Kenyon, and through the Great Lakes Colleges Association, children of employees are eligible for 90% tuition waivers at eighteen other of the nation's finest liberal arts colleges.
We also offer health, dental and vision insurance, TIAA retirement, and many other benefits, including provisions for a spouse, families, and domestic partners. Details about benefits as well as conditions of employment are described more fully in our Staff Handbook.
Kenyon is a unique place to live and work. To discover why it should be your next home, click here.
Kenyon College is an equal opportunity employer and applications from members of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. It is the College's policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local, or federal law. Kenyon College has a strong commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. Please visit our Diversity at Kenyon website.