The Executive Associate serves as a pivotal stakeholder to the Vice President in leading EDEO's strategic initiatives, operational excellence, and culture transformation. By fostering alignment with KPIs, overseeing budget strategy, and ensuring efficient executive office management, the Executive Associate plays a critical role in achieving EDEO's mission of enhancing enrollment and educational outreach impact across Grand Valley State University. Primary Duties Lead Division-wide Impact and Change Management Initiatives
- Drive cultural transformation and change management initiatives by developing and promoting shared, measurable goals.
- Utilize innovative strategies to foster broad investment and impact across EDEO, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
Strategic Project Execution and Accountability
- Ensure EDEO's strategies translate into concrete actions, fostering accountability across all units to achieve set objectives.
- Oversee the alignment of projects and initiatives with Division KPIs, promoting high standards of performance and impact measurement.
Executive Office Oversight and Task Management
- Manage the organization and execution of work within the Vice President's office, ensuring that calendars, tasks, and strategic priorities are executed efficiently.
- Implement and oversee a robust calendar management system for the Vice President, ensuring optimal prioritization and time management for high-impact activities and key stakeholder engagements.
Strategic Alignment with University Mission and Division Objectives
- Align all internal and external EDEO initiatives with the University's mission and strategic goals, positioning the Division as a collaborative partner within the university ecosystem.
- Develop systems to ensure consistency and synergy between divisional and university-wide objectives.
Performance Tracking and Data-Driven Insights
- Collaborate with the Office of Institutional Analysis to establish performance metrics, utilizing qualitative and quantitative data to monitor progress toward key divisional goals.
- Regularly communicate performance outcomes and insights to EDEO leadership to drive data-informed decision-making.
Financial Strategy and Budget Management
- Facilitate budget planning, oversight, and resource allocation, ensuring alignment with divisional and university-wide financial strategies.
- Develop and maintain a budget management strategy to optimize resource use, align spending with Division KPIs, and provide financial recommendations to the Vice President.
Executive Support and Leadership Representation
- Represent the Vice President in key leadership and operational settings, acting as a strategic advisor to the EDEO team.
- Oversee the implementation of the Vice President's directives, ensuring that high-priority initiatives are successfully executed and tracked.
Strategic Communication and Prioritization
- Assist the Vice President in prioritizing communications and initiatives, coordinating strategic messaging, and ensuring alignment with key stakeholders within and outside the Division.
Confidential Facilitation and Senior Leadership Support
- Manage confidential matters and documents on behalf of the Vice President, facilitating secure and appropriate dissemination to the University President and senior leadership team.
Professional Development and Leadership Coaching
- Develop and implement professional development, training, and coaching programs for EDEO leaders, fostering a culture of growth and continuous improvement.
Stakeholder Management and External Representation
- Serve as a primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, promoting effective communication and fostering strategic relationships that advance divisional and university objectives.
Organizational Effectiveness and Process Improvement
- Monitor and evaluate the Division's organizational effectiveness, leading continuous improvement efforts to enhance workflows, optimize processes, and improve operational efficiency.
Other Duties as Assigned by the Vice President
- Remain adaptable and responsive to emerging needs and special projects as directed by the Vice President.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - Master's degree in higher education administration, public administration, business, organizational leadership, or a related field required.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education or a related field, with substantial experience in strategic project management, culture and change management, and executive-level support.
- Demonstrated experience in budget management, financial planning, and aligning financial strategies with organizational KPIs.
- Proven track record of success in coordinating high-level projects, facilitating process improvements, and managing operational oversight for a complex organizational unit or division.
- Advanced data and analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights and measure performance against key metrics.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, with demonstrated experience in aligning organizational tasks and goals with institutional objectives.
- Exceptional organizational and task management skills, including experience in overseeing calendar execution and managing executive office priorities for efficiency and effectiveness.
- Highly effective communication skills, including cross-cultural, interpersonal, public speaking, and writing abilities, with a proven ability to interact effectively at all organizational levels.
- Ability to build and sustain positive relationships with a diverse set of internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating political acumen and cultural competence in service of advancing strategic initiatives.
- Strong commitment to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and collaborative work environment aligned with the values of social justice, diversity, equity, and belonging.
- Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet the demands of a fast-paced executive office.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams, departments, and external organizations, promoting a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Working Conditions - Normal office environment. Some travel and the ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, is required.
Salary & Benefits: $100,000.00 - $110,000.00, commensurate with experience.
- Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, vision, dental, and life insurance, generous employer retirement contributions, wellness resources, and tuition waiver, effective on the date of hire.
How to apply: Include a cover letter and resume. Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin on November 18, 2024 and the posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the university. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Must have the physical stamina to work long hours and/or more than 5 days per week. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended by the ADA Amendment Act (2008), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. GVSU will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. See www.gvsu.edu/affirmative/. TDD Callers: Call Michigan Relay Center at 711 (in State) or 1-800-###-#### (out of State). Grand Valley State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for racial and ethnic minorities, women, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. University policy extends protections to additional identities.