National search for Chief of Staff to the Provost and Executive Vice President announced

 

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025

The Office of the Provost announces a national search for the Chief of Staff, or COS, to the Provost and Executive Vice President at Kansas State University. The university has engaged the services of ACES, an executive search firm, to support the search committee with the process.

This position offers an exceptional opportunity for a strategic leader to influence the academic enterprise at scale. Under the bold vision of its Next-Gen K-State strategic plan, the university is advancing its role as a next-generation land-grant university, prioritizing student success, research impact, academic innovation and community engagement.

The COS will play a pivotal role in this effort, working closely with the provost to drive progress on university priorities in a rapidly changing higher education environment. The COS will serve as a key integrator, bringing together complex initiatives, ensuring operational alignment, and functioning as both a strategic partner and a detail-oriented executor. This high-profile role spans the university and requires exceptional relationship-building skills, the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics, and the capacity to quickly earn trust in a close-knit, high-touch environment. The chief of staff will collaborate with the President; University Strategy Officer; Executive Vice President for Executive Affairs, University Engagement and Partnerships, and Chief of Staff to the President; deans, vice and associate provosts; and members of the President's Cabinet and their senior teams to coordinate and advance key cross-campus initiatives.

The ideal candidate is highly organized and detail-oriented, with a proven ability to drive complex projects to completion. They bring strong collaboration, the ability to cultivate productive partnerships, as well as the political acumen to navigate a university environment and influence stakeholders across the institution.

Reporting to the Provost and Executive Vice President, the Chief of Staff serves as a senior leader in the Office of the Provost and a key strategic liaison to the broader K-State community. The COS leads, coordinates, and supports complex and confidential institutional projects aligned with the university's mission and academic priorities, while navigating the nuances of shared governance, faculty engagement and academic culture. This role builds and maintains strong relationships across K-State's campuses, colleges, and units while partnering closely with university leaders to drive the effective planning, implementation and communication of strategic initiatives. The COS also represents the provost as needed in high-level discussions, on university committees, and in managing issues or concerns on the provost's behalf.

In addition to overseeing the operations and communications of the Provost’s Office, this position plays a central role in institutional policy development, project management and institutional planning. The position works closely with the provost to manage agendas and follow-up for the Deans' Council and the Provost Executive Team, ensuring alignment across academic and administrative leadership.

The full position description, including specific duties, responsibilities and required qualifications, may be found on the Provost's website.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited and are treated confidentially. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally, cover letters should not exceed two pages.

For full consideration, candidates must apply online by Sept. 5.