Chief of Staff

About the role

The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM), a nonprofit four-year MD program founded in 2021, is seeking an experienced Chief of Staff for its office in Bentonville, Arkansas. The position reports directly to the Dean and is a senior, full-time role (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) that manages the administrative staff of the Dean's office and coordinates with the senior leadership team on strategy, planning and operations.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as strategic advisor to the Dean and lead special projects, cross-departmental initiatives and institutional planning, including coordination with accreditation standards.
• Manage goal setting and performance tracking, and oversee government affairs and special executive projects.
• Prepare reports, briefings and presentations for executive meetings, draft speeches and correspondence, and facilitate leadership meetings and follow-up.
• Assist with policy development, prepare decision memos and act as liaison to key committees and the Board of Directors.
• Oversee the Dean's office administrative staff, streamline workflows, manage calendars and priorities, and handle sensitive issues discreetly.
• Lead, coach and evaluate direct reports, support recruitment and onboarding, and encourage engagement and morale.

Required profile

• At least ten years of progressive leadership experience in roles such as Chief of Staff, Chief Administrative Officer or Director-level positions with cross-functional oversight.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; advanced degree (MA, MBA, JD or PhD) preferred.
• Background in academic medicine, healthcare administration or a related field; experience in a medical school or higher education environment preferred.
• Proven track record of leading complex, multi-stream projects on time and on budget, and of overseeing strategic plans and major initiatives.
• Deep understanding of organizational operations, governance and executive office workflows.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and collaboration tools such as Teams.
• Exceptional written, verbal and visual communication skills.
• Preferred: familiarity with accreditation standards, organizational change management, project management methods, expense reporting tools and Zoom.