Chief of Staff

About the role

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 manages the administrative staff of the Dean's office while working closely with the senior leadership team on strategy, planning and operational efficiency.

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 develop direct reports, run one-on-one meetings and performance evaluations, support recruitment and onboarding, and encourage engagement.

Required profile

• At least ten years of progressive leadership experience in roles such as Chief of Staff, Chief Administrative Officer or Director-level positions.
• 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.
• Ability to work independently with significant responsibility and autonomy.

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.

The role is full-time, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in an office environment with occasional local travel.