Chief of Staff, Dean’s Office, Moody College of Communications

Job Posting Title:

Chief of Staff, Dean’s Office, Moody College of Communications

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Hiring Department:

Moody College of Communication

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Dec 01, 2026

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

This position reports directly to the Dean of the Moody College of Communication and will provide executive level support, exercising initiative and independent judgement. This position will interact with university and college leadership, faculty, staff, students, alumni and stakeholders utilizing a high degree of professionalism to help achieve the objectives of the Dean and the university.

Purpose

To provide executive level support and assistance to the Dean of the Moody College of Communication.

 

Responsibilities

• Function 1: Strategic Counsel and Executive Leadership Support
  Provide strategic counsel to the Dean and college leadership team to advance the priorities and operational needs of Moody College of Communication. Work closely with the Dean to provide strategic insights, counsel, and guidance in achieving college and University goals. Monitor progress across the Dean’s portfolio of strategic priorities, identify opportunities for improvement, and recommend actions to strengthen organizational effectiveness and advance college objectives. Collaborate with senior leadership to align strategies, initiatives, and resources with the College’s academic, research, student success, and operational priorities. Exercise sound judgment and make decisions on behalf of the Dean within delegated authority

• Function 2: Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects
  Lead high-priority strategic initiatives, special projects, and policy development at the direction of the Dean with a high degree of independence. Convene and coordinate faculty, staff, college leadership, University partners, and other stakeholders as appropriate to advance key initiatives and resolve complex issues. Establish clear objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and measures of success. Exercise sound judgment in identifying and mitigating organizational, reputational, and operational risks. Develop sustainable processes and transition projects to appropriate college leaders or units once established.
• Function 3: Executive Communications and Dean Preparation
  In collaboration with the Moody College communications team, support the Dean with executive-level written and verbal communications. Draft and review talking points, presentations, correspondence, announcements, briefing materials, reports, and other communications for internal and external audiences. Ensure communications appropriately reflect Dean’s priorities, voice, and strategic direction. Coordinate with the Dean’s administrative staff and relevant college units to ensure the Dean is well prepared for leadership meetings, University engagements, donor and alumni interactions, speaking engagements, and other internal and external activities through timely, concise, and substantive executive briefings.

• Function 4: Leadership Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
  Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with department and school leadership, associate and assistant deans, faculty and staff leaders, University leadership, central administrative offices, student leadership, and other key stakeholders. Facilitate coordination across the College to ensure strategic initiatives and academic priorities align with the College’s mission and broader University goals. Work closely with campus partners to advance the Dean’s priorities, resolve cross-functional issues, and facilitate timely responses to emerging or urgent business needs.
• Function 5: Organizational Effectiveness, Risk, and Leadership Coordination
  Partner with Moody College leadership and appropriate University offices, including Legal Affairs, Compliance, Title IX, and other central administrative units, as appropriate, to coordinate the resolution of complex organizational, personnel, policy, compliance, and operational matters affecting the College. Support the Dean and college leadership in promoting organizational accountability, effective performance management, professional conduct, and a high-performing workplace culture. Identify matters requiring executive attention and facilitate timely coordination with the appropriate subject-matter experts and University offices.
• Other related functions as assigned

 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, communications/marketing, higher education administration or related field.
• Seven years working for a college or university supporting senior executives.
• Experience supporting senior executives or college/university leadership.
• Experience in strategic planning and leading complex projects and initiatives.
• Experience working with higher education administration stakeholders and executive leadership teams.
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, communications/marketing, higher education administration or related field.
• More than seven years working for a college or university supporting senior executives.
• Strong facilitation and meeting management skills.
• Experience with policy development and implementation experience.
• Experience in organizational effectiveness and process improvement expertise.
• Experience in preparing executive-level communications and presentations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and confidential matters simultaneously.

 

Salary Range

 $145,000+ depending on qualifications.

 

Working Conditions

• Typical professional office environment.

• Some evening and weekend hours are required.

 

Required Materials

• Resume/CV.
• Letter of interest.
• Three work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

 

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left-hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page, and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.