Vice President and Chief of Staff - United States

Internet2: Our Mission and Who We Serve · An advanced non-profit technology community founded in 1996 by the nation's leading higher education institutions, Internet2 provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve shared technology cha ...

Job description

Internet2: Our Mission and Who We Serve

An advanced non-profit technology community founded in 1996 by the nation's leading higher education institutions, Internet2 provides a collaborative environment for U.S. research and education organizations to solve shared technology challenges and develop innovative solutions supporting their research, educational, and community service missions. Today, Internet2 stands at the intersection of infrastructure and innovation, operating a state-of-the-art national research and education network while simultaneously advancing a comprehensive service portfolio spanning trust and identity solutions, cloud programs and services, research engagement initiatives, and community-building programs. This integrated approach enables Internet2 to deliver unique value that empowers its diverse membership, including universities, government agencies, regional networks, corporations, and leading research and education organizations.

Position Summary

The Vice President and Chief of Staff (VP&CoS) serves as a trusted advisor and strategist to the CEO, working closely with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to turn vision into coordinated action across the enterprise. As a member of the ELT you will operate with delegated authority to align priorities, accelerate strategic initiatives, and ensure the organization moves with clarity and momentum.

You will connect strategy to action, strengthen information flow, drive cross-functional alignment, and ensure disciplined follow-through on key strategic initiatives. As a trusted advisor to the CEO, you will build strong relationships across leadership, staff, and external partners.

This role also stewards Marketing and Communications covering all the messages, media, events and tools to interact with its membership and community informing the Internet2 brand and value. The VP&CoS will facilitate the execution of Internet2's overall strategic plan while cultivating and maintaining a broad network of relationships across the Research and Education (R&E) ecosystem, spanning federal agencies, industry partners, and global National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). You will facilitate high-impact initiatives such as global partnerships and engagement, AI and quantum technology efforts, ensuring alignment, visibility, and measurable progress.

This is a role for a high-impact leader who thrives in complexity, builds trust at the highest levels, and brings the network, judgment, and presence to be a member of a team that together moves an organization forward nationally and globally.

Please Note: Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. For best consideration, please apply by March 2.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Coordination

• Anticipate needs and prepare the CEO for high-level internal and external engagements, ensuring the CEO is briefed, supported, and positioned for impact.
• Develop and manage a CEO meeting/request engagement system that evaluates requests and opportunities against CEO strategic goals and Internet2 objectives.
• Establish and maintain procedures for preparing talking points, speeches, and communications, as well as a review process to ensure all relevant teams have provided input and approval before any external engagements.

Executive Leadership Team (ELT) Workflow Coordination

• Oversee the agenda setting of ELT and All-Employee meetings, ensuring they are strategic, engaging, efficient, and results-oriented.
• Coordinate briefing materials, presentations, and documentation for ELT discussions.
• Support effective communication and alignment of ELT decisions across the broader organization.
• Lead or support key cross-organizational initiatives and ensure timely execution of deliverables.

Executive Office Coordination

• Manage the flow of information to/from the CEO across the organization.
• Streamline internal processes to increase efficiency and productivity.
• Ensure the CEO's time, priorities, and engagements are managed for strategic impact.
• Create and implement the CEO office structure, processes, and timelines that ensure quality and timely inputs to the CEO.
• Ensure smooth coordination between the Executive Office, the Executive Leadership Team, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide quality assurance to ensure messaging, materials, activities and other tasks related to the CEO's Office operations are of high quality and meet relevant requirements and policies.

External Engagement

• Support CEO's external relations and advocacy, including engagements with the R&E community, industry, and both national and global partners.
• Ensure the CEO is properly prepared for Internet2's three signature events (Community Exchange, Technology Exchange and Annual Member Meeting), high-impact engagements, speeches, and partner events, ensuring strategic alignment with Internet's national and global agenda.
• Oversight of Marketing/Communications/Event Planning related activities.
• Collaborate with the Programmatic and Community Engagement teams to shape the CEO's narrative and external messaging, ensuring consistency and strategically aligned with Internet2's strategic priorities.
• Bring specialized knowledge and insights from across the ecosystem to help shape the CEO's narrative, advocacy, engagement, and decision-making.
• Other duties as assigned.

Management and Fiscal Responsibility

• The position will be responsible for the supervision of employees within the VP&CoS portfolio.
• The VP&CoS will be responsible for managing a budget for the VP&CoS office.

Core Competencies

• Strategic and systems thinking
• Strong executive presence and judgment
• Project management and execution
• Ability to manage cross-function collaboration
• Relationship building and influence
• Adaptability and problem-solving
• Commitment to Internet2's mission and values, and the needs of the R&E community

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of overall experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• 5+ years within a senior strategic, operational, or advisory role.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional projects and senior-level relationships.
• Exceptional communication and organizational skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information clearly.
• Experience working closely with senior leadership of an organization to solve problems, build consensus, and capitalize on opportunities using strategic communications and outreach activities.
• Demonstrated ability to be diplomatic and tactful in dealing with internal and external stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Capacity for big picture thinking, including anticipating what's ahead and what needs to be done.
• Proven ability to work effectively across cultures and time zones in a global environment.
• Prior experience managing a budget driving financial prudence, aligning financial resources with strategic goals, and driving efficiency.
• Ability to travel nationally and internationally up to 30%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher.
• Experience in the R&E ecosystem and/or global NREN or similar community.

• Strong understanding of the R&E community, Internet and cyberinfrastructure technologies, policy, or digital development issues.

• Robust network of connections and allies from across the R&E and global Internet community.

Internet2 Employment Benefits

As a full-time employee, you will be eligible to participate in Internet2's employee benefits program effective on your start date in accordance with the terms and conditions of each plan. The program currently includes medical, dental, life, vision and disability insurances, a health spending account program, sick time, vacation time and a tax deferred retirement plan.

Expected Compensation: This is an executive level position. Compensation will be commensurate with education and experience.

Internet2 is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.