Chief of Staff and Strategic Advisor - 137007

The Health Human Resources Chief of Staff and Strategic Advisor is a strategic and operational partner to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), supporting the execution of human capital initiatives across UC San Diego Health and Health Sciences. Reporting directly to the CHRO, the Chief of Staff ensures the HR leadership team remains focused on priorities, drives alignment across projects and initiatives, and enables the CHRO to operate at maximum effectiveness in a highly complex, matrixed academic health system.

The Chief of Staff plays a pivotal role as advisor, project leader, problem solver, and integrator, ensuring seamless coordination across HR functional areas, campus and system-wide partners, and senior executives. This position provides both strategic oversight and hands-on execution in a fast-paced environment where clinical, research, and academic missions intersect.

Key Responsibilities:

* Strategic Support to CHRO: Serves as principal advisor and thought partner to the CHRO, ensuring alignment of HR strategy with organizational priorities. Prepares the CHRO for executive meetings, presentations, and decision-making with high-quality analysis, briefings, and follow-up execution. Acts as proxy for the CHRO in select meetings and initiatives.

* Operational Leadership: Manages the CHRO's office operations, including agenda-setting, project tracking, communications, and follow-through on commitments. Leads strategic projects, initiatives, and cross-functional efforts that require high levels of coordination across clinical and academic entities. Partners with HR leadership team to set, track, and report progress on strategic goals and KPIs.

* Organizational Alignment and Communication: Ensures consistent communication of HR priorities, initiatives, and updates to senior leaders, HR teams, and other stakeholders. Facilitates team meetings and strategic planning sessions; ensures clarity of priorities and accountability for outcomes. Develops executive-level presentations, reports, and correspondence for internal and external audiences.

* Change Management and Culture: Supports enterprise-wide HR transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment with culture, engagement, and organizational effectiveness goals. Partners with HR and organizational leaders to design and implement programs that strengthen belonging, inclusion, and a high-performance culture.

* External and Systemwide Engagement: Coordinates with UCSD Campus Human Resources, UC Office of the President, and external partners on initiatives requiring systemwide alignment. Represents UC San Diego Health HR in cross-campus or systemwide working groups as delegated by the CHRO.

* Strategic and Operational Planning: Directs and coordinates the implementation of long-term and short-term strategic and operational plans. Ensures schedules and plans are established, various parties are informed and prepared, and any barriers (resource allocation, training, staffing, etc.) are brought to the attention of the appropriate group for resolution.

* Policy Administration: Provides a framework for policy and administrative change, is involved with change management, and develops strategies to remove barriers to goal achievement. Stays well-informed and keeps abreast of higher education's current and emerging issues to provide the executive broad perspective across the organization.

• Bachelor's degree in a related area and seven or more years of relevant human resources experience in a dedicated HR department or center of expertise, or equivalent combination of education, experience and training.

• Demonstrated success managing cross-functional projects and initiatives in a highly matrixed environment.

• Relevant experience in an academic medical center or complex health system.

• Experience supporting or serving in an executive-level role (e.g., chief of staff, senior advisor, director of strategy/operations).

• Exceptional organizational skills, with ability to manage multiple high-stakes priorities.

• Superior written and verbal communication skills; able to craft clear executive-level communications and presentations.

• High level of political acumen, discretion, and judgment; proven ability to handle sensitive issues and confidential information.

• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills across diverse stakeholders.

• Expert knowledge of organizational processes, protocols and procedures.

• Advanced strategic thinking and consulting skills in guiding the organization toward workable strategies and solutions.

• Knowledge of the organizational environment of a large academic health system and research university to understand client priorities, issues, motivations and constraints.

• Advanced consulting, relationship building, and strategic thinking skills.

• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, project planning and implementation skills.

• Advanced degree in a relevant field of study.

• Experience in a consulting role involving organizational design and transformation.

• Expertise and demonstrated experience in change management, strategic planning, or organizational development.

• Familiarity with University of California system policies, structures, and governance.

• Current or recent University of California employee, ideally within UC Health.

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.