Job Description

Position Purpose
As a core member of a high-performing President’s Office and reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Special Assistant to the President manages the preparation, coordination, and execution of presidential briefing materials, correspondence, and communications workflows. The role ensures the President is fully prepared for meetings, engagements, and decision-making through accurate, timely, and well-coordinated materials and information flow. A successful candidate will actively engage with the Dartmouth community to build the context and relationships necessary to support the President effectively.

This role is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of presidential materials and correspondence from intake through completion. The position requires exceptional attention to detail, strong written communication skills, and the ability to independently assess, refine, and elevate materials produced by others to meet executive-level standards.

A successful candidate will operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, including situations with incomplete information, and will be expected to identify priorities and ensure the President and Chief of Staff receive clear, accurate, and decision-ready materials.
Description
Required Qualifications - Education and Yrs Exp Bachelors plus 6 or more years' experience or combination of education and experience
Required Qualifications - Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
Bachelor’s degree plus 6+ years supporting senior executives or equivalent experience
Exceptional organizational, writing, and editing skills
Demonstrated ability to produce and refine executive-level written materials
Demonstrated experience coordinating executive-level briefing materials or correspondence workflows
Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously with precision and consistency
Strong judgment, discretion, and ability to manage confidential information
High technological fluency with collaborative tools and document management systems
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced executive environment
Ability to translate broad direction into clear deliverables and manage projects with minimal supervision
Ability to support both strategic materials preparation and real-time executive operations, including scheduling coordination and event support
Preferred Qualifications
Experience supporting senior leadership in higher education, government, or nonprofit environments
Experience coordinating executive correspondence or communications operations
Familiarity with website content coordination or executive communications workflows
Department Contact for Recruitment Inquiries Faith Goodness
Department Contact Phone Number 603-646-3015
Department Contact for Cover Letter and Title Zoya Chhabra, Chief of Staff
Department Contact's Phone Number
Equal Opportunity Employer
Dartmouth College is an equal opportunity employer under federal law. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected status. Applications are welcome from all.
Background Check
Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check, reference checks, verification of work history, conduct review, and verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College. A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.
Is driving a vehicle (e.g. Dartmouth vehicle or off road vehicle, rental car, personal car) an essential function of this job? Not an essential function
Special Instructions to Applicants
Dartmouth College has a Tobacco-Free Policy. Smoking and the use of tobacco-based products (including smokeless tobacco) are prohibited in all facilities, grounds, vehicles or other areas owned, operated or occupied by Dartmouth College with no exceptions. For details, please see our policy. https://policies.dartmouth.edu/policy/tobacco-free-policy

Additional Instructions
Quick Link https://searchjobs.dartmouth.edu/postings/85288
Key Accountabilities
Description
Presidential Materials & Meeting Preparation
Prepares, assembles, and delivers presidential briefing materials, including compiling inputs from campus partners and drafting materials independently as needed.
Reviews and refines all materials to ensure accuracy, completeness, clarity, and relevance; identifies and resolves gaps or inconsistencies prior to submission.
Ensures all materials are decision-ready and aligned with the purpose and context of each engagement.
Exercises judgment to determine readiness of materials and escalates when inputs are incomplete or unclear.
Translates broad direction into clear, well-structured deliverables that support effective decision-making.
Coordinates timelines for materials submission and ensures adherence to deadlines across multiple contributors.
Maintains tracking systems for presidential meetings, materials deadlines, and briefing deliverables.
Tracks remarks drafts and supporting materials through drafting, review, and finalization processes.
Percentage Of Time 35%
Description
Presidential Correspondence & Communications Operations
Manages presidential correspondence workflows, including thank-you notes, condolences, formal letters, acknowledgments, and special communications.
Drafts, edits, and finalizes correspondence to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with presidential voice and institutional standards.
Reviews and improves draft communications prepared by others to ensure quality, tone, and completeness prior to signature or distribution.
Oversees the President’s Office public-facing email account, responding directly when appropriate and routing or escalating inquiries as needed.
Ensures timely and complete follow-through on all correspondence, including tracking items through to resolution.
Coordinates holiday cards, recognition mailings, and other institutional correspondence initiatives.
Maintains and updates correspondence templates, logs, and tracking systems.
Percentage Of Time 30%
Description
Presidential Operations
Maintains internal document repositories and presidential materials archives.
Tracks deadlines, submissions, and follow-up actions associated with presidential engagements, with increasing independence over time.
Supports coordination of President’s Office and presidential website content updates in partnership with communications teams.
Maintains operational systems related to presidential office workflows, including document and access management processes.
Coordinates presidential initiatives and special projects as assigned by the Chief of Staff.