Executive Leadership Senior Director (Chief of Staff - Development)

Job Description:

Job Description

The Executive Leadership Administration Senior Director will serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner supporting the CDO in advancing key organizational initiatives. This role works closely with senior leadership to foster collaboration across teams, enhance leadership decision-making, and implement organizational priorities to strengthen Mayo Clinic’s mission and the department’s strategic fundraising objectives. This role is responsible for driving short-term and long-term business planning, optimizing operational effectiveness, and ensuring cross-functional alignment. The senior director maintains a deep knowledge of departmental activities, strategic priorities, and factors pertinent to realizing those priorities. The senior director identifies connections and brings knowledge to bear on issues under consideration by the CDO and executive team and provides the CDO and executive team with unbiased and accurate information, analysis, consultation, and recommendations to support strategic and operational initiatives for the department. In collaboration with or at the direction of the CDO, convenes matrixed teams and leads multi-disciplinary professionals to carry out time-limited initiatives in support of department goals. This position reports to and receives direction from the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and Chair.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Decision Support

• Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Chief Development Officer, providing strategic counsel on high-impact departmental priorities, risk mitigation, and decision-making.
• Ensure alignment of departmental initiatives with strategic fundraising priorities.
• Analyze complex issues, synthesize information, and provide actionable insights to support executive decision-making.
• With Stewardship colleagues, support the development and execution of touchpoints with CDO’s portfolio assigns.

Operational Excellence & Execution

• Work with CDO and collaboratively with colleagues to build meaningful agendas for meetings of Executive Leadership Team and Management Team, including retreats and planning sessions.
• Work with CDO to lead multi-disciplinary teams to implement strategic initiatives and drive operational efficiencies.
• Translate executive-level priorities into actionable plans and oversee their execution.
• Develop and manage key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and provide regular reporting to leadership.

Cross-Functional Integration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the primary liaison between the Chief Development Officer and internal/external stakeholders to ensure alignment of priorities and effective collaboration.
• Represent the interests of the Chief Development Officer in Mayo Clinic leadership and department committee and task force assignments, ensuring continuity and follow-through on strategic initiatives.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with institutional leaders and key external partners.

Leadership Communications & Executive Presence

• As a member of the executive leadership team, the senior director participates in meetings, forums, and presentations.
• With Communications colleagues, review and help draft executive briefings, Development Leadership letters, Board of Trustees presentations, reports, verbal remarks, proposals, and strategic messaging to enhance leadership communication and visibility.
• Ensure messaging aligns with Mayo Clinic and department organizational goals and supports the department's annual plan.

Organizational Leadership & Culture Development

• With Talent Management, support initiatives to foster a high-performance culture within the department, ensuring alignment with Mayo Clinic’s values and mission.
• Manage high-priority organizational change efforts, ensuring seamless implementation and stakeholder engagement.

High-Impact Project Leadership

• Oversee and execute mission-critical projects that require executive oversight and coordination across teams.
• Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives, ensuring they align with institutional goals and fundraising objectives.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement strategies to enhance the department’s effectiveness.
• Identify and implement continuous improvement strategies to enhance the department’s effectiveness.