Position Information
| Posting date |
04/09/2026 |
| Closing date |
|
| Open Until Filled |
Yes |
| Position Number |
1129573 |
| Position Title |
Special Assistant to the President |
| Hiring Range Minimum |
$92,100 |
| Hiring Range Maximum |
$115,100 |
| Union Type |
Not a Union Position |
| SEIU Level |
Not an SEIU Position |
| FLSA Status |
Exempt |
| Employment Category |
Regular Full Time |
| Scheduled Months per Year |
12 |
| Scheduled Hours per Week |
40 |
| Schedule |
Participates in staffing the President at select evening and weekend events, including athletics, campus gatherings, and external engagements, recognizing that the rhythms of a residential higher education environment extend beyond the traditional workday. |
| Location of Position |
Hanover, NH |
| Remote Work Eligibility? |
Onsite only |
| Is this a term position? |
No |
| If yes, length of term in months. |
NA |
| Is this a grant funded position? |
No |
| 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.
|
| Percentage Of Time |
15% |
| Description |
Presidential Staffing, Coordination & Coverage
- Supports the day-to-day operational flow of the President's schedule by ensuring meetings and engagements are fully prepared and appropriately supported.
- Contributes to the readiness and execution of presidential engagements, including timekeeping, coordination, and on-site support as needed.
- Provides backup scheduling support during periods when primary calendar coverage is unavailable, ensuring continuity of operations and adherence to established priorities.
- Serves as a coordination point across campus offices to ensure materials, communications, and follow-up actions are well organized and completed.
- Provides cross-coverage for presidential meetings and events as needed.
- Participates in staffing the President at select evening and weekend events, including athletics, campus gatherings, and external engagements, recognizing that the rhythms of a residential higher education environment extend beyond the traditional workday.
- Represents the President's Office and is responsible for maintaining professional, responsive, and well-coordinated interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
- Contributes to the overall functioning of the President's Office, including other duties as assigned in support of evolving office and presidential priorities.
|
| Percentage Of Time |
20% |
-
| -- |
Demonstrates professionalism and collegiality through actions, interactions, and communications with others appropriate to an environment that is welcoming to all. |
| -- |
Performs other duties as assigned. |
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