COO Jobs at Johns Hopkins University with Visa Sponsorship
COO jobs at Johns Hopkins University sit at the intersection of academic mission and operational scale, spanning research administration, clinical enterprise, and institutional strategy. Johns Hopkins has a consistent track record of sponsoring international talent for senior operational leadership, making it a realistic target if you're pursuing executive-level sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Johns Hopkins University School of Government and Policy (SGP) seeks a Director, Dean's Office Operations & Strategic Initiatives to provide strategic leadership over the office's operations and its highest-discretion initiatives. Reporting to the Chief of Staff and Senior Associate Dean of Strategy, the Director will work in close collaboration with the school leadership, faculty, and key internal and external partners. The Director also manages a small team responsible for executing the office's administrative and strategic-initiative portfolio and architects the operational infrastructure that gives School leadership visibility into the status of key initiatives School-wide. The role requires a mature, discreet, strategic thinker with demonstrated experience managing sensitive relationships, exercising independent judgment under ambiguity, and developing junior staff — paired with genuine excellence in executive administrative operations.
Johns Hopkins’ first new academic division since 2007, the School of Government and Policy is anchored at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in the nation’s capital. It draws on the university’s 150-year research tradition to develop innovative, evidence-based solutions and prepare the next generation of policy and public sector leaders to advance evidence-based solutions for the policy and governance challenges that matter most.
The person filling this position will be working in a start-up environment – creating processes and procedures, navigating unexpected obstacles, and adapting to change frequently. An agile mindset and flexible approach to daily responsibilities is needed as we define new ways of working within a well-established university. We are seeking a solution-focused person with a demonstrated ability to create new paths to achieve results.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Office & Executive Operations Leadership:
- Provide oversight and management of daily administrative functioning of the Dean's Office and Strategy team, including scheduling standards, correspondence quality, and materials turnaround and record keeping.
- Oversee the development and delivery of quality and professional materials, briefings, and talking points prepared for the Dean and senior leadership— ensuring materials reflect the right narrative, audience, and level of polish before they reach senior leadership.
- Coordinate agenda-setting and preparation for leadership team meetings, all-staff meetings, and the annual leadership retreat.
- Prepare the Chief of Staff/Senior Associate Dean (and, as directed, the Dean) for key meetings — researching issues, drafting agendas, conducting follow-up, and briefing on critical points and sensitivities.
Partnership Strategy & Senior Stakeholder Relationship Management:
- Facilitate the design and build-out of the School's partnership strategy, working closely with the Senior Associate Dean of Strategy and Chief of Staff, faculty and School leadership — identifying who the School's key partnerships should be with, and why.
- Design and facilitate senior-level engagements with key external and university stakeholders to shape and advance strategic initiatives and convenings.
- Serve as a senior relationship owner for internal and external senior-stakeholder engagements and reports, exercising discretion in ambiguous or sensitive matters; advise the Chief of Staff/Senior Associate Dean on resolution of sensitive issues as they arise.
Strategic & Institutional Planning, Pilot Incubation & Tracking Infrastructure:
- Draft institutional strategic planning workstreams at the direction of the Chief of Staff/Senior Associate Dean of Strategy.
- Lead cross-functional planning efforts to shape, launch, and scale new School-wide initiatives.
- Identify, scope, and manage the incubation of new pilot initiatives in partnership with the Sr. Strategic Project Manager and Chief of Staff and Senior Associate Dean of Strategy — assessing viability and sustainability before recommending scale-up, continuation, or sunset.
- Own and maintain the School-wide tracking and check-in infrastructure.
Team Leadership & Development:
- Directly manage project support staff, overseeing execution of both administrative and strategic-initiative work, including appropriate-level support on active pilot initiatives.
- Actively liaise with counterparts in other divisions across JHU and within SGP.
Success Depends, At a Minimum, Depends On
- Demonstrated excellence in high-level administrative operations and executive support, including materials preparation and meeting management at the executive level.
- The ability to build and manage relationships with senior stakeholders with discretion, tact, and sound judgment.
- Demonstrated experience translating ambiguous, relationship-heavy work into concrete institutional strategy.
- The ability to design and maintain tracking systems that give senior leadership real visibility without requiring their day-to-day involvement.
- The ability to coach and develop junior staff, particularly around relationship-management skills that go beyond process-following.
- Comfort operating in a founding-phase institution without an established playbook.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree required.
- Five years of progressively responsible relevant experience required.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Classified Title: Director of Special Projects
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Director, Dean's Office Operations & Strategic Initiatives (School of Government & Policy)
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PG
Starting Salary Range: $102,295 - $179,375 Annually ($135,000 Targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM
FLSA Status: Exempt
LOCATION
Location: District of Columbia
Department name: Staff
Personnel area: School of Government & Policy
TOTAL REWARDS
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENCY
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.
APPLICANTS COMPLETING STUDIES
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.
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 status as a protected veteran.
EEO is the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit: https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.
VACCINE REQUIREMENTS
Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.
The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
INTRODUCTION
The Johns Hopkins University School of Government and Policy (SGP) seeks a Director, Dean's Office Operations & Strategic Initiatives to provide strategic leadership over the office's operations and its highest-discretion initiatives. Reporting to the Chief of Staff and Senior Associate Dean of Strategy, the Director will work in close collaboration with the school leadership, faculty, and key internal and external partners. The Director also manages a small team responsible for executing the office's administrative and strategic-initiative portfolio and architects the operational infrastructure that gives School leadership visibility into the status of key initiatives School-wide. The role requires a mature, discreet, strategic thinker with demonstrated experience managing sensitive relationships, exercising independent judgment under ambiguity, and developing junior staff — paired with genuine excellence in executive administrative operations.
Johns Hopkins’ first new academic division since 2007, the School of Government and Policy is anchored at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in the nation’s capital. It draws on the university’s 150-year research tradition to develop innovative, evidence-based solutions and prepare the next generation of policy and public sector leaders to advance evidence-based solutions for the policy and governance challenges that matter most.
The person filling this position will be working in a start-up environment – creating processes and procedures, navigating unexpected obstacles, and adapting to change frequently. An agile mindset and flexible approach to daily responsibilities is needed as we define new ways of working within a well-established university. We are seeking a solution-focused person with a demonstrated ability to create new paths to achieve results.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
Office & Executive Operations Leadership:
- Provide oversight and management of daily administrative functioning of the Dean's Office and Strategy team, including scheduling standards, correspondence quality, and materials turnaround and record keeping.
- Oversee the development and delivery of quality and professional materials, briefings, and talking points prepared for the Dean and senior leadership— ensuring materials reflect the right narrative, audience, and level of polish before they reach senior leadership.
- Coordinate agenda-setting and preparation for leadership team meetings, all-staff meetings, and the annual leadership retreat.
- Prepare the Chief of Staff/Senior Associate Dean (and, as directed, the Dean) for key meetings — researching issues, drafting agendas, conducting follow-up, and briefing on critical points and sensitivities.
Partnership Strategy & Senior Stakeholder Relationship Management:
- Facilitate the design and build-out of the School's partnership strategy, working closely with the Senior Associate Dean of Strategy and Chief of Staff, faculty and School leadership — identifying who the School's key partnerships should be with, and why.
- Design and facilitate senior-level engagements with key external and university stakeholders to shape and advance strategic initiatives and convenings.
- Serve as a senior relationship owner for internal and external senior-stakeholder engagements and reports, exercising discretion in ambiguous or sensitive matters; advise the Chief of Staff/Senior Associate Dean on resolution of sensitive issues as they arise.
Strategic & Institutional Planning, Pilot Incubation & Tracking Infrastructure:
- Draft institutional strategic planning workstreams at the direction of the Chief of Staff/Senior Associate Dean of Strategy.
- Lead cross-functional planning efforts to shape, launch, and scale new School-wide initiatives.
- Identify, scope, and manage the incubation of new pilot initiatives in partnership with the Sr. Strategic Project Manager and Chief of Staff and Senior Associate Dean of Strategy — assessing viability and sustainability before recommending scale-up, continuation, or sunset.
- Own and maintain the School-wide tracking and check-in infrastructure.
Team Leadership & Development:
- Directly manage project support staff, overseeing execution of both administrative and strategic-initiative work, including appropriate-level support on active pilot initiatives.
- Actively liaise with counterparts in other divisions across JHU and within SGP.
Success Depends, At a Minimum, Depends On
- Demonstrated excellence in high-level administrative operations and executive support, including materials preparation and meeting management at the executive level.
- The ability to build and manage relationships with senior stakeholders with discretion, tact, and sound judgment.
- Demonstrated experience translating ambiguous, relationship-heavy work into concrete institutional strategy.
- The ability to design and maintain tracking systems that give senior leadership real visibility without requiring their day-to-day involvement.
- The ability to coach and develop junior staff, particularly around relationship-management skills that go beyond process-following.
- Comfort operating in a founding-phase institution without an established playbook.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's Degree required.
- Five years of progressively responsible relevant experience required.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience, and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Classified Title: Director of Special Projects
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Director, Dean's Office Operations & Strategic Initiatives (School of Government & Policy)
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PG
Starting Salary Range: $102,295 - $179,375 Annually ($135,000 Targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM
FLSA Status: Exempt
LOCATION
Location: District of Columbia
Department name: Staff
Personnel area: School of Government & Policy
TOTAL REWARDS
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENCY
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.
APPLICANTS COMPLETING STUDIES
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.
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 status as a protected veteran.
EEO is the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit: https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.
VACCINE REQUIREMENTS
Johns Hopkins University requires all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.
The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
See all COO Jobs at Johns Hopkins University
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new COO Jobs at Johns Hopkins University.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding COO Jobs at Johns Hopkins University
Align your credentials to USCIS specialty occupation standards
COO roles at universities require demonstrating that your degree directly supports the position's operational scope. Gather documentation showing your field of study aligns with higher education administration, healthcare operations, or research management before you apply.
Target Johns Hopkins divisions with distinct operational complexity
Johns Hopkins operates across academic, hospital, and research divisions, each with separate COO functions. Identifying which division aligns with your background, whether clinical operations or university administration, sharpens your targeting and strengthens your sponsorship case.
Understand how PERM shapes your long-term sponsorship timeline
For a permanent role at this seniority level, Johns Hopkins typically pursues Green Card sponsorship through PERM labor certification. Confirm during offer negotiations whether EB-2 or EB-3 is the intended pathway so you can plan your personal timeline accordingly.
Clarify H-1B cap exemption during offer discussions
As a nonprofit research university, Johns Hopkins qualifies as a cap-exempt H-1B employer. This means your petition can be filed anytime without waiting for the annual lottery, which matters significantly if you're on OPT with limited runway or between roles.
Use Migrate Mate to filter COO openings by visa sponsorship
Johns Hopkins posts senior operations roles across multiple portals and departments. Use Migrate Mate to surface COO positions that confirm sponsorship eligibility upfront, so you're not spending time on applications that won't support your visa situation.
Negotiate petition timing before your start date is set
Once an offer is made, work with Johns Hopkins HR to confirm the I-129 filing timeline. Cap-exempt status speeds things up, but USCIS processing still takes weeks in standard processing, so building buffer into your start date prevents status gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Johns Hopkins University sponsor H-1B visas for COOs?
Yes. Johns Hopkins University is a cap-exempt H-1B visa employer as a nonprofit research institution, meaning it can file H-1B petitions year-round without going through the annual lottery. For COO roles, the university regularly supports H-1B sponsorship where the position qualifies as a specialty occupation, typically backed by an advanced degree in business administration, healthcare management, or a related field.
Which visa types are commonly used for COO roles at Johns Hopkins University?
H-1B is the most common nonimmigrant path for COO positions at Johns Hopkins, given the role's specialty occupation requirements. F-1 OPT and CPT can bridge the gap for recent graduates entering operational roles, while TN visas apply to Canadian and Mexican nationals in qualifying management categories. For permanent placement, Johns Hopkins pursues Green Card sponsorship through EB-2 or EB-3 PERM labor certification.
How do I apply for COO jobs at Johns Hopkins University?
Applications go through Johns Hopkins' internal careers portal, where positions are listed by division, including the university, health system, and research enterprise. Tailoring your application to the specific operational unit matters more than a general submission. Migrate Mate also aggregates Johns Hopkins COO openings that confirm visa sponsorship eligibility, which helps you filter roles before investing time in a full application.
What qualifications and experience does Johns Hopkins University expect for COO roles?
Johns Hopkins COO roles typically require a graduate degree in business, public health, healthcare administration, or a closely related field, alongside substantial senior leadership experience. Given the university's research and clinical scale, candidates who have managed multi-department operations in an academic medical center or research institution are positioned most competitively. Operational experience in regulated environments strengthens your profile further.
How do I plan my timeline if Johns Hopkins University is sponsoring my visa for a COO role?
Because Johns Hopkins is cap-exempt, H-1B petitions can be filed at any point in the year, removing the April lottery constraint. Standard USCIS processing runs several months, so you and the university's HR team should align on filing timing before your intended start date. If you're pursuing permanent residence, PERM labor certification adds a separate multi-month DOL review before the I-140 petition can be filed.