Chief of Staff for Prof. Sir Kostya Novoselov

Constructor University Bremen has appointed Prof. Sir Kostya Novoselov — Nobel Laureate in Physics (2010), FRS — as its President. In this strategic, part-time capacity, Prof. Novoselov provides intellectual direction, institutional prestige, and global scientific vision while retaining his primary commitments at NUS and IFIM.

The Chief of Staff (CoS) reports exclusively to the President and exists to amplify his impact, protect his time, and translate intellectual strategy into institutional momentum. This is the single point of coordination between the President's agenda and the University's executive, academic, and administrative functions.

This is a role for someone who thrives on complexity, operates with total discretion, thinks three moves ahead — and finds genuine satisfaction in making an exceptional mind more effective.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Presidential Time & Agenda Architecture

• Own and orchestrate the President's calendar end-to-end — strategic prioritisation, preparation, and protection of deep work time
• Manage all inbound requests (academic, institutional, media, VIP) — filter and triage with sound independent judgement
• Prepare briefing materials, pre-reads, and context packs for every meeting and engagement
• Ensure every commitment has a clear purpose, defined outcome, and proper follow-through

Strategic Programme Execution

• Translate the President's academic architecture vision into a tracked programme of University-wide initiatives
• Coordinate cross-functionally with academic leadership and executive management to advance presidential priorities at pace
• Monitor progress against strategic milestones; surface blockers early and resolve them proactively
• Maintain the President's initiative register and drive accountability without creating bureaucracy

Board & Stakeholder Liaison

• Prepare materials and briefings for Board interactions; ensure presidential inputs are ready, timely, and impactful
• Serve as a trusted interface between the President and the University's senior leadership team
• Build and maintain relationships with key external partners: NUS, IFIM, CQT, QuEra, and global scientific networks
• Manage Board member relationships on the President's behalf where appropriate

Communications & Correspondence

• Draft and manage high-level correspondence, academic communications, and institutional letters on behalf of the President
• Ensure tone, precision, and intellectual calibre of all communications reflect the President's standing
• Manage the President's representation at events where direct presence is not possible

International Travel & Logistics

• Plan and manage all travel end-to-end: itinerary design, transfers, accommodation, visa, briefings, connectivity
• Coordinate with NUS/IFIM counterparts on scheduling and joint trips
• Maintain a 10-hour rest buffer standard; optimise travel for productivity and recovery
• Ensure full calendar sync and briefing packs mirrored for every trip

Academic Initiative Support

• Support recruitment of world-class faculty and postdoctoral talent aligned with the President's academic vision
• Coordinate logistics of hybrid scientific collaboration model with global research groups
• Prepare agendas and outcomes documentation for academic working groups chaired or attended by the President
• Assist in building Constructor Labs concept — connecting academic programme to research infrastructure

Operational Infrastructure

• Oversee and coordinate the supporting administrative team engaged on President-related activities
• Implement SOPs and tracking systems to ensure nothing is missed across parallel workstreams
• Manage office-readiness, connectivity, and equipment procurement at Bremen and during travel
• Handle confidential matters — institutional, personal, and strategic — with absolute discretion
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Essential Experience

• 5+ years as Chief of Staff, Senior EA, or Strategic Advisor supporting world-class scientific or academic leadership
• Proven track record managing complex international schedules across multiple time zones and institutions
• Experience in academic, research, or science-driven organisations strongly preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive, high-stakes situations with calm and sound judgement

Competencies & Character

• Proactive mindset Anticipates needs before they arise; acts without waiting to be asked
• Intellectual curiosity Engages genuinely with the President's scientific and academic world — not just the logistics around it
• Operational excellence Implements systems and SOPs to eliminate error at high pace
• Precision under pressure Detail-obsessive even when volume is high and changes are rapid
• Judgement & discretion Trusted with sensitive institutional, personal, and strategic matters
• Adaptive resilience Calm in fast-changing environments; stress-resistant, not avoidant
• Communication finesse Writes and speaks at a level appropriate for Nobel Laureate correspondence and Board engagement

Practical Requirements

• Fluent English (written and spoken); German and/or Russian a significant advantage
• Willing and able to travel internationally at short notice
• Based in or willing to relocate to Bremen, Germany
• Comfortable with a 6-day operational environment and rapid response expectations
• Proficient with Outlook, Zoom, project tracking platforms, and AI productivity tools
  
  

SUCCESS CRITERIA

At 90 days:

• Full operational command of the President's calendar and communication flows
• Briefing systems, travel SOPs, and stakeholder directory established
• Key relationships built with NUS/IFIM counterparts, Constructor executive team, and Board

At 12 months:

• The President's time is consistently protected and directed toward highest-value activities
• Academic architecture programme has advanced materially — visible milestones achieved
• The President describes the CoS as indispensable
• Zero missed commitments, zero preparation failures, zero communication surprises

 

ABOUT CONSTRUCTOR UNIVERSITY & THE PRESIDENT

Constructor University Bremen is an English-language private research university in Germany, building a world-class physics-centred academic ecosystem inspired by the traditions of MIPT, Landau, and leading global institutions. The tagline is simple: Constructing the future.

Prof. Sir Kostya Novoselov FRS is a Nobel Laureate in Physics (2010), awarded jointly with Andre Geim for the discovery of graphene. He holds a Royal Society Research Professorship and is a leading figure at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (IFIM). His appointment as President brings world-class scientific credibility and an ambitious vision for Constructor University's academic future.

The Chief of Staff will work at the intersection of Nobel Laureate-level science, institutional strategy, and global academic network-building. It is a rare and extraordinary opportunity.