Bologna University Business School (BBS) is a European business school, established in 2000 by the University of Bologna and several private organisations, whose aim is to provide post-graduate and post-experience interdisciplinary management education.<\/p>\n
The School operates as a non-profit private foundation with full strategic, operational, and financial autonomy. Its governance framework ensures both independence from, and integration with, its parent institution and allows for the participation of multiple stakeholders. This setup fosters an exceptional level of collaboration between our academic institution and the world of practice. BBS\u2019s mission is summarised by its motto, \u2018Multiplying Opportunities,\u2019 which reflects the School\u2019s commitment to serving individuals, organisations, and society. The School seeks to expand the capabilities of each student, organisation, and institution it touches. As it has pursued its mission, BBS has been recognised as a creative, dynamic, and entrepreneurial business school, thanks in large part to its committed, diverse, research-driven, and practice-oriented faculty.<\/p>\n
The School\u2019s unique positioning traits are: its interdisciplinary approach, its pedagogical focus on individual learning in a collaborative environment, and its close working relationship with companies from industries where Italy holds an international leadership position.<\/p>\n
After achieving the challenging 5-year EQUIS Accreditation (placing it among the 222 EQUIS-accredited schools in the world, out of about 16,000) and opening a unique, sustainable, and landscape-integrated new campus in 2024, BBS is now entering a new phase of development that includes governance evolution, international growth, and AI-driven transformation.<\/p>\n
BBS has launched a phase of governance and organizational evolution by creating a new position of Executive President and a new Dean role, alongside the consolidation of top management. Within this framework, the Executive President chairs the Shareholders\u2019 Meeting and the Board of Directors; oversees governance, strategic vision, and stakeholder relations; and leads Key Account Management, fundraising and alumni relations, corporate identity and communication, international development, and events.<\/p>\n
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The Chief of Staff operates with the explicit mandate of the Executive President to ensure alignment and execution of presidential priorities.<\/p>\n
The Chief of Staff to the Executive President is the President\u2019s closest operational and strategic partner, ensuring that governance responsibilities, strategic priorities, and external engagement initiatives are effectively prepared, coordinated, and executed.<\/p>\n
The role acts as a central integrator across the Executive President\u2019s agenda, supporting decision-making, aligning stakeholders, and driving follow-through on key institutional initiatives.<\/p>\n
This position supports the Executive President directly and operates within the Executive President Office. It does not replace academic leadership responsibilities under the Dean.<\/p>\n
The role focuses on governance, institutional and strategic matters, and does not overlap with academic management responsibilities.<\/p>\n
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The key responsibilities of the Chief of Staff to the Executive President:
\n\u2022 translating the Executive President\u2019s priorities into actionable plans and execution follow-up
\n\u2022 preparing strategic briefs, decision memos, and governance materials
\n\u2022 supporting Board of Directors and Shareholders\u2019 Assembly processes and documentation
\n\u2022 coordinating cross-functional presidential initiatives and special projects
\n\u2022 ensuring alignment and follow-through across functions reporting to the Executive President
\n\u2022 supporting corporate relations, fundraising, and institutional partnership initiatives
\n\u2022 preparing high-level meetings, institutional engagements, and executive communications
\n\u2022 overseeing the operational activities of the Executive President Office.<\/p>\n
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Authority & Interfaces will include:
\n\u2022 the Chief of Staff acts on delegated authority from the Executive President to drive execution and ensure follow-through on presidential priorities and strategic initiatives
\n\u2022 is accountable for tracking key decisions, monitoring progress, and ensuring timely implementation across involved functions
\n\u2022 holds cross-functional coordination and execution authority across units reporting to the Executive President, without altering formal reporting lines
\n\u2022 empowered to follow up, request alignment, escalate issues, and remove execution bottlenecks related to presidential initiatives
\n\u2022 directly oversees Executive President Office operations and related governance processes.
\n\u2022 works in close coordination with the Dean and other senior leaders on cross-institutional initiatives and priority projects.<\/p>\n
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The selected candidate will be hired on a permanent employment contract and classified according to their experience and professional profile, within the framework of the National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL) for the Tertiary, Commerce and Services sector.<\/p>\n
Compensation will be commensurate with the candidate\u2019s actual skills and experience and may include future developments in line with the Foundation\u2019s policies.<\/p>\n
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The requirements for admission to the selection process, which must be met as of the date of publication of this notice, are:
\n\u2022 possession of a university degree
\n\u2022 proficiency in Italian and English<\/p>\n
The position requires a professional profile with the following characteristics:
\n\u2022 strong strategic and analytical capability
\n\u2022 excellent executive writing and briefing skills
\n\u2022 strong relational skills, combined with organizational and political acumen
\n\u2022 high judgment, discretion, and reliability
\n\u2022 proven experience in complex or institutional environments
\n\u2022 strong stakeholder and project coordination capability
\n\u2022 comfortable operating close to senior leadership under time and priority pressure
\n\u2022 personal standing and credibility to engage with senior external stakeholders in institutional and corporate contexts, combined with strong relational and interpersonal effectiveness
\n\u2022 direct experience with, or deep understanding of, the international business school landscape and its operating dynamics.<\/p>\n
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The Foundation will appoint an Evaluation Committee that will assess candidates on the basis of the submitted curricula vitae and through one or more interviews. Any additional selection methods identified by the Evaluation Committee (such as tests aimed at assessing technical skills and aptitude or motivational aspects) will be communicated to the candidates.<\/p>\n
At the end of the selection process, the Committee Coordinator (at the sole discretion of the Committee) will submit to the Foundation a shortlist of candidates deemed suitable. On this basis, the Foundation will identify the successful candidates.<\/p>\n
Successful candidates will receive a personal and confidential communication; all other candidates will be informed of the conclusion of the selection process. BBS will publish the names of the successful candidates on its website in compliance with applicable data protection regulations. Selected candidates will be hired, subject to acceptance, within the timeframe indicated in the offer of employment.<\/p>\n
Should no suitable candidates be identified or no applications be received, BBS may decide to repeat the selection process or resort to alternative recruitment methods. At its sole discretion, the Foundation may, in the two years following the closure of the selection process, refer to the shortlist of suitable candidates to fill similar positions.<\/p>\n
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To participate in the selection process, candidates must submit:
\n\u2022 their application using the attached form (Annex 1)
\n\u2022 a copy of a valid identification document, indicating reference code 2026D-03
\n\u2022 a curriculum vitae.<\/p>\n
Applications must be submitted by 1:00 p.m. on 1 March 2026. The selection process will in any case remain open until suitable candidates for the required professional profile are identified.<\/p>\n
Applications may be submitted through the following channels:
\n\u2022 by email to:\u00a0careers@bbs.unibo.it
\n\u2022 by registered mail to: BBS \u2013 Via degli Scalini 18 \u2013 40136 Bologna (Italy), for the attention of Irene Battaglia.<\/p>\n
Incomplete applications will not be considered.<\/p>\n
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Pursuant to Legislative Decree 101\/2018 and Article 13 of GDPR 679\/2016, the Data Controller of the personal data provided by candidates is Fondazione Bologna University Business School, Villa Guastavillani, Via degli Scalini 18, 40136 Bologna (Italy). The data will be collected for the purposes of managing the selection process and will also be processed subsequently, in the event of appointment, for purposes related to the management of the employment relationship.<\/p>\n
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For information or clarification, Irene Battaglia, Head of the Selection Process, is available at\u00a0careers@bbs.unibo.it\u00a0or by phone at\u00a0+39 051 2090111.<\/p>\n