Senior Advisor
The Senior Advisor is responsible for tracking, analyzing, and providing advice on the full range of operational and policy issues. Specific responsibilities fall broadly under four categories: Analysis and Guidance on Strategy and Policy Issues, Operational Analysis and Monitoring, Liaison/Internal Coordination, and Administration.
Strategy and Planning:
-Provide reviews of draft operational documents, policies, and strategies
- Review the drafts of the President’s speeches
Operational Analysis and Monitoring:
- Evaluate operational documents before the President’s consideration of clearance or approval. These include report and recommendation of the President, technical assistance reports, country operations business plans, change in scope memos, and other operational memos
- Review and make recommendations on the consistency of individual developing member country operational programs with its country partnership strategy and other policies and strategies
Liaison/Internal Coordination:
- Coordinate with staff of operational departments on a variety of issues.
- Coordinate with staff in the Office of the President, offices of the Vice Presidents, and the Office of the Secretary.
- Provide input and guidance to senior staff on Management views on the full range of operations, documents, and issues.
Administration:
- Track CPS-MCM schedules
Staff Supervision:
- Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
- Ensure the on-going learning and development of reporting staff.
Strategy and Planning:
-Provide reviews of draft operational documents, policies, and strategies
- Review the drafts of the President’s speeches
Operational Analysis and Monitoring:
- Evaluate operational documents before the President’s consideration of clearance or approval. These include report and recommendation of the President, technical assistance reports, country operations business plans, change in scope memos, and other operational memos
- Review and make recommendations on the consistency of individual developing member country operational programs with its country partnership strategy and other policies and strategies
Liaison/Internal Coordination:
- Coordinate with staff of operational departments on a variety of issues.
- Coordinate with staff in the Office of the President, offices of the Vice Presidents, and the Office of the Secretary.
- Provide input and guidance to senior staff on Management views on the full range of operations, documents, and issues.
Administration:
- Track CPS-MCM schedules
Staff Supervision:
- Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
- Ensure the on-going learning and development of reporting staff.
Previous and Present Senior Advisors
The role of senior advisor is a title that describes a variety of positions within the president's White House staff. There was one exception to the rule when Karl Rove was appointed to a unique and formal position of senior advisor under President George W. Bush.
Nevertheless, all the other adminstrations have used the term to describe various roles. Under President Obama, two official senior advisors were appointed when he was inaugurated, Valerie B. Jarrett is senior advisor and assistant to the president for intergovernmental affairs and public engagement and David Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's successful 2008 presidential campaign and now serves as one of his senior advisors.