A provost is the chief academic officer at a college, university, or other higher education institution. As a provost, you are on the same level as the vice president of the college in terms of the academic hierarchy. Your job duties include setting strategic goals for the school, hiring staff and faculty, participating in academic councils and committees, doing business with external partners, managing budgets, and advocating for the student body. Your responsibilities include allocating funding to the various departments at your school and guiding the academic vision of the institution.