Presidential Search Announcement

The North Carolina Community College System

The North Carolina Community College System, one of the largest and most accessible systems of higher education in the country, provides oversight and guidelines for community colleges serving 100 counties and approximately 700,000 students annually. Campuses are located within 30 miles of 99 percent of North Carolinians. The colleges stretch across North Carolina from Tri-County Community College, located in Murphy, to College of The Albemarle, located in Elizabeth City. The System Office is located in downtown Raleigh, the largest city in the Research Triangle region, with a population of over 470,000. Raleigh is one of the fastest-growing urban centers in the U.S. Anchored by Raleigh and including Durham and Chapel Hill, the Research Triangle is a national center for high-tech enterprise, life science research and advanced manufacturing.

The mission of the North Carolina Community College System is to open the door to high- quality, accessible educational opportunities that minimize barriers to post-secondary education, maximize student success, develop a globally and multi-culturally competent workforce, and improve the lives and well-being of individuals by providing:

1. Education, training, and retraining for the workforce including basic skills, literacy and occupational education as well as pre-baccalaureate programs adopted in collaboration with the University of North Carolina System and private colleges and universities.
2. Support for economic development through services to and in partnership with business and industry, the University of North Carolina System, and private colleges and universities.
3. Services to communities and individuals that improve the quality of life.

The State Board of Community Colleges selects the President of the North Carolina Community College System, who shall serve as the chief administrative officer of the System. The North Carolina Community Colleges System Office provides policy oversight and guidelines for the 58 community and technical colleges in the System. Each college has its own governing board with powers to elect a president subject to final approval by the State Board of Community Colleges.

The Position

The North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges is seeking an individual who possesses a general understanding of and appreciation for the mission and philosophy of the North Carolina Community College System. The candidate of choice should be a creative, visionary, experienced leader of high energy, exemplary personal integrity, and professional ethics and should possess the ability to work with and respect a constituency of diverse needs and interests.

Minimum Qualifications

• at least five years of senior leadership experience in higher education; or equivalent senior leadership in a government organization, nonprofit organization or private sector business environment.

Desired Traits and Skills

• A passion for the value of public higher education as well as a demonstrated commitment to open-access, affordability, and academic excellence
• A clear understanding of the importance of and the ability to build strong legislative relationships
• Exhibits a thorough understanding of and commitment to the mission and philosophy of the System
• The ability to build and sustain strong relationships and trust among all partners inside and outside of the System, including K-12 schools, the University of North Carolina System, and North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, community college trustees and presidents, businesses, civic organizations, and community groups
• A demonstrated success in working with a board to formulate policies
• A thorough understanding of effective budget and financial management
• The ability to secure private donations to support System-wide initiatives
• An understanding of and support for the role of community colleges in economic development and workforce preparation
• A proven ability to build and inspire effective and cohesive teams that advance strategic and legislative priorities
• A proven record of developing and executing strategic plans
• A good understanding of the changing demographics of the state and the ability to lead the System to enhance our ability to better serve diverse populations.
• A comprehensive understanding and demonstrated support of diversity, equity and inclusion
• Superior interpersonal skills, approachability, and a proven ability to handle multiple competing demands
• An open communications style with strong listening, writing, and speaking skills
• A collaborative leadership style that can build consensus inside the System and with outside partners
• The ability to adapt to emerging national, state, and local educational issues
• An understanding of current opportunities and challenges facing the System and the ability to articulate a clear vision for the future of the System

Application Process

In order to apply an applicant must submit a letter of introduction that describes the candidate’s strengths in relation to the qualifications listed above; a resume; and the names, titles, email addresses and telephone numbers of five (5) references. The application period begins with the electronic advertisement and publication of this announcement on the North Carolina Community College System website. The deadline for receipt of all materials is September 15, 2020, by 5:00 pm EST. All requested materials should be sent electronically to: SystemPresidentSearch@nccommunitycolleges.edu. Inquiries can be forwarded to Mr. Bryan Jenkins at (919) 807-7147 or jenkinsb@nccommunitycolleges.edu.