President & CEO

Ottawa University invites applications from, and nominations of, dynamic and inspiring leaders for the position of President & CEO.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Ottawa University invites applications from, and nominations of, dynamic and inspiring leaders for the position of President & CEO, Ottawa University. The new leader will report directly to the Board of Trustees and serve as the chief executive for the entire system including the University’s two residential campuses in Kansas and Arizona, its adult learning centers in Overland Park, Milwaukee, and Phoenix, and all online and international programs. The President & CEO will be supported collaboratively by a superb team of professionals and a robust, University-wide infrastructure.  

THE UNIVERSITY

Ottawa University is an institution with a proud 155 year heritage of educating adults and students of traditional ages for lifetimes of faith, service, leadership and significance. From its founding in 1865 in Ottawa, Kansas, the university has grown to an institution today that serves nearly 5,000 students through its residential campuses, adult and graduate studies campuses, and online. Ottawa University offers exceptional breadth and depth in its curriculum at the undergraduate and graduate levels which is constantly being updated and enhanced to make the greatest possible impact on the lives of its students. 

THE SUCCESSION PLAN

Chancellor Kevin C. Eichner has served Ottawa University as a student leader, Trustee, President, and Chancellor for much of his adult life.  Elected as the 21^st President of the University in 2008, Dr. Eichner plans to serve in his current capacity through June of 2021, at which time he will assume a non-executive role focused on strategic campus and partnership development, fundraising, and onboarding of the new University President and CEO on a reduced time basis through the end of his contract term in June of 2022. 

As part of a carefully orchestrated succession plan, Dr. Eichner and the Board of Trustees have chosen to move now in attracting the best possible successor and to putting that person in position to benefit from the Chancellor’s many years of experience with the institution.  The next chief executive will assume this position on or before July 1, 2021.  Dr. Eichner and the Board will immediately transition all executive authority and day-to-day leadership responsibilities of the institution to the new President & CEO.  The President & CEO will report directly to the Board of Trustees and all members of the cabinet and senior leadership team will report directly to her or him. 

It is anticipated that the new President & CEO will assume the title of University Chancellor at the completion of Dr. Eichner’s term in June 2022.

POSITION DETAILS

For more information about this opportunity, to include a complete listing of Required Skills & Qualifications, please review the Position Profile.  If the direct link doesn’t work in this advertisement, please go to our website at https://eflassociates.cbiz.com/ and click on Open Positions and Higher Education. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

EFL Associates (https://eflassociates.cbiz.com/), an executive search firm, is assisting Ottawa University with its search for this important leadership role.  All calls and inquiries should be made through the search firm. Nominations and applications will be held in strict confidence and candidates will remain confidential until the final stage of the search, at which time the express permission of finalists will be obtained before making their candidacy public.  In addition, no contact to references will be made without prior approval of the candidate.  To be considered for this opportunity, please follow the application steps outlined below:

• STEP 1:  Interested candidates should email their letter of interest and résumé or curriculum vitae to OttawaPresCEO@eflassociates.com.
• STEP 2:  Complete a brief online application (3-5 minutes).

KEY DATES

• Application deadline is March 1, 2021
• Semi-Finalist Interviews are tentatively scheduled for March 30-31, 2021
• Campus Interviews are tentatively scheduled for mid-April, 2021
• The desired start date is July 1, 2021, or sooner upon mutual agreement

CONFIDENTIAL INQUIRIES

Steve Waldron, JD

VP & Managing Director, Higher Education Practice

816-945-5423 (direct)

Email:  swaldron@eflassociates.com  

NOMINATIONS & APPLICATION QUESTIONS

If you would like to provide a nomination, please email all pertinent information (including an email address and phone number of the nominee) to:

Ms. Angela Lilje

Practice & Project Manager, Higher Education Practice

816-945-5410 (direct)

Email: alilje@eflassociates.com

Ottawa University does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family and genetic information, in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and other applicable statutes and University policies. Ottawa University prohibits sexual and gender-based harassment, including sexual assault, and other forms of interpersonal violence.