President/CEO

President

Flint Hills Technical College

Emporia, KS, USA Full Time

Flint Hills Technical College (FHTC) is seeking a new president with outstanding leadership qualities, proven success leading dynamic complex organizations, and a demonstrated ability to build partnerships with key stakeholders.

The successful candidate will have a proven professional track record demonstrating the following leadership talents:

Leads Effectively – has a demonstrated ability to lead and manage a large, multi-site, complex higher education organization and to work effectively with a governing board. Individuals who have demonstrated the aforementioned leadership and management in industries other than higher education are urged to apply.

Articulates Strategic Vision – is able to articulate a shared vision for the future of FHTC, communicate the vision to the broader community, and execute on strategic priorities. Has an understanding of the disruption taking place in higher education and articulates a shared sense of direction for the College to continue to rise to higher levels of excellence.

Prioritizes Academic Excellence – supports, appreciates, and prioritizes academic excellence and student success and its importance to faculty, students, their families and the broader community.

Recognizes and Respects the Political Landscape – is politically astute and able to develop and maintain working relationships with national, state, and local government officials to advocate for FHTC and its students.

Demonstrates Fundraising Capabilities – is able to develop and cultivate relationships with potential donors and work with the Flint Hills Technical College Foundation.

Values and Embraces Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – advocates for viewpoint diversity and values civic education, academic freedom and diverse perspectives that enable a respectful environment of free and open inquiry. Has an understanding and appreciation of the importance of all campuses having students, faculty and staff from different perspectives and backgrounds where diverse views are not just permitted but encouraged in a reasoned search for truth.

Builds Partnerships – understands the role that FHTC plays in the community, including workforce and economic development, and is able to develop innovative, synergistic partnerships with other higher education institutions as well as businesses and industries to enhance the College.

Other Relevant Experience and Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree required, doctoral degree strongly preferred, from an accredited college/university in technical education, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Administrative, budgeting and financial experience in an accredited, post- secondary educational institution required.
• Ten years of experience as supervisor in higher education, with five years of experience as VP/Dean &/or President/CEO, required. 
• Ten years of experience as supervisor in technical education, with five years of experience as VP/Dean &/or President/CEO in technical education, preferred.
• Great communication skills.
• Secondary/post-secondary teaching background preferred.
• Desire to continue professional growth and development.

Knowledge of:

• Advanced principles, practices and theories of higher education.
• Advanced principles and practices of program development and administration.
• College accreditation.
• Principles and practices of personnel management.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.

History

Flint Hills Technical College is a two-year public institution of higher education nestled in the rolling hills of east-central Kansas. It is located at the intersection of I-35 and the Kansas Turnpike in Emporia, a city in the heart of the beautiful rangeland known as the Flint Hills and just a short distance from the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

The college was founded in 1963 when the Emporia Board of Education made an application to the Kansas State Board of Education. The college received associate degree-granting status by an act of the Kansas Legislature during the 1995 Legislative Session. On July 1, 1999, by an act of the Kansas Legislature, the Kansas Board of Regents became the coordinating body of FHTC at the state level. As a result of Senate Bill 7 signed in May of 2003, Flint Hills Technical College was allowed to pursue autonomy from the Emporia School District, USD #253. On July 1, 2004 Flint Hills Technical College became autonomous from USD #253. The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accredited Flint Hills Technical College on February 6, 2007.

Mission

The mission of Flint Hills Technical College is to provide a diverse community of learners with lifelong educational opportunities for personal growth and preparation for professional and civic responsibilities that meet the needs of society.

Vision

Advancing personal, professional and economic growth through excellence and innovation in education and partnerships.

Core Values

Flint Hills Technical College values:

• Quality in all aspects of its operation.
• Diversity of all individuals and mutual respect within the framework of ethical and professional behavior.
• Student success by providing a wide range of support services in a caring climate conducive to student learning and campus safety.
• Innovation accomplished through the vision and creativity of all partners in technical education.
• Hands-on education that leads to technical skill attainment.
• Accessibility of education by providing a variety of delivery methods.
• Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Purpose Statements

In striving to meet its institutional responsibilities as a community college, Flint Hills Technical College sets forth the following purpose statements in definition of its educational programs and services. These statements also serve as criteria for the administration, faculty, staff, students, and the public in assessing the College's effectiveness in meeting its institutional mission.

• To provide academic and applied instruction in a technical program of study leading to an Associate of Applied Science degree, Technical Certificate, Certificate, or other credentials.
• To provide business and industry with qualified personnel by utilizing emerging technology, a diverse curriculum, and a variety of educational opportunities.
• To provide students the skills to succeed through the application of the abilities to communicate with a diverse audience, conduct oneself professionally, and problem-solve through critical thinking.
• To create a sense of community and promote the benefits of lifelong learning.
• To provide student support through meaningful processes and services relevant to individual students’ needs.
• To maintain a positive campus environment conducive to learning and personal safety.

Philosophy of Education

• The administration, faculty, and staff of Flint Hills Technical College believe in the power of teaching and learning and endorse the right of each person to access opportunities in the pursuit of knowledge and its application to life. The College’s primary commitment is to support student success in learning and to prepare well-educated, productive members of society who have the ability to achieve personal and professional success in a global environment. To that end, FHTC strives to remove barriers to the educational process by providing accessible and affordable opportunities, including articulations with other institutions and also recognizes the general education curriculum and learning outcomes as necessary and integral components of technical programs of study. FHTC embraces a philosophy where freedom of expression is encouraged in an orderly, nurturing environment and ensures continuous improvement in the educational process through ongoing assessment and evaluation.

Application Process

Full job-posting at https://my.fhtc.edu/ICS/Careers/

The Presidential Search Committee will review applications as they are submitted and will continue until the position is filled.

Application materials must be submitted electronically to Sandy Weeks Director of Human Resources at saweeks@fhtc.edu. Application materials should consist of three separate documents:

• a substantive cover letter addressing the leadership profile noted above,
• a full Curriculum Vitae (CV), and
• contact information for five professional references. References will not be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate and at later stage of the search.

Candidates who advance as semifinalists are expected to be available for initial Zoom interviews. Finalists are expected to travel to the FHTC campus for final interviews.