Vice President of Learning and Workforce Development/ Chief Academic Officer

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Building on six decades of legacy, Randolph Community College (RCC) has announced RCC 2.0 by heightening its Relevance, focusing on Careers, and deepening its Commitment. The 2024-2030 strategic plan reveals The Dawn of a New Era with the introduction of a four-pronged approach: Access, Connections, Experience, and Success (ACES); all applicable to students as well as employees.
 

As a valued and respected member of the President’s Cabinet, the Vice President of Learning and Workforce Development (VPLWD)/Chief Academic Officer (CAO) reports to the President/CEO. The VPLWD/CAO must be an ethical, talented, growth-minded, impact-oriented, inspiring thinker who is a faculty champion. The VPLWD/CAO is committed to being an advocate of RCC’s mission and values and will set a leadership example with unquestionable integrity that promotes a welcoming, collegial atmosphere, innovative collaboration, high morale, and superior, comprehensive services to all students.  
 

This is a full-time, executive leadership position with excellent benefits. The successful candidate will represent our commitment to ACES, cooperate with both internal and external stakeholders to accomplish the goals of the college, and support new and creative ideas to enhance institutional efficiency and effectiveness.  The VPLWD/CAO must be a proven leader poised for career growth and professional advancement.

Overview of Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as Chief Academic Officer and advise the President of the College on matters related to Academics and Workforce Development.
• Articulate a vision for instruction grounded in best practices for teaching and learning, ensuring alignment with the college’s mission and community workforce needs.
• Shape an engaging educational experience for students by providing leadership and oversight for the development, management, assessment, and quality improvements as related to teaching, learning, both curriculum credit and non-credit programs and services including certificate, diploma, and degree credit programs; developmental education, College and Career Servies (Basic Skills), non-credit continuing education programs and courses, Customized Training Programs and Small Business Center, including all  workforce development supports and services.

DUTIES

• Continuously promote, implement, and improve RCC’s One-College Model in collaboration with all stakeholders.  Shape an engaging educational experience for students by providing leadership and oversight for the development, management, assessment, and quality improvements related to teaching, learning, and workforce development. Areas include all academic divisions that are inclusive of credit and non-credit offerings, Small Business Center, Customized Training Program. Ensure the successful operation of the Adult Education programs including College and Career Readiness which includes ESOL and IDD programming. Develop and administer the Learning and Workforce Development annual budget in collaboration with the Vice President of Operations/COO, deans, directors, faculty, and staff, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with strategic goals. Collaborate with stakeholders to lead and implement initiatives that support RCC’s strategic planning goals.  Oversee the overall FTE reporting process. Provide leadership for the recruitment, selection for employment, development, and retention of all assigned full-time and part-time faculty and staff. Provide leadership and quality assurance for programmatic accreditation, articulation agreements, pre-majors, degrees, and other programmatic areas in accordance with published standards, rules, regulations, and law. Assist the President and accreditation body liaison with institutional reaffirmation of accreditation. Make appropriate policy recommendations to the President related to Learning and Workforce Development. Collaborate with the Executive Director of RCC Foundation in the procurement of external funding for Learning and Workforce Development programs and services. Provide leadership for and oversight of off-campus learning centers.

• Oversee local High School academic partnerships for Career and College Promise to support dual enrollment. Lead innovative use of instructional technology and online delivery to meet regional and workforce needs. Promote the connection between education and the economy by assuming an active role in local community outreach, maintaining contacts and strategic alliances with local leaders, appropriate boards, and accrediting agencies, to develop cutting edge programs that meet the ever-changing workforce needs of the state, region, and county, addressing any skills gaps, credentialing, and professional development needs. Promote and lead program review, outcomes assessment and competencies, instructional effectiveness, state standards, and accreditation standards. Establish priorities for academic and workforce development faculty and staff, review performances annually, recognize staff successes, and counsel employees as appropriate regarding performance and conduct. Oversee faculty and staff evaluation processes, employee, and student course evaluations; make salary adjustment recommendations to the President as needed.  Lead the preparation, scheduling, and evaluation of academic programs and classes. Prepare, submit, and administer grants aligned with strategic planning goals. Participate in special projects that benefit the college or that respond to external constituent requests. Provide executive oversight for college-wide initiatives, leading projects to enhance student educational experiences, and drive continuous improvement through data-informed decision making, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation. Participate in NCCCS supported and workforce related workshops, conferences and initiatives and by serving on boards and committees as requested. Present at local, state, and national meetings and conferences as well as encouraging faculty and staff to attend and make presentations. Lead by example to promote positivity, growth mindset, personal and professional ethics and integrity. Assumes other professional duties as assigned by the President.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated ambition, drive, and a growth mindset related to leadership and career progression.   Doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 10 years of progressively responsible, innovative, dynamic, academic affairs, credit and non-credit, and workforce development leadership, including 7 years of multi-functional supervision.  Three years of teaching experience in higher education. Demonstrated leadership in both traditional and non-traditional development and delivery of instructional programs and services. Demonstrated and documented competency in planning, organizing, and administering instructional, workforce development, and continuing education programs and services. A successful record of administration including planning, financial resource and personnel management, and program development.   Demonstrated understanding of how student affairs and academic affairs operate collaboratively so that students are prepared for success both in the classroom and beyond graduation. Superb written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.  Ability to communicate with clarity and transparency and possess a strong capacity to negotiate conflict.   Must believe in a One College model with compassion for ALL students and working with ALL faculty, staff, and administrators.  Active leadership in the areas of student development and theories of learning. Experience with and knowledge of regional and national accreditation to ensure instruction and campus operations meet established accreditation standards Experience with and knowledge of state program curriculum standards and educational operations for development and approval of programs. Understand workforce development trends and statistics of the community to determine strategies to meet emerging and current employer needs and workforce demands. Possess a high degree of authenticity, visibility, and openness to students and employees. Experience with crisis management planning and response in an educational setting. Demonstrated competency in institutional planning and budget development for a comparable size budget and staff size. A proven ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and the external community and provide exemplary service to all.   Open to change; demonstrated willingness and ability to inspire others to transform and further the mission of the college.   Demonstrated community and professional services at local and national levels.   Familiarity with legal and other current issues in higher education. Experience and leadership in grants and external funding.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS          

• Experience in the North Carolina Community College System

COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS OF ALL EMPLOYEES

• A commitment to embrace and promote a campus culture that values trust, integrity, belonging, diversity, mutual respect, a strong work ethic, and service to others.  
• A commitment to the comprehensive community college philosophy and mission which provides academic, career, intellectual, and social development opportunities for all students.  
• Ability and willingness to work collaboratively with all faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders.    Serve on institutional committees as appointed by the President.
• Annually review all Randolph Community College safety rules and policies and be familiar with all emergency safety procedures. 
• Promote good safety habits and be compliant with all applicable safety regulations. Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed or assigned.