Position Overview

The Board of Regents for the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS) invites applications and nominations for the position of President. The board and its appointed search committee seek a dynamic, forthright, and courageous leader who will bring great leadership insights and sound management principles to a statewide academic enterprise. As the system's chief executive officer and advocate, the President reports to the Board of Regents.

In keeping with the KCTCS mission to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of Kentucky, the new President will join system leadership to guide a strategic plan that embraces the determination to "ensure diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus communities." The successful candidate must support the plan's goals to increase organization, employment, and learner success. The President will have a deep understanding of college and career readiness, transfer education, and continuing education for lifelong learners; a particular strength in workforce education and employment training is primary for the position. A sensitive balance of business sense and knowledge of the academic workplace will be essential, as will a predictive ability to articulate a vision for the future.     

Now in its 25th year, established in 1998, KCTCS has a budget of over $900 million and comprises 16 comprehensive community and technical colleges. The successful candidate is expected to support the higher education pursuits of some 94,000 students in the delivery of exceptional learning opportunities in over 100 technical programs, five transfer programs, and three general education certificates. KCTCS enrolls more than 33 percent of all undergraduates in Kentucky and 44 percent of undergraduates in the public sector. The colleges, all accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, carry programmatic accreditations and respect national industry standards.

Governing board support and attention to KCTCS needs are realized through a vision to be the primary provider of skilled talent in Kentucky. The President must arrive with a commitment to that vision and to provide a stable, systematic, focused view toward increasing the presence of the system, serving as both a resource and partner for internal and external stakeholders, alike. As the leading voice and champion for KCTCS, the new President will be an innovative, entrepreneurial administrator of the highest integrity. 

Expectations

The successful candidate must have the background and experiential wherewithal to address the following:

• A student-first focus addressing preparation, support, and success needs for all students;
• Enrollment management strategies on behalf of the system with creative views to enhance growth, access, and retention;
• Complex fiscal management oversight with revenue diversification, creative allocation, and resource generation, including grants and fundraising;
• Capacity to attract, retain, supervise, and develop a talented managerial team and administrative staff;
• Politically astute, smart, and savvy while being apolitical in leadership;
• Strategic planning experience permitting guidance of the KCTCS strategic plan, priorities, vision, mission, goals, values, and policies;
• Commitment to the ideals of “belonging” for all KCTCS students, employees, and partners;
• Ability to navigate community engagement and bridge-building with diverse constituencies, including state government leaders, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, college boards of directors, K-12, business, industry, and foundations;
• To be both advocate and partner in a statewide team, working with the Board of Regents and 16 college presidents;
• Team builder and team player, inspiring trust, credibility, and confidence with stakeholders;
• Respect for transparency, the tenets of shared governance, and open, clear communication practices;
• Effective problem solver and decision maker, and communicating in a timely manner; and
• High emotional intelligence with strong spoken, written, listening and interpersonal skills in an open-door, open-mind style.

Minimum Requirements

• An earned doctorate or terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
• Experience to include a sufficient number of years to have learned and improve upon the skills necessary to lead a complex system of colleges that provide a wide spectrum of general education, technical training, and workforce education; and
• A variety of experience that assists the President in developing an understanding of the elements necessary to ensure the KCTCS fulfills its multi-faceted role as established in KRS164.003(2)(e).