President

Rowan College at Burlington County; Mount Laurel Township (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Rowan College at Burlington County seeks a visionary president to lead RCBC's mission of academic excellence, student success, and regional workforce development. The president will work with the Board, faculty, staff, and community partners to set strategic direction and steward resources.

The role requires a doctorate, a record of higher education leadership, and a commitment to accountability, innovation, and inclusive engagement.

Qualifications

• A earned doctorate from an accredited institution is required.
• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration.
• Proven leadership, sound judgment, integrity, and professional qualifications necessary to serve as the chief executive officer of a comprehensive community college.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership aligned with RCBC's mission and policies.
• Lead financial stewardship and resource allocation for long-term sustainability.
• Strengthen student success, academic quality, and workforce development through evidence-based decisions.
• Foster effective governance with the Board of Trustees and engage diverse stakeholders.
• Advance technology, data analytics, and modernization to support teaching and learning.

Skills

Student-centered

Executive leadership

Effective communicator

Collaborative

Strategic thinking

Technological awareness

Education

Doctorate degree (PhD/EdD)

Job description

RCBC’s Board of Trustees seeks an accomplished, forward-looking, and collaborative executive leader to serve as the next President of the College. The successful candidate will bring a distinguished record of achievement in higher education and the experience, judgment, integrity, and leadership acumen required to lead a comprehensive community college in an evolving and increasingly complex higher-education landscape.

As the College's chief executive officer, the President will provide strategic and operational leadership in alignment with the institution’s mission, policies, and strategic direction established by the Board of Trustees.

Working in partnership with the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, community partners, employers, governmental leaders, and other key stakeholders, the President will advance the College’s commitment to academic excellence, student success, institutional effectiveness, workforce development, and the long-term sustainability of the College.

The Board seeks a President who demonstrates a deep understanding of the academic mission of a community college and combines that perspective with demonstrated executive leadership, sound financial and organizational management, strategic vision, integrity, and a commitment to the students and communities the College serves.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Presidential Leadership Profile

In evaluating qualified candidates, the Board of Trustees will seek demonstrable evidence of a record of achievement, leadership, and effectiveness in the following areas: A. Executive Leadership, Education, and Professional Qualifications

Demonstrated executive leadership experience in higher education, including progressively responsible administrative assignments and experience leading complex organizations, major institutional initiatives, and organizational change.

The successful candidate will possess the judgment, communication skills, professional competence, integrity, and executive presence necessary to lead the College effectively and to represent RCBC within the institution, throughout Burlington County, and within the broader higher-education community.

B. Demonstrated Leadership and Performance

A sustained record of measurable achievement in positions of significant leadership responsibility, including the ability to establish priorities, make difficult and timely decisions, build and develop effective leadership teams, manage change, foster accountability, and translate institutional goals into meaningful results.

The Board seeks a leader who combines strategic vision with a demonstrated capacity for effective execution, follow-through, and organization performance.

C. Commitment to Academic Quality and Student Success

A demonstrated commitment to the fundamental academic mission of the College and to providing high-quality, accessible, relevant, and affordable educational opportunities.

The successful candidate will understand the interconnected relationship among academic quality, student access, persistence, completion, transfer, workforce preparation, and long-term student success. The candidate will also demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with faculty, academic leaders, and staff to strengthen educational quality and advance these objectives.

D. Financial Stewardship and Institutional Effectiveness

Demonstrated experience with institutional budgeting, financial management, resource allocation, organizational effectiveness, and responsible stewardship of institutional resources.

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to align financial and organizational resources with institutional priorities; use data, evidence, and measurable outcomes to inform decision-making; identify opportunities for greater efficiency and effectiveness; and strengthen the College's long-term financial sustainability and operational performance.

E. Board Governance and Executive Leadership

Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain a strong, effective, and professional relationship with a governing board while exercising the appropriate independence, authority, and accountability expected of the institution's chief executive officer.

The successful candidate will understand the distinction between Board governance and executive administration; communicate openly and effectively with trustees; provide the trustees with reliable information necessary for informed decision-making; and faithfully implement Board policies and strategic direction.

F. Strategic Leadership, Workforce and Community Engagement, and Current Leadership Needs

Demonstrated capacity for strategic thinking, innovation, and long-range institutional planning, including the ability to anticipate and respond effectively to changing demographics, enrollment patterns, workforce requirements, technology, artificial intelligence, economic conditions, and other developments affecting higher education.

The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to build and sustain productive relationships with employers, educational partners, governmental entities, community organizations, donors, and other stakeholders. The President will exercise sound professional judgment and ethical leadership and position RCBC as an important contributor to the educational, workforce, economic, and community development of Burlington County and the region.

Current Leadership Priorities

The next President will be expected to address the College’s current priorities while positioning RCBC for continued excellence, relevance, and long-term sustainability.

Key priorities include:

• Advancing student success and academic excellence
• Strengthening enrollment and long-term financial sustainability
• Ensuring that the academic program portfolio remains responsive to student, transfer, employer, and regional workforce needs
• Expanding workforce development and community partnerships
• Responsibly integrating technology, artificial intelligence, data, and digital innovation into teaching, learning, and College operations
• Attracting, developing, supporting, and retaining a highly qualified and engaged faculty and staff
• Strengthening institutional effectiveness, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making
• Maintaining effective Board governance and a strong Board-President partnership
• Supporting continued institutional compliance, accreditation, and continuous improvement

OVERALL PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITY:

The primary and most important overall responsibility of all employees is to provide service in a pleasant, helpful, and effective manner to our students and other members of the College community. Minimum Qualifications

Education Required:

An earned doctorate from an accredited institution is required.

Experience Required:

• At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education administration
• A proven record of progressively increasing leadership and executive responsibility
• Significant experience leading and managing complex academic, administrative, financial, personnel, and/or institutional operations
• A proven commitment to academic quality, access, student achievement, and student success
• Proven leadership, sound judgment, integrity, and professional qualifications necessary to serve effectively as the chief executive officer of a comprehensive community college.

Skills/Abilities /Knowledge /Other Requirements

• Student-centered and committed to the community college mission
• Committed to high standards of academic quality and attuned to the evolving impact of technology and artificial intelligence on teaching, learning, and student success
• Collaborative but capable of making difficult decisions
• Accessible, visible, and engaged
• An exceptional communicator and active listener
• Intellectually curious, innovative, and forward-looking
• Respectful of diverse perspectives and constituencies
• Financially and organizationally disciplined
• Committed to transparency, accountability, integrity, and ethical leadership
• Capable of building trust, confidence, and shared institutional purpose

INSTITUTIONAL EFFECTIVENESS:

Collaborates with department members and/or the Compliance, Assessment and Research team to support planning, assessment, data collection and reporting for continuous improvement of the college.

Employee Classification: Executive