President at Spokane Falls Community College

Community Colleges of Spokane; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 239,000 - 292,000; Full time

Job summary

Spokane Falls Community College, part of Spokane Colleges, seeks a President who will serve as chief executive, collaborating with campus leadership to advance student success, equity, and organizational excellence. The role requires visionary, data-informed leadership and responsibility for operations, finances, and personnel across SFCC.

The President reports to the Chancellor, supervises senior administrators and staff, and engages with district governance, community partners, and state

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in education, organizational leadership, administration, public administration, business, or a related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible senior-level administrative experience in higher education or a closely related educational setting.
• Demonstrated experience in academic and/or student affairs leadership, institutional planning, fiscal management, personnel administration, and collaborative leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment to community college education, student-centered decision-making, inclusive excellence, accessibility, and student success.
• Knowledge of labor relations, collective bargaining, and personnel practices in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with varied internal and external audiences and to build consensus around institutional priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, visible, and collaborative leadership that advances the college’s mission, vision, values, and student access.
• Lead development, implementation, evaluation, and refinement of the college’s plan with measurable outcomes.
• Foster innovation and accountability while honoring the college’s liberal arts tradition.
• Lead accreditation, program review, assessment, and compliance with standards and policies.
• Advise the Chancellor on operations and participate in cabinet and district leadership bodies.
• Champion a student-centered environment with equitable access and high-quality services.
• Lead academic, student affairs, enrollment management, and workforce education.
• Ensure programs and supports respond to student and employer needs, including new pathways.
• Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in policies and practices.
• Promote rigorous program review and alignment with labor-market needs.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Diversity and inclusion

Education

Master’s degree or higher in education/administration

Job description

Location: Spokane Falls Main Campus Spokane

Department: SFCC President Office

Starting salary for this position is: $265,119 (Annually)
The salary range represents the earning potential for this position, through training, evaluations and years spent working in this position with Spokane Colleges.

About Us

Spokane Falls Community College, part of Spokane Colleges, serves 6,000 students with liberal arts/transfer and professional technical programs across a 12,302 square mile region in Eastern Washington.

About the President at Spokane Falls Community College

Under the general direction of the Chancellor, the President serves as the chief executive officer of Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC). The President provides visionary, student-centered, and equity-minded leadership for all college operations; advances the mission and strategic priorities of SFCC and Spokane Colleges; and ensures sound stewardship of people, programs, facilities, and financial resources. This position leads through collaboration, shared governance, transparency, and meaningful engagement with students, employees, community partners, and regional stakeholders.

This role serves under the general direction of the chancellor and is consistent with the policies of the board of trustees. Responsible for the direct supervision of administrators and staff who directly report to the President and for the indirect supervision, through subordinate managers, of all Spokane Falls Community College faculty and staff.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Institutional Leadership and Strategy

• Provide clear, visible, and collaborative leadership that advances Spokane College’s mission, vision, values, commitment to student access, completion, employability, economic mobility, and lifelong learning. *
• Lead inclusive development, implementation, evaluation, and refinement of the college’s plan, using measurable outcomes and data-informed decision-making to improve enrollment, retention, completion, transfer, and workforce outcomes. *
• Foster a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, responsible change management, and accountability while recognizing Spokane Falls Community College’s liberal arts tradition and its role in serving a diverse, working-class regional community. *
• Lead institutional accreditation, program review, assessment, and compliance with applicable accreditation standards, laws, regulations, Board policies, and administrative procedures. *
• Serve as the principal advisor to the Chancellor on college operations, opportunities, risks, and emerging issues, and participate actively in Chancellor’s Cabinet and district-wide leadership bodies. *

Student Success, Academic Excellence, and Equity

• Champion a student-centered college environment in which all students experience belonging, equitable access, high-quality instruction and services, and clear pathways to educational and career goals. *
• Provide leadership for academic affairs, student affairs, enrollment management, guided pathways, transfer education, workforce education, and emerging instructional models, including effective virtual and hybrid learning. *
• Ensure academic programs, student supports, and services are responsive to student, employer, and community needs, including opportunities for innovative program development and expansion of baccalaureate and career-connected pathways. *
• Advance diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in institutional policies, practices, resource decisions, student outcomes, and the campus climate. *
• Promote rigorous program and curriculum review processes that are timely, inclusive, data-informed, and aligned with institutional priorities and labor‑market needs. *

People, Culture, and College Operations

• Build trust through consistent, transparent, respectful, and timely communication with students, faculty, staff, administrators, unions, and community partners. *
• Lead, develop, supervise, evaluate, and hold accountable the college leadership team; ensure effective organizational structures, operational systems, and service delivery across Spokane Falls Community College. *
• Serve as the designated appointing authority for the college and ensure personnel practices are fair, lawful, equitable, and aligned with collective bargaining agreements, district procedures, and applicable state and federal requirements. *
• Promote a workplace culture that values shared governance, professional learning, employee engagement, collaboration, innovation, and constructive resolution of concerns. *
• Demonstrate sound labor-relations judgment and maintain productive relationships with faculty and classified employee representatives. *

Fiscal Stewardship and Resource Development

• Lead development and administration of college operating and capital budgets in alignment with strategic priorities, enrollment trends, student needs, and available resources. *
• Exercise fiscal literacy and disciplined stewardship by monitoring revenues, expenditures, performance indicators, financial risks, and resource allocations; make timely recommendations or adjustments to sustain institutional effectiveness. *
• Prioritize and allocate resources transparently and equitably to support academic quality, student success, employee capacity, facilities, technology, and long-term institutional sustainability. *
• Pursue and leverage external resources - including grants, partnerships, philanthropy, and other revenue opportunities - to advance college priorities and expand services to students and the community. *
• Ensure appropriate internal controls, financial reporting, legal compliance, and stewardship of public resources. *

Community, Government, and System Leadership

• Serve as Spokane Falls Community College’s chief ambassador and a visible regional leader, strengthening relationships with employers, K–12 districts, transfer institutions, Tribal nations, community organizations, elected officials, alumni, and other partners. *
• Advocate for Spokane Falls Community College Spokane Colleges, Spokane College’s and Washington’s community and technical college system at local, state, and federal levels; participate effectively in legislative, policy, and system-level discussions. *
• Collaborate with district and college peers to advance Spokane Colleges priorities, systemwide initiatives, workforce development, and effective service to the region. *
• Attend Board of Trustees meetings, prepare and present reports as requested, and keep the Chancellor and Board appropriately informed regarding college performance, risks, opportunities, and public issues. *
• Represent the college in community, state, and national organizations and promote Spokane Falls Community College’s reputation, partnerships, and public value. *

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in education, organizational leadership, administration, public administration, business, or a related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible senior-level administrative experience in higher education or a closely related educational setting.
• Demonstrated experience in academic and/or student affairs leadership, institutional planning, fiscal management, personnel administration, and collaborative leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment to community college education, student-centered decision-making, inclusive excellence, accessibility, and student success.
• Knowledge of labor relations, collective bargaining, and personnel practices in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with varied internal and external audiences and to build consensus around institutional priorities.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned doctorate or other terminal degree from an accredited institution.
• Eight to ten years of progressively responsible senior leadership experience, including prior college president, vice president, provost, or comparable executive experience.
• Leadership experience in a community college, including familiarity with Washington State higher education, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and public-sector governance structures.
• Demonstrated success leading enrollment recovery or growth, strategic-plan implementation, accreditation, program development, and measurable student-success outcomes.
• Experience with collective bargaining, legislative advocacy, workforce and employer partnerships, K–12 partnerships, and resource development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead institutional change with empathy, credibility, transparency, and an inclusive approach to decision-making.

* Indicates this is an essential duty.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Drives Vision and Purpose
• Strategic Mindset
• Builds Networks
• Instills Trust
• Manages Complexity
• Drives Engagement
• Ensures Accountability
• Communicates Effectively
• Builds Effective Teams
• Manages Ambiguity

Learn more about our competencies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work is sedentary in nature
• Frequent use of computer and exposure to terminal screens
• Visual focus and strain
• Work involves constant interruptions and requirement to answer on demand questions by phone, in person, or electronically
• Frequent repetitive hand/wrist motions and finger manipulation
• Frequent oral and auditory communication with others

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Contracted position
• Ability to travel locally as well as occasional out-of-town travel
• If using personal vehicle for travel proof of driver’s license and car insurance required
• Position is exempt from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Person hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of U.S. Citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States. This is an absolute condition of employment. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the district to sponsor an H1-B visa. In addition, the Spokane Colleges maintain a drug-free work environment and prohibits all smoking in the college buildings and state-owned vehicles. Must be able to successfully work in and promote a multicultural work and education environment.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. Once an applicant is chosen for a position, they are required to complete and submit a declaration regarding sexual misconduct and investigation per state law.

Benefits Information

This is a contracted, exempt management position. Medical, dental life and long term disability insurance benefits are provided as currently administered under the Public Employees Benefits Board; TIAA retirement plan or WA State Dept. of Retirement Systems Pension Plan. Vacation leave accrues at the rate of 14.67 hours per month (22 days per year) and sick leave accrues at the rate of 8 hours per month, effective upon employment. (For positions that are less than full time, leave accruals will be prorated to the percentage of the position.

Public Employees Benefits Board

Additional benefits information

Required Application Material

• Tailored Letter of Interest addressing your qualifications, leadership philosophy, and demonstrated experience related to the responsibilities and expectations of the President position.
• Executive Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV) detailing your education, executive leadership experience, professional accomplishments, and career progression.
• Copy of Academic Transcript(s) documenting completion of the required degree. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application purposes. Official transcripts may be required upon hire.
• Professional References providing the names and contact information of five (5) to seven (7) senior-level professional references who can speak to your leadership effectiveness, professional accomplishments, and executive experience. References should include, as applicable, current or former trustees, presidents/chancellors, cabinet-level colleagues, faculty leaders, community partners, workforce partners, or other professional associates.

• Name
• Title/Role
• Organization
• Email Address
• Telephone Number
• Professional Relationship to Candidate

Equal Opportunity Institution

Spokane Colleges provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, disability, veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal. Spokane Colleges complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws, including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Washington state nondiscrimination laws.

Direct all inquiries or grievances regarding access, Title IX, ADA, equal opportunity compliance, and/or grievances to:
Frederick Davis, MA
Chief Human Resources Officer
Spokane Colleges
P.O. Box 6000, MS1004
Spokane, WA. 99217-6000
509-434-5040
[e-mail]