President

Established in 1966, Essex County College is an open access public community college committed to providing quality, transformative educational programs and life-long learning activities at affordable cost. The College serves approximately 15,000 students through credit programs and 8,000 students through non-credit programs. Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and abilities, and the College takes pride in its richness of diversity and its nurturing atmosphere, which encourages people who otherwise might not aspire to higher education to enroll and excel. In addition to being a federally designated Predominantly Black Institution and Hispanic Serving Institution, the College hosts students representing more than 80 countries worldwide, and it embraces an atmosphere in which multicultural viewpoints are accepted and encouraged. The main campus is located in the heart of University Heights in Newark, New Jersey, covers three city blocks, and houses high tech classrooms with advanced teaching modalities and state-of-the-art laboratories. Additionally, the West Essex campus, located in West Caldwell, New Jersey, meets the educational and training needs of residents of the western part of the County and surrounding communities in other counties. Essex County College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and a number of its academic programs are also professionally accredited. The College offers 48 associate degrees and numerous certificates across seven academic divisions. Through these programs, an outstanding faculty strives to engage, encourage, and empower students to achieve their full potential.

Essex County College is conducting a national search and invites applications and nominations for its next President. Serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the College, the President reports to the College’s Board of Trustees and oversees a large Executive Team consisting of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Administration and Finance, three Academic Deans, the Executive Dean of Administrative & Learning Technologies, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Dean of Community & Continuing Education and Workforce Development, the Executive Director of Institutional Planning & Assessment, the Director of Human Resources, and the Director of College Advancement & Foundation. The new President will lead an institution that has been educating and enriching the lives of County residents for more than 45 years and stands as a vital community resource that enhances the economic and social development of Essex County.Essex County College is a vital gateway institution to higher education for many individuals, and it seeks a visionary leader who can lead the College through its current challenges, build on the College’s existing strengths, and maximize the abundant opportunities for future growth and success. For more information about the College, please visit www.essex.edu. Also, a full position prospectus is available at rpainc.org/post/EssexProspectus.pdf.

Qualifications:The successful candidate for President should possess many, if not all, of the following qualifications. In its next President, the College seeks a visionary leader who shares the College’s commitment to academic excellence and student success. The President will be a passionate advocate of the community college mission as well as the idea that accessible and affordable quality education transforms lives and prepares individuals to succeed in a dynamic, changing world. The ideal candidate will also be a proponent of excellence in teaching and learning, as well as innovation and effective use of technology in delivering academic programs. Furthermore, the President will embrace the extraordinary diversity represented in the student population and the College’s employees as well as promote an atmosphere in which the historical, intellectual, and artistic contributions of all cultures are recognized. S/he will demonstrate integrity, a track record of leadership success, and progressively responsible experience in higher education administration or in other complex organizations. The President will have an intense interest in the issues and opportunities facing higher education, including accreditation standards and processes, market changes, enrollment trends, student success, and new initiatives. S/he will also have a willingness to participate in regional, state, and national higher education associations. The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator and must be able to collaborate with students, faculty, and staff to achieve the College’s mission. The President should be visible and accessible on campus as well as engaged in the community, working with other institutions of education, business and industry, government, and other external stakeholders to further the College’s mission. The President will be a team-oriented leader who has experience developing, working with, and managing a leadership team. The President will have a commitment to shared governance and experience working with collective bargaining units. The President will have fiscal and budget experience that combines an understanding of both public finance and budget realities.S/he will also have the ability to advocate for support of the institution. The following qualifications are preferred: an advanced degree and/or professional experience in an appropriate field, senior level progressive leadership in higher education, and teaching experience in higher education.

Location: Essex County, New Jersey, is located in the New York City Metropolitan Area and is home to approximately 800,000 residents. The main campus is located in a vibrant urban setting that enriches the student and learning experience. Numerous public and private institutions of higher education are located in the County, and the County seat of Newark is the State’s employment hub. Cultural amenities abound throughout the County and include the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Montclair Art and the Newark Museums, and a number of music and cultural festivals, such as the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival—the largest poetry event in North America. The County also has a variety of outstanding dining options and shops; of particular note is Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood whose rich multiethnic community is reflected in its diverse array of restaurants and cafes. Essex County is also home to the country’s oldest park system. Whether hiking in the Watchung Mountains or strolling through Branch Brook Park in Newark, which has the largest collection of cherry blossom trees in the Unites States, residents have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities thanks to the preservation of thousands of acres of parkland.

Application: Please submit only a letter of application and résumé/CV to ECCPresident@rpainc.org. We ask that you not provide references at this time, as they will not be retained. For a confidential discussion, contact Isaac Karaffa, Search Manager, at 800-992-9277. For guaranteed, full consideration, please submit materials by February 26, 2017. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

It is the policy of Essex County College not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, liability for military service, or any other category protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of student recruitment/enrollment, staff employment and vocational opportunities.