Chancellor

The Chancellor provides strategic, educational, fiscal, and operational leadership for the district and works closely with the three college presidents, district executive leadership, faculty, staff, students, and community partners to advance the district's mission and assess measurable goals in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and district stakeholders. The Chancellor as the leader of a complex multi-college district must maintain strong collaboration and trust across constituent groups; ensure sound fiscal stewardship; support academic excellence, workforce innovation, and student success; and represent RCCD effectively at the local, state, national, and international levels. The Chancellor must balance districtwide leadership with respect for the unique identity and autonomy of each college.

Challenges and Opportunities

• Institutional Growth and Alignment: The next Chancellor will continue to provide steady leadership in support of sustainable operational direction across the district, including sound fiscal stewardship, equitable resource allocation, and alignment of districtwide priorities with the distinct missions of the colleges. This work includes strengthening institutional coordination, navigating leadership transitions, investing in employee recruitment, development, and retention, and addressing facilities, capital, and compliance pressures that affect long-term stability and effectiveness.
• Academic Excellence: The next Chancellor will continue to support, sustain, and foster academic excellence and faculty expertise across disciplines as central to institutional success. This includes the following areas: protecting and advancing academic quality, recognizing faculty expertise as central to institutional success, honoring participatory governance as a strategic asset rather than a management process, respecting academic freedom and academic scholarship. The new Chancellor will continue robust and transparent relationships with the Academic Senates, Faculty Association, and Associated Student Body.
• Academic and Workforce Relevance: The district has an important opportunity to expand academic and workforce pathways that respond to student demand and regional labor-market needs. The Chancellor will continue to advance dual enrollment, transfer partnerships, career education, and employer collaboration while also expanding high-quality online and hybrid learning opportunities that increase access, flexibility, and student success.
• Student Support, Enrollment, and Community Impact: The next Chancellor will understand the changing needs of today's students and the importance of strengthening enrollment, retention, and completion through adaptive support services which are effectively responsive to the evolving needs of all students. This opportunity includes re-engaging adult learners, closing equity gaps, improving access for first-generation, veterans, part-time, and working students, deepening partnerships with schools, employers, and community organizations, expanding philanthropic and grant support, and elevating the district's visibility, reputation, and value across the region.
• Operational Effectiveness and Innovation: The Chancellor continue to be a catalyst of innovation modernization of district systems, technology infrastructure, and operational processes in order to improve efficiency, service delivery, and the student experience. This includes responding strategically to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, reducing duplication, strengthening communication and participatory governance, and guiding the district through organizational change with clarity and trust.

Ideal Characteristics

• Student-Centered Leadership: A student-centered leader with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access, student success, and social and economic mobility. The ideal candidate will bring experience serving diverse communities and will understand how to support the aspirations of first-generation students, working learners, and historically underserved populations.
• Academic Stewardship: An individual who understands that colleges are academic institutions that faculty are the primary experts in curriculum, pedagogy, and educational quality.
• Effective and Transparent Communicator: A collaborative and transparent communicator who actively listens, builds trust, and engages faculty, staff, students, administrators, and community stakeholders with clarity and consistency. The successful candidate will be able to represent and advocate effectively for the district at the local, state, and national levels. Possess the ability to communicate appropriately with audiences and constituents throughout the communities we serve.
• Fosters Participatory Governance: An ethical, approachable, and service-oriented leader who values participatory governance, accountability, inclusion, and mutual respect. The Chancellor should be able to unify diverse constituent groups, strengthen collaboration, and create a culture in which thoughtful, fair, and informed decision-making can flourish.
• District Oversight: An experienced executive who understands the complexity of a multi-college district and can balance districtwide leadership with respect for the identity, autonomy, and strengths of each college. The ideal candidate will demonstrate sound judgment in governance, finance, operations, facilities, and compliance.
• Innovative and Responsive Leadership: A strategic, forward-thinking leader who can respond effectively to changing enrollment trends, workforce expectations, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. The successful candidate will be committed to innovation, modernization, and continuous improvement in service of stronger outcomes for students and employees.
• Partnership Development: A strong relationship builder who can cultivate meaningful partnerships with Associated Students, K–12 districts, universities, employers, community organizations, philanthropic partners, and regional leaders to expand opportunity, strengthen public confidence, and advance the district's mission.

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned doctorate from an accredited institution.
• Teaching experience in higher education.
• A record of progressively responsible senior administrative positions in higher education.
• Experience in managing the fiscal and operational needs of a large, complex organization.
• History of fostering participatory governance and ensure an inclusive and collaborative environment for all students and employees.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college faculty, classified professionals, administrators, and students.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the California Community Colleges system, including Education Code, Title 5, and statewide policy and funding frameworks.
• Experience leading Hispanic Serving Institutions and Black-Serving Institutions.
• Experience working effectively with multiple collective bargaining groups.
• Successful track record of philanthropic engagement.
• Experience in a multi-college district environment.