Chief Academic Officer

The Deputy Commissioner serves as the Chief Academic Officer for the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and is a key member of the System Office Executive Leadership Team. This position is responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership for technical and adult education programs across the state. The Chief Academic Officer ensures alignment with industry needs, state workforce priorities, and higher education initiatives, fostering student success and economic growth. A successful candidate will have a work history that demonstrates the following: Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership and oversight of educational programs, including technical education, student affairs, adult education, and workforce development initiatives. Ability to develop and execute strategic initiatives that advance organizational goals and support statewide economic and workforce priorities. Demonstrated success in cultivating and leveraging strategic partnerships with legislators, regulatory agencies, educational institutions, economic development organizations, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to advance statewide education and workforce priorities, strengthen talent pipelines, inform policy development, and align educational programming with current and emerging workforce needs. Experience leading innovation and modernization efforts in education, including the integration of emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, digital credentialing, and technology-enhanced learning solutions. Strong analytical skills with experience leveraging data related to student achievement, workforce outcomes, and institutional performance to inform policy, strategy, and continuous improvement efforts. Demonstrated ability to lead and develop executive and senior-level leaders while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement across a large, multi-campus educational system. Extensive knowledge of accreditation standards, state and federal regulations, and organizational policies governing educational institutions and workforce programs. Strong fiscal management skills, including budget development, resource allocation, financial stewardship, and long-range strategic planning. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage diverse audiences and represent the organization at the local, state, and national levels. Candidates must possess, at a minimum, a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, educational leadership, public administration, or a related field and Ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in technical education, higher education, or a related field. An ideal candidate will also possess a doctorate with significant senior level leadership experience in higher education. The salary is commensurate with education and experience. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest and a resume to Terry Gainer at TGainer@tcsg.edu by July 17, 2026.