Vice President of Academic Affairs

The Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) is responsible for ensuring the college meets the educational goals set in consultation with faculty, staff, and the community in order to meet obligations set forth by accreditation, governmental regulation, or articulation agreements. The successful candidate will lead the development of programs and services to ensure the college can meet or exceed its intended outcomes through appropriate planning, staffing, tools, motivation, and overall support. As a member of the college administration, the VPAA collaboratively works with other administrators to fulfill the mission of the college while being an advocate of bold vision and innovation.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE:
Green River College's student body is made up of approximately 41% Academic Transfer students, 34% Professional-Technical students, 15% Adult Basic Education student, and 3% Applied Bachelor degrees. Green River College has four campuses, including the main campus in Auburn, Washington, with satellite campuses in Kent, downtown Auburn, and Enumclaw. Green River programs serve high school graduates, Running Start students (dual enrollment in local high schools and the college), those seeking retraining for the workforce, international students, students learning English, and Continuing Education students. Green River's service areas are increasingly ethnically diverse, comprising African Americans, African immigrants, Asian Americans, Asians, Latinx, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Middle Eastern Americans, among other communities.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION:
We commit to be an anti-racist institution where all students, faculty, and staff receive the access, resources, and services needed to achieve their educational, career, and personal goals. Green River College makes social and economic justice, equity, and inclusion our highest priorities.
The Green River College definition of equity encompasses all identities, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, economic status, gender identity, sexual identity, disability, religion/spirituality, immigration status, age, and culture. We understand individual needs vary widely, and the effects of discrimination and historical oppression must be taken into account while aiming for equitable opportunities and outcomes for all.

Planning:

• Lead the development and implementation of an Academic Affairs Strategic Plan that aligns with the College's Equity-Centered Strategic Plan and Student Success Plan to advance instructional priorities through strategic planning, policy analysis, organizational support, and ongoing assessment of progress and outcomes
• Establish and effectively communicate goals and objectives that support the College's mission and learning outcomes; encourage and support innovation in teaching and learning while providing administrative leadership for strategically develop, implement and provide administrative oversight of the College's Academic Affairs Strategic Plan
• Ensure and promote high quality instructional programs and services consistent with accreditation standards and best practices. Facilitate and support program planning and development; administer ongoing program review and evaluation; lead full time and adjunct faculty recruitment, development, retention and evaluation; ensure appropriate instructional facilities and instructional equipment and technology
• Strategically plan and support the develop of new programs that support the needs of the community and ensure that instructional offerings are effective and current in the areas of transfer, professional/technical and basic skills programs

Operations:

• Direct and support instructional administration and staff through appropriate hiring, development, evaluation, and succession management
• Provide instructional support of the enrollment management process by ensuring the College provides coursework that meets the needs of students through course scheduling and within the parameters of budget and staffing
• Provide leadership in negotiation of collective bargaining agreements and contract administration
• Understand funding models and direct budget development by deans and staff; prioritize budgets as they relate to needs of divisions and services to support the educational goals of the College; assure fiscal accountability; provide leadership and support the development of creative and ethical alternative funding sources for educational offerings and student success
• Development and support of new and existing Bachelor's and Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) Degrees that provide applied, workforce-aligned pathways for academic transfer and career advancement in high-demand fields
• Support and promote best practices in teaching and learning across in-person, online, and hybrid modalities, including those that meet Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) standards for digital learning

Relationships:

• Build and sustain articulation and collaborative partnerships with K-12 and higher education institutions, public agencies and boards, business and industry, and community organizations, supporting the College's educational goals.
• Advance and expand work-based learning opportunities (e.g., internships, apprenticeships, clinical experiences, and industry-sponsored training) in collaboration with community and industry partners.
• Responsible for building collaborative relationships among faculty, staff, and administration across all instructional areas, including collaboration with International Programs, to support coordinated educational planning at the college.
• As a member of the Foundation board, responsible for developing relationships and resources with the district community to support the Foundation's mission
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited institution
• Five years of leadership experience, preferably in a community college setting. In lieu of direct leadership experience, consideration will be given to formal training or internship reasonably related to an administrative assignment.
• Understanding and commitment to the comprehensive community college mission.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively in ways that engage faculty, staff, administrators, and community members, helping build shared understanding and support for key priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff.
• Demonstrated understanding of and experience with all areas of instruction: academic transfer, professional/technical workforce education, adult basic education and continuing education/contract training.
• Demonstrated commitment to providing faculty with leadership, accountability, support, and encouragement.
• College-level teaching experience, preferably at a community college.
• Demonstrated professional and successful experience in:
  • accreditation and strategic planning;
  • curriculum & program development and assessment.
• Demonstrated professional and successful experience in:
  • budget planning and financial management;
  • staff development;
  • staff management and administration;
  • change management.
• Demonstrated and successful experience with collaborative collective bargaining as well as maintaining an ongoing and productive Labor/Management relationship.
• Demonstrated commitment to faculty development, academic freedom and shared governance.
• Demonstrated ability to translate plans and vision into effective implementation, including resource development, project management, and personnel leadership.