President/CEO

Buffkin / Baker•Raleigh, NC

1d•Remote

About The Position

The North Carolina Community College System is seeking its next President/CEO to lead a pivotal organization at a time of significant economic and technological transformation. This role involves guiding a system of 58 colleges that serves over 600,000 North Carolinians annually and is crucial to the state's economic growth and workforce development. The incoming leader will build upon existing momentum, accelerating the System's impact on workforce and economic development by strengthening employer partnerships, improving student outcomes, and ensuring alignment between education and industry needs. The position requires a proven executive capable of leading at scale, driving results, and fostering innovation within a complex, multi-faceted enterprise. The President/CEO will be instrumental in positioning North Carolina as a national leader in talent and workforce development, ensuring the state's continued competitiveness and expanding opportunities for its citizens.

Requirements

Proven executive experience, regardless of sector, with a track record of leading at scale.
Experience building high-performing teams.
Demonstrated ability to deliver results with clear return on investment.
Ability to operate with urgency and use data to drive decisions.
Understanding that students and employers must be treated as valued customers.
Ability to navigate complex environments, working effectively across government, education, and industry.
Experience leading change with discipline.
Ability to represent the System with credibility and strengthen public confidence.
Ability to set clear priorities, make decisions with confidence, and hold the System accountable for outcomes.
Ability to build trust across sectors, establishing credibility with the Executive Branch, General Assembly, employers, college leaders, and education partners.
Ability to listen, engage, and lead with authenticity.
Ability to decide with conviction, navigate ambiguity, weigh trade-offs, and act on the best available evidence.
Ability to lead with confidence and humility, surround the organization with strong talent, listen actively, and bring out the best in others.
Ability to think and lead at the enterprise level, prioritizing statewide outcomes and aligning strategy across 58 colleges.
Focus on credentials of value, job placement, and wage outcomes.
Align programs with high-demand careers.
Leverage modern systems and data to improve decision-making, accelerate outcomes, and support student success.
Communicate with clarity and purpose.

Nice To Haves

Experience in enterprise transformation.
Experience with modernized systems, unified data, and AI-enabled technology.

Responsibilities

Lead the North Carolina Community College System, a critical enterprise for workforce and economic development.
Expand employer partnerships and strengthen pathways into high-demand fields.
Improve student outcomes and ensure alignment between education and industry needs.
Scale successful programs and deepen employer collaborations.
Set clear direction, align strategy and resources across 58 colleges.
Strengthen accountability, support innovation, and ensure the System responds to workforce needs at the speed of business.
Position North Carolina as the top state for talent and workforce development.
Ensure programs evolve with emerging sectors and reinforce the System's role in driving economic competitiveness.
Champion workforce outcomes, focusing on credentials of value, job placement, and wage outcomes.
Use data and technology to drive performance, improve decision-making, and accelerate outcomes.
Communicate vision, explain decisions, and represent the System effectively with policymakers, partners, and the public.
Build and lead high-performing teams, creating a culture of accountability.
Lead change with discipline, driving measurable progress while modernizing programs.
Represent the System with credibility as a visible, trusted leader.