President, Saddleback College

Specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the position. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

To serve as the educational leader and Chief Executive Officer of Saddleback College, one of two colleges within the South Orange County Community College District, guiding the institution with visionary, equity-centered leadership. The President ensures the delivery of inclusive, high-quality educational and support services, fosters a culture of belonging, and advances the college’s mission through strategic planning, collaborative governance, and regional partnerships.

To report to the Chancellor and execute all powers and duties in accordance to rules and regulations of the Board of Trustees, Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and the laws of the State of California; serve as the institutional leader and implement board policies and administrative regulations as applicable to the position; serve under contract and establish annual goals, which are approved by the Chancellor; and advise the Chancellor on matters related to District planning, policies, operations, as they affect the diverse body of students and employees at the college.

To formulate and articulate a vision of the college’s future that addresses the evolving social, economic, and political forces that affect its mission and campus priorities, in which teaching, learning, equitable student access and student success are central to the college mission.

To maintain effective working relationships with faculty, classified professionals, students, and the management team, as well as with colleagues throughout the district; and to advocate for the community college through a collaborative, collegial leadership style that advances the district’s strategic plan and supports the achievement of district-wide goals and objectives.

To foster a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, innovation, and continuous improvement throughout the district; lead by example; actively participate in and support district-wide participatory governance and collaborative processes; encourage professional excellence among faculty, classified professionals and the management team, and promote an organizational culture rooted in excellence, innovation, and high-quality service to students and the community.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction and evaluation from the Chancellor. The President is a district team member on the Chancellor’s Executive Council and on other committees and councils directed and delegated by the Chancellor.

Provides leadership and direction to the Vice President for Instruction, the Vice President for Student Services, the Vice President for College Administrative Services, other academic administrator and classified management personnel and related support staff.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties and responsibilities are typical for this position. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

General

Keeps the Chancellor fully informed of significant campus developments. Prepares and submits all college-related recommendations and resolutions concerning the college and submits them to the Chancellor for final approval, subject to the Board of Trustees review as appropriate. Advises the Chancellor on personnel matters and recommends the college's organizational structure. Provides strategic leadership for instructional and student services planning, as well as overall college operations. Oversees the College’s accreditation process and fosters clear, ongoing communication with faculty, classified professional, and the management team, regarding all facets of college operations, including curriculum, instruction, budget, administrative services, institutional planning, facilities, student services, and educational planning.

Planning and Fiscal Management:

Provide leadership in the development and implementation of a sustainable master plan and integrated strategic plan grounded in institutional research, accreditation standards, and student success metrics. Ensure that planning drives budget development and resource allocation aligned with Board Policy and Administrative Regulations.

Envision, plan, formulate, develop, implement, review and evaluate short- and long range goals and objectives and policies, standards and outcomes which are in support of the strategic and facilities master plan and the instructional needs of the college’s local community.

Develop and monitor the college budget and assume fiscal responsibility; and ensure that financial resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.

Academic Quality and Student Success:

Promote and support learning, teaching, and student success, through inclusive, culturally responsive practices. Champion efforts to close equity gaps and ensure that all students, especially those disproportionately impacted, have access to high-quality instruction and support services.

Assure optimum services to students in all areas of student life, including maintenance of student records, academic and personal counseling, recreational and sports activities, health services, student government, and other clubs and organizations, tutorial services, financial aid, and assistance programs for students with disabilities.

Ensure innovative and cost-effective formulation, development and implementation of state-of-the-art educational, training and enrichment opportunities for students that assure that students are afforded optimum opportunities to excel in academic and career technical fields of endeavor.

Provide leadership in the development and implementation of career technical education to meet the needs in the local community.

Encourage the assessment and improvement of instructional methodology, technology and materials; ensure the development, modification and enhancement of the curriculum; review and evaluate curricular recommendations and encourage expansion of the instructional program to meet the diverse needs of students, including new, transfer, re-entry, veterans and high school advanced placement students.

Provide leadership in the development and implementation of a comprehensive enrollment management plan.

Ensure development and implementation of corrective action, improvements, or additional programs and services which are efficient, effective and responsive to the needs of the local community and college.

Provide for the timely and accurate preparation, distribution, and storage of reports related to the college’s programs, services, activities, financial resources, and budget; direct the timely and accurate preparation of enrollment and revenue projections and consolidation of budgetary reports to facilitate attainment of short- and long-range plans.

District Responsibilities:

Serve as a member of the Chancellor's Executive Council and participate in establishing and achieving institutional goals in accordance with the district’s strategic master plan; ensure that college short- and long-range plans for all campus functions are developed in coordination with the leadership of other district entities; assume significant responsibility to provide clear direction and leadership regarding college and district plans and goals; communicate plans and goals to the community, faculty, staff, and administrators, and assist the Chancellor to provide and communicate a plan for evaluating progress toward those goals; and, work cooperatively and collaboratively with Chancellor’s Executive Council.

Build trust among all constituencies through transparent, inclusive leadership. Foster a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared governance across the college and district.

Attend board meetings and present information as needed; confer with college and district administrators regarding board agenda items and management issues involving college programs and services, including recommendations for new or revised policies and procedures; and assure that all board policies, administrative regulations, and legislative directives are carried out in all areas of the college.

Management and Administration:

Provide a participatory governance process; work closely with district and college administrators and leaders of the academic and classified senates to establish and achieve institutional goals in accordance with the district’s and college’s strategic and facilities master plan.

Provide leadership and executive direction to academic administrators and classified managers, overseeing all functions, programs, services, operations, and academic and classified personnel related to instruction, student services, and administration. Guide and evaluate the effectiveness of resources to ensure alignment with institutional goals and continuous improvement.

Motivate and mentor personnel to envision and develop new concepts, funding, approaches, and methodology in the field of community college education and related support activities.

Provide leadership and empower the administrative team.

Provide leadership focusing on accountability and professional conduct.

Provide college employees the opportunity to successfully achieve high standards in their work by fostering a culture of teamwork and professional and leadership development; promote a climate which encourages staff development and formulation of clear job objectives.

Review and evaluate the effectiveness of the college’s organizational structure, key personnel, functions, programs, and services; implement operational changes as appropriate to increase efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of all college services.

Assure that all instructional, student services and administrative programs, services, activities, systems, policies and standards comply with applicable federal, state, local, and district laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

Anticipate and identify legal issues and assure that administrators and managers are counseled in the development of strategies for resolution; and confer with legal counsel as appropriate.

Maintain current knowledge of applicable laws, trends, policies, procedures, and practices.

Assure that the highest legal and ethical standards are maintained and clearly communicated to college personnel, the chancellor, the board of trustees, and the community.

Ensure the safety and security of students; develop and implement emergency preparedness plans.

Propose strategies for selecting and retaining a diverse, high quality, full-time faculty, staff and administrators.

Select and extend offers of employment for faculty, administrators, and classified positions for the college; establish and communicate clear expectations for effective performance of employees’ duties and responsibilities.

Train, guide, mentor, supervise, support, and evaluate the performance of direct subordinates; delegate and review assignments and projects; establish and monitor timelines and prioritize work; and evaluate work products and results.

Recommend transfers, reassignment, termination, and disciplinary action; motivate staff and resolve conflicts within the college and promote an environment of cooperation and mutual support among all campus staff.

Ensure the establishment of required internal and external committees; recommend or appoint committee members as appropriate; direct, review, and evaluate the efforts, activities, communications, and recommendations of college committees, task forces, and work groups.

College Advancement:

Provide visionary leadership to the college foundation, advancing fundraising efforts that reflect Saddleback's values focused on student success. Cultivate a strong alumni base and community partnerships through authentic storytelling and strategic advocacy.

Assure the timely review, analysis and evaluation of pending legislation, legal mandates, regulations, and guidelines which could affect the college’s resources, programs, functions, and activities.

Assume a highly visible leadership role in the local community the college serves and build strategic partnerships with corporate, educational, and community-based organizations; represent the college to the community including other educational institutions, business interests, and service organizations, interact with leaders of the business and social communities within the college’s local services area to identify and communicate emerging educational trends and seek alternative funding sources for the college.

Delegate responsibility to administrators for representing the college’s interests in the local community and at state or national meetings; assure that information concerning college programs and services is available to the community and local organizations.

Maintain on-going contact with legislators to remain current regarding new and pending legislation related to state and federally-mandated instructional programs, funding and financial support, student services, and administration.

Represent the college to local, state, and federal governmental bodies and agencies; solicit and obtain financial support and other resources for new and enhanced instructional programs and services.

Perform other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position and the District's mission and philosophy.

Report to work on a regular and consistent basis, as scheduled, to assigned job.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

E DUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

An earned master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, business, or public administration, or related field.

Experience:

At least five years of demonstrated and responsible senior executive administrative experience, preferably in a higher education environment, with a broad variety of instructional and student services programs, and physical, fiscal and technology resources.

At least three years of experience managing a multi-million dollar budget in higher education.

Experience in a participatory governance environment in higher education.

Experience in and/or demonstrated knowledge of the role of the community colleges in economic and workforce development.

Commitment to equity and diversity. All applicants must have demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff. The applicant must be able to demonstrate how these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices within an educational environment.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Teaching experience; an earned doctorate from an accredited college or university.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND/OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

A valid California driver's license.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

Budget administration for a large, multi-faceted community college.

Contract negotiations and employee grievances at the community college level.

District organization, operations, and objectives.

Interpersonal skills including tact, patience, and diplomacy.

Local economic conditions, community leaders and service organizations.

Local, State and federal laws, codes and regulations related to public and community college administration, including the California Education Code and the California Government Code.

Oral and written communication skills.

Policies, objectives, procedures, organization, operations, guidelines, programs, and services applicable to the administration of a community college.

Principles and practices of community college administration.

Principles and practices of effective leadership, management, and supervision. Principles and practices of training, supervision, and performance evaluation.

Principles, theories, practices, methods, and procedures of public administration specifically related to higher education.

Programs and services of a community college district. Progressive discipline procedures and documentation.

Public speaking techniques.

Participatory governance at the community college level.

Sound fiscal management policies as related to public institutions.

Student enrollment trends and demographic statistics of the community.

The role of community colleges in economic development.

Trends in academic, career technical, community, and contract education.

ABILITY TO:

Adhere to negotiated collective bargaining agreements as mandated for California Community Colleges.

Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.

Assure compliance with local, state, and federal laws related to community colleges.

Assure the development, approval and administration of a consolidated and balanced annual College budget according to legal timelines.

Assure the preparation, maintenance, and retention of all required District reports, files, and data.

Be fiscally responsible, resourceful and creative in ways that will generate new revenue.

Be politically astute and communicate effectively with local, state, and federal legislators.

Build a sense of community within the College and establish viable linkages with external communities.

Communicate effectively with diverse constituencies within and outside the College.

Communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing, with diverse constituencies within and outside of the District.

Confer with legislators, community business leaders, and others regarding funding sources, cooperative instructional relationships, and other matters.

Create and maintain administrative and faculty environments that encourage and support innovation.

Delegate authority and responsibility to subordinates effectively. Demonstrate dynamic, well-organized, and visionary leadership.

Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

Develop policy recommendations which will implement the district’s master plan and other goals and objectives in accordance with local, State and federal laws and the needs of the college community.

Develop and maintain a visible presence on the campus and in the community.

Encourage professional excellence among the staff and promote an organizational culture of customer service, innovation, and quality services.

Envision, plan, develop, organize, administer, review, monitor, control, and evaluate all functions, programs, services and activities of the College including instruction, student services, and administration.

Establish and maintain a climate of trust and collegiality.

Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Exercise initiative and work independently with little or no direction from the Chancellor.

Identify needs and priorities and make decisions in a climate of competing interests.

Listen intently and communicate effectively with others in an inspirational, open, and responsive manner.

Maintain current knowledge of the educational and career technical needs of the community.

Maintain and establish positive relationships and partnerships on a district-wide level with the other college and district services.

Maintain rapport with all personnel at both colleges and District.

Make effective public presentations.

Must remember key information and concentrate for long periods of time.

Plan, organize, direct, administer, review, and evaluate all functions of the College including instruction, student services, and administration.

Prepare oral and written reports and recommendations.

Provide executive leadership and direction to administrators, managers, supervisors, faculty, and support staff.

Recognize the important roles of all parts of the college and district (e.g. academic, student services, administrative services, library, facilities, human resources, etc.)

Relate effectively to people of varied academic, cultural, and socioeconomic background using tact, diplomacy, and courtesy.

Review and analyze complex financial, statistical, and narrative data regarding all aspects of the District.

Select, train, lead, mentor, direct, supervise, and evaluate the performance of subordinates effectively.

Serve as a member of the Chancellor's executive staff.

Understand and effectively and collaboratively work in a complicated multi-college environment, as well as within a system of community college districts.

Understand and implement mandated participatory governance.

Work effectively with diverse populations, maximizing the benefits of diversity.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Work Environment:

Duties are primarily performed in an office environment or in meetings at a college, district or community location. The incumbent is subject to frequent interruptions and contact in person and on the telephone with executives, administrators, faculty, members of the board of trustees, community and state and federal leaders and the general public. May be required to attend afternoon or evening board meetings.

Physical Demands:

Typically must sit for long periods, walk short distances on a regular basis, see clearly to read normal and fine print and operate computer keyboard, speak clearly and distinctly to provide information in person or on the telephone, hear and understand voices over telephone and in person to exchange information and make presentations, use hands and fingers to operate an electronic keyboard or other office machines, travel to various locations to attend meetings and conduct work and lift, carry and/or move objects weighing up to 10 pounds.

Initial Screening Date: February 6, 2026

Required Documents: Resume, Cover Letter, List of Eight (8) References

References Must Include the Following:

• Two (2) Supervisors
• Two (2) Colleagues
• Two (2) Faculty Leaders
• Two (2) Direct Reports (including one (1) Classified support)

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• South Orange County Community College District

• 949.582.4850

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