Director for the Agriculture Center of Excellence

Position Overview:

Walla Walla Community College seeks an innovative Director for the Agriculture Center of Excellence. The Director for the Agriculture Center of Excellence (Center) reports to the Vice President of Instruction - Workforce Education. 

The Center Director is responsible for the project management and administrative oversight of all Center activities and for managing the Center's budget to include the following:

• ensure all objectives of the project are achieved,
• deliverables and reports are completed in a timely manner,
• financial resources are properly managed.

The Center Director provides leadership in promoting and maintaining the Washington Centers of Excellence as a recognizable and highly valuable component in Washington's economic and workforce development initiatives. As such, the Center Director serves as the primary liaison between the Center, business and industry, the Washington Community & Technical College system, and the state's economic and workforce development systems.

Responsibilities: 

The responsibilities of the Center Director position include, but are not limited to:

• negotiation and implementation of the Center's work plan objectives;
• development of and/or participation in industry and workforce development partnership efforts on behalf of the Community & Technical College system;
• identifying and validating industry and occupational trends and the key workforce needs of high growth industries in the state for use in decision-making by the colleges and workforce/economic development partners;
• monitoring and managing the Center budget and associated project budgets;
• assuring compliance and accountability through timely submission of reports, data, and work products to stakeholders.

Competencies and Requirements:

• Provide leadership to position the Center to serve as a statewide resource for the future of the agriculture and natural resource industry. 
• Ensure that the Center achieves the goals and objectives for Centers of Excellence as defined by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, including serving employers and educators, and as a single point of contact for meeting the education and training needs of the Washington agricultural industry.
• Oversee compliance with the State Board for Community and Technical College's funding program and reporting requirements; i.e., prepare or ensure preparation of necessary reports, proposals, contracts, and correspondence.
• Formulate and implement initiatives to improve performance and cost effectiveness of Center operations; plan, supervise/direct Center activities and resource management.
• Prepare and manage budgets for multiple Center projects; participate in the design/execution of contracts; ensure appropriate expenditure of funds in compliance with contract terms, state/federal/local regulations and policies.
• Supervise and evaluate exempt and support staff; recruits, screens, employs, plans, assigns and reviews work; evaluates employee performance within the college guidelines.
• Participate in regional and statewide events to raise awareness of economic and workforce development programs and services available through the Community & Technical College system and Washington's workforce and economic development systems.
• Represent Center partners at local, state, regional, and national professional organizations related to the agriculture and natural resource industry.
• Perform research to assist in the development of competency-based curriculum design and delivery models and skill standards for occupational skills training programs for the agricultural industry.
• Develop programs/projects for the Center in response to business and industry needs in collaboration with the Washington Community & Technical College system at large.
• Expand industry partnerships.
• Identify and develop public and private funding opportunities to support the Center.
• Prepare and deliver presentations to business and industry groups, community groups, and solicit business and community support for the Center.

Qualifications:

• Extensive knowledge of and experience in the agriculture industry and a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution supplemented by a minimum of 5 years of related experience; OR, a Master's degree in an area related to the essential duties, such as business administration, vocational education, or degrees with emphasis on technical or applied research with 2 years of directly related work experience in economic and workforce development OR 3 years of business development experience.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities administering grants, managing projects, and supervising others.
• Experience initiating leadership participation in multi-agency education and workforce development consortiums.
• Experience in a community college setting.
• Knowledge and experience developing curriculum and instructional systems.
• Experience with alternative systems of educational delivery, specifically distance education technology.
• Experience writing reports, developing publications, and delivering presentations for public outreach and educational purposes.

Competencies:

• Gathering, compiling, analyzing and filtering data, translating the data to identify critical workforce needs, and growing industries as they apply to community colleges
• Familiarity with the key agriculture employers, agriculture and related industries, and agriculture economic drivers in the region
• Proficiency with computer programs, i.e. spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software
• Principles of planning and institutional evaluation/assessment processes
• Agriculture industry labor market trends
• Budget and project planning/management
• Personnel management issues

Skills/Ability:

• Excellent skills in leadership, oral/written communication, negotiation, and team building
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups and individuals; interact with corporate leaders, local, regional, state and national government officials, community leaders, and administrators/faculty/staff of the Washington Community & Technical College system
• Use of independent judgment, focus on detailed information, respond to multiple tasks and shifting priorities, work independently, exercise discretion and sound judgment and respond to critical matters effectively
• Ability to manage time and resources in order to manage multiple projects
• Key characteristics/abilities would include flexibility, imagination, inquisitiveness, creativity, confidence, sensitivity, and professionalism

Ability to master an understanding of:

• Experience in project and grant management, and fiscal reporting methods as used in government agencies, schools, or colleges
• Research methods and development of reports presenting a strong business case for a community college response to an industry or workforce need
• Familiarity with the principles and practices of workforce education, customized training and business and industry services
• Familiarity with workforce development, technical education, and related state/federal legislation and initiatives

Terms of Employment:

• This full-time professional position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 
• A valid driver's license is a required condition of employment. This position requires frequent travel throughout the state of Washington.
• In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Walla Walla Community College hires only United States citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States. Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within 3 days of employment and official college transcripts. Candidate may be subject to a criminal history background check as a condition for consideration of employment.  Candidate may be subject to a criminal history background check as a condition for consideration of employment.

Compensation:  Annual compensation is $58,000.  

To Apply:

Walla Walla Community College is transitioning to an on-line application process powered by NEOGOV.  Please click on this link to begin the on-line application process. Resumes alone will not substitute for an official application.  This position will remain open until filled with applications screened as received.