Job Opening for Executive Director, Work Colleges Consortium in Berea College (101 Chestnut Street, Berea, KY 40404)

The Work Colleges Consortium (WCC) consists of nine colleges which cooperate in operating comprehensive student work programs. https://www.workcolleges.org. Together the schools have advocated for share an allocation of federal funding in support of this unique contribution to educational outcomes.

At each member school the President, the Dean of Labor, and the Director of Financial Aid play key roles in administering the work program, and the Chief Financial Officer is substantially involved as well.

The Consortium is administered by a two-person office consisting of an Executive Director and an Assistant Director. The work of this staff is overseen by the President’s Council, consisting of the Presidents of the nine member schools. The current Executive Committee of the President’s Council includes: President Lynn Morton of Warren Wilson College (Swannanoa, NC), President Michael Sorrell of Paul Quinn College (Dallas, TX) and President Mark Biermann of Blackburn College (Carlinville, IL). These leadership positions rotate through the member schools on a three-year-interval basis. Past Chair of the Executive Committee Lyle Roelofs of Berea College (Berea, KY) is chairing the search.

The offices of the WCC are located on the campus of Berea College in Berea, Kentucky, and the two staff members are for convenience considered employees of Berea College, sharing in all aspects of that school’s employee benefit programs. The offices are provided by Berea College without charge to the Consortium.

The current Executive Director has announced retirement effective October, 2022. The President’s Council has authorized a national search for a replacement, and qualified applicants are invited to apply, providing a cover letter, c. v., and three references, who will be contacted only for applicants who reach the finalist stage. Consideration of completed applications will commence in May 2022.

Please find below a more extended description of the Executive Director’s role.
The Executive Director is the primary administrative officer of the Work Colleges Consortium who oversees the internal and external programs of the Consortium. The Executive Director supports and guides the advocacy work of the Consortium in concert with the WCC Presidents Council and WCC Consultants. The Executive Director serves a liaison to the U.S. Department of Education and Congressional delegations and tracks federal funding and pertinent federal legislation. The Executive Director promotes the sharing of best practices and is responsive to the ongoing and changing needs of member institutions and federal guidelines.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Facilitate the work of the Consortium in accordance with the Presidents Council and WCC work groups;
Develop and maintain policy and activity records for the Consortium;
Act as the liaison to the U.S. Department of Education;
Assist colleges with compliance in regard to the federal regulations and operating guidelines;
Responsible for advocacy efforts on behalf of the WCC on issues related to federal funding and legislation;
Mentor and provide information, training and guidance for new and existing work colleges;
Assist other institutions interested in the work college model;
Oversee and coordinate all WCC work groups (Work Directors, Research, Financial Aid Academic, Career Services) and promote sharing of best practices, research and assessment among member institutions;
Collect, compile, and update Consortium operational data, as needed;
Promote public information on the work colleges;
Provide effective communications to facilitate and integrate the work of the Consortium;
Oversee the Consortium budgets;
Prepare agendas, documentation and reports for meetings of the governing President’s Council;
Provide for strategic and annual planning processes, as needed.
Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty and students.
Education required to ensure success in this position:
Master’s Degree

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

5-10 years of Administrative/Professional experience in Higher Education

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:
Ability to develop infrastructure, programming, and assessment/evaluation;
Understanding and interpreting of federal legislation and regulations;
Strong communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, computer proficiency, a collaborative leadership work style, and a willingness to travel;
Ability to work with a diverse group of institutions and interests.

Physical requirements:

Ability to work independently in a professional office and the visual acuity necessary to complete responsibilities of the position

Environmental conditions:

Office setting

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

Standard office equipment
Berea College achieved national distinction as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. With an emphasis on service to the people of Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls 1,600 students from 40 states and 70 countries. The College has along standing commitment to interracial education; here, people of different races seek to learn from and about each other, while also living together.
Berea is among the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. It admits only students whose families are unable to afford the high cost of tuition and awards each of them a Tuition Promise Scholarship, meaning no student ever pays tuition. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive but demanding academic environment, and many are the first in their families to graduate from college. The College is one of nine federally recognized Work Colleges, and all students hold a position in which they work 10-12 hours per week. Washington Monthly Magazine has consistently ranked Berea in the top 3 of Liberal Arts Colleges for its success in educating and graduating academically talented, low-income students who become service-oriented leaders in their professions and communities; in 2016 and 2017, the magazine ranked it number 1.

Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 15,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.

Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.

Berea College is always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application!

Berea College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.