Job Description

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Please use this link to review the full leadership profile for the Executive Director of Colby's Summer Session.

Over the last decade, with the efforts of an extraordinarily talented president. President David A. Greene, who joined Colby during the summer of 2014, has been instrumental in developing the optimal environment for academic excellence, shared success, and innovation. His leadership has led to downtown Waterville becoming a national model for post-industrial city renewal, the creation of the first cross-disciplinary institute for artificial intelligence at a liberal arts college, construction of the most outstanding athletics and recreation facilities in Division III, a superb creative and performing arts center, development of new residence halls, establishment of a wide-ranging civic engagement program, and staffing and programs to ensure all students can thrive at Colby. The Executive Director will understand this vision and expand the current model to create a unique and multi-faceted summer session building on Colby’s strengths. 

The Office of Summer Programs develops, markets, manages, and executes programs that build on Colby’s brand and align with the College’s mission and institutional priorities, delivering educational opportunities to pre-college students, adult learners, other college students, and groups.  The office plans and coordinates a wide variety of programs during the summer months, welcoming over 10,000 guests to campus.

The following are the essential duties and responsibilities of this role: 

• In partnership with the Senior Vice President, assess the effectiveness of the summer session enterprise.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic plan, including educational programming, marketing strategies, and a financial plan consistent with Colby’s overall strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with multiple constituents to understand areas of opportunity and growth for programming that leverages the strengths of Colby’s distinctive assets and campus expertise
• Lead and develop new programs across thematic areas, such as artificial intelligence, the arts, athletics and recreation, environmental studies, and others, to further Colby’s objectives by developing partnerships and leveraging the College’s state-of-the-art facilities, campus setting, and liberal arts education.
• Using contemporary analytics, develop and implement performance metrics and assessment tools for data-informed risk taking.
• Foster an environment that values diverse thinking and approaches, rewards new ideas and innovation, provides professional development and maintains an inclusive and welcoming culture. 
• Plan and carefully manage the budget, ensuring that resources are deployed efficiently and effectively with fundraising goals and objectives at the forefront.
• Build strong personal and professional collaborative relationships with the entire Colby College community and represent the College at on-campus and public events.
• Supervise the summer session team, including full and part-time employees 
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the program at the highest level.

The preferred candidate will possess many of the following: 

• Successful experience in effective strategic planning as a leader.
• Knowledge of best practices in all key areas, including curriculum and program development as well as conference and event management
• Demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and successfully deliver an extraordinary educational program with a track record of success in a complex organization.
• Proven management skills and experience building partnerships and collaborating with multiple constituents.
• Exemplary interpersonal and listening skills; impeccable attention to detail and superb follow-through; strong personal integrity, flexibility, and work ethic.
• Demonstrated talent in developing and implementing strategies, plans, and budgets in a complex, fast-changing environment.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Unflappable in the face of multiple challenges, highly motivated, disciplined work ethic, a competitive nature, a creative approach, and a proven ability to lead.
• The Executive Director will thrive in Colby's special culture – collegial, collaborative, student-centric, intellectually driven, and typified by alumni loyalty. A leader who is collaborative, collegial, transparent, and oriented toward teamwork will have the greatest opportunity for success in this culture. 
• The Executive Director will understand the characteristics of a successful leader: integrity, judgment, creativity, diplomacy, and humor. 

​Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree is required, and an advanced degree is preferred.
• Ten-plus years of program management and managerial leadership experience demonstrating progressively increasing responsibility.
• Flexibility to travel and work evenings or weekends.  
• Valid driver’s license required and must meet the College’s Fleet Safety Policy requirements.