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President/CEO

Buffkin / Baker

Raleigh, NC

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Alternative Energy, Benchmarking, Biology, Biotech and Pharmaceutical, Business Growth, Campaigns, Clean Technologies, Communication Skills, Economic Development, Economic Growth, Establish Priorities, Financial Services, Government, Healthcare, High School Diploma, Investment Strategy, Leadership, Logistics, Manufacturing, Return on Investment (ROI), Scholarship, System Operations, Talent Management, Training Program Development, Training/Teaching Curriculum
LOCATION
Raleigh, NC
POSTED
1 day ago
The most important job in North Carolina: selecting the next President/CEO of the NC Community College SystemNorth Carolina leads the nation in business and economic growth. The North Carolina Community College System drives that success by developing the skilled workforce behind it. The next President/CEO will lead this work, expanding opportunity for individuals and strengthening the state's economy.

An Inflection Point for North Carolina and the Country. The United States is entering a period of rapid economic and technological transformation. Industries are evolving faster than ever, and the skills required to succeed in today's labor market are shifting at unprecedented speed. For states that can adapt quickly, the opportunity is extraordinary. For those that cannot, the cost will be measured in lost competitiveness, stalled economic growth, and diminished opportunity for their citizens. North Carolina stands at the center of this moment.

The state has built one of the most dynamic economies in the country, driven by advanced manufacturing, life sciences, financial services, logistics, and a rapidly growing technology sector. From global biotechnology firms clustered around Research Triangle Park to advanced manufacturing facilities across the Piedmont and growing fintech operations in Charlotte, industries across North Carolina are expanding and competing for skilled talent - and the nature of work within these industries is changing rapidly.

These shifts are placing new expectations on education systems. Students and families increasingly expect a clear return on their investment. Employers are seeking faster pathways to skilled talent and stronger alignment between education and workforce needs. Policymakers are demanding measurable outcomes and accountability for public investment. Across the nation, institutions responsible for preparing people for work are being asked to move faster, operate innovatively, and deliver results.

For North Carolina, meeting this moment is not optional. The state's long-term economic competitiveness depends on its ability to produce talent, expand opportunity for its citizens, and respond quickly to the needs of employers and communities. Few organizations are more central to that effort than the North Carolina Community College System.

North Carolina's Most Important Organization. The North Carolina Community College System is the most consequential public enterprise in the state. The System is North Carolina's most powerful force for expanding opportunity. It is where working adults find a path to better wages and a better life, and where individuals gain the skills to move into careers with real momentum. It provides affordable, practical pathways for recent high school graduates and for individuals determined to build a more stable future for themselves and their families. By meeting students where they are and helping them move forward, the System changes lives while strengthening the workforce.

With 58 colleges serving communities across the state, the System powers North Carolina's economy. The System provides nearly half of all undergraduate education in the state, reaching students at a scale unmatched by the university system. Enrollment has increased by 12% since 2019, four times the national average, with five consecutive years of sustained growth. At the same time, the System exceeds national benchmarks in student success, with a 49% six-year completion rate compared to 44% nationally.

Each year, more than one in 14 North Carolinians enroll to build the skills and credentials needed to enter the workforce or advance their careers. At this scale, the System serves as the primary engine developing the workforce behind North Carolina's economic growth.

631,826 - 2024-2025 total enrollment; 12% enrollment growth since fall 2019; 84% labor market alignment. Leaders across government and industry recognize this impact. Sustained legislative investment reflects a strong and enduring public commitment to the System's mission and confidence in its results.

Employers demonstrate that same confidence through deep and growing partnerships with the System. They collaborate to design training programs, align curricula with industry needs, and prepare students for careers in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, healthcare, logistics, and financial services.

These partnerships reflect a clear understanding among employers: the System is North Carolina's most important competitive advantage.

Private and philanthropic partners have further strengthened the System's impact, contributing more than $55 million through a national campaign launched in 2025. These investments expand access to training, build workforce pathways, and help colleges respond quickly to emerging economic opportunities.

Together, this combination of statewide reach, strong public investment, and deep private-sector partnership makes the System a defining force in North Carolina's continued growth. As industries expand and evolve, the ability to develop skilled talent remains the state's greatest advantage. The System builds that advantage every day.

A System Backed by Strategic investment. The North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation (Foundation) is a public charity and the official supporting organization for the System. The Foundation raises awareness and funds to advance the System's mission, manages scholarship and award programs that honor excellence, and supports public-private partnerships that foster innovation. In the last three years, the Foundation has grown 50% and is well-positioned for greater impact. Together with the State Board and System Office, the Foundation is leading Soar: The Campaign for NC Community Colleges, a $75 million multiyear venture to advance statewide priorities with national and multinational private funders.

Early momentum reflects strong confidence in the System's model and its results. National and regional partners are investing to help North Carolina scale its workforce system, which already delivers impact statewide.

For the next President/CEO, this momentum creates a powerful platform. The role offers the opportunity to lead a system that is performing, attracting national attention, and positioned to grow even stronger.

Powering One of the Nation's Fastest-Growing Economies. North Carolina has built one of the most competitive economies in the country. The state continues to attract record levels of investment across advanced manufacturing, life sciences, clean energy, and technology, with companies choosing North Carolina for both its business climate and its ability to develop talent. That growth depends on a steady pipeline of skilled workers. The North Carolina Community College System builds that pipeline.

This Leader's Charge. The next President/CEO of the North Carolina Community College System will step into a rare moment of momentum with a clear mandate to build on it.

Across the state, the System is expanding employer partnerships, strengthening pathways into high-demand fields, and improving outcomes for the students it serves. The work ahead is not to begin transformation, but to accelerate it.

This role carries a clear mandate: accelerate the System's impact on workforce and economic growth.

Economic Development: The President/CEO will help position North Carolina as the top state for talent and workforce development. The System sits at the center of the state's economic strategy, connecting individuals to careers and helping employers build the skilled workforce they need to grow. The President/CEO must strengthen alignment between education and industry, ensure programs evolve with emerging sectors, and reinforce the System's role in driving economic competitiveness.

Workforce Development: The System has made significant progress in expanding pathways into high-demand careers. The next President/ CEO must scale what works, deepen employer partnerships, and improve outcomes across the student journey. This work requires a continued focus on credentials of value, faster pathways into the workforce, and clear connections between training and employment.

One System Leadership: Leading the System requires alignment across 58 colleges with diverse needs. The President/CEO must set clear direction, align strategy and resources, and ensure the System operates with focus and discipline. This includes strengthening accountability, supporting innovation, and enabling the System to respond to workforce needs at the speed of business.

Desired Attributes: The successful NCCCS President/CEO will:
  • Act with urgency and drive results. Set clear priorities, make decisions with confidence, and hold the System accountable for outcomes.
  • Build trust across sectors. Establish credibility with the Executive Branch, General Assembly, employers, college leaders, and education partners. Listen, engage, and lead with authenticity.
  • Decide with conviction. Navigate ambiguity, weigh trade-offs, and act on the best available evidence.
  • Lead with confidence and humility. Surround the organization with strong talent, listen actively, and bring out the best in others.
  • Think and lead at the enterprise level. Prioritize statewide outcomes, align strategy across 58 colleges, and reduce fragmentation while respecting local context.
  • Champion workforce outcomes. Focus on credentials of value, job placement, and wage outcomes. Align programs with high-demand careers and demonstrate return on investment.
  • Use data and technology to drive performance. Leverage modern systems and data to improve decision-making, accelerate outcomes, and support student success.
  • Communicate with clarity and purpose. Articulate vision, explain decisions, and represent the System effectively with policymakers, partners, and the public. Randolph Community College Desired Attributes 10
  • Navigate complex environments. Work effectively across government, education, and industry while advancing shared workforce, economic, and education goals.
  • Build and lead high-performing teams. Create a culture of accountability, attract strong talent, and strengthen execution across the System.
  • Lead change with discipline. Drive measurable progress while modernizing programs, removing barriers, and scaling what works.
  • Represent the System with credibility. Serve as a visible, trusted leader and strengthen public confidence in the System's role as North Carolina's talent engine.

A Letter From The Board

"Dear Leader,

North Carolina's Community College System is at a defining moment, and we are looking for the leader who will shape what comes next.

Our 58 colleges serve more than 600,000 North Carolinians each year and power the workforce behind North Carolina's rise as the No. 1 state for business three of the last four years. Enrollment is growing four times the national rate yet demand for talent in high wage sectors still exceeds supply. More than one million North Carolinians are within reach of a credential that could transform their lives and strengthen our economy.

This is not a traditional role. This is enterprise transformation.

The foundation is being built with modernized systems, unified data, AI-enabled technology, and momentum is accelerating.

We are seeking a proven executive, regardless of sector who has led at scale, built high-performing teams, and delivered results with clear return on investment. Someone who operates with urgency, uses data to drive decisions, and understands that students and employers must be treated as valued customers.

This is a platform to transform lives, strengthen the state, and build a national model for workforce development.

We are looking for a leader who will step up and make North Carolina the undisputed workforce leader in the country."

Sincerely, Thomas Looney (Board Chair) and John Kane (Vice Chair).

Why Raleigh, NC.Raleigh offers a rare combination of economic strength and quality of life. As the capital of North Carolina and part of the Research Triangle, it sits at the center of one of the country's fastest-growing regions. Raleigh combines a strong and growing economy with a lifestyle that supports long-term success. The region continues to attract investment across technology, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing, while offering easy access to both the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic Coast. Residents benefit from vibrant communities, extensive outdoor amenities, and a nationally recognized food and arts scene. Raleigh offers a place to make an impact and live well while doing it.

Take Action. To make a nomination, provide a referral, or for additional information, please use the contact information below. While applications and nominations will be accepted until a successful candidate has been appointed, interested individuals are encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible for full consideration as review of submitted materials will begin immediately.

TO APPLY:

Please submit a resume and/or vita, cover letter, and any questions to:

PresidentNCCCS@buffkinbaker.com

Ken Carrick, Partner - 704-236-0659

Martin Baker, Managing Partner - 770-313-5573

Janny DeLoache, Associate Partner - 704-377-7828

To view the full and complete profile, please click the following link.

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