Salary will be commensurate with education and experience

• This is a categorically funded position and is contingent upon funding

Additional compensation for doctorate

Tentative Interview Dates in December, 2022 (Specific Interview dates to be determined)

Merced College is a midsized community college located in California's Central Valley. Founded in 1962, the college serves more than 16,000 students with room to expand on its 267 acre main campus and 120 acre Los Banos site. Merced, incorporated in 1889, offers historical sites, affordable housing, access to the Bay Area and Sacramento, and is the Gateway to Yosemite National Park and the Sierra mountains as well as home to the University of California Merced campus. Our tree-shaded, growing community of just over 80,000 includes multiple biking and walking trails as well as access to several lakes – large and small – throughout the county.

The incumbent will provide regional leadership, oversight, and coordination for the Fresno-Merced Future of Food (F3) Initiative’s Agrifood Technology & Engineering Collaborative (AgTEC) program. This groundbreaking program will provide one-of-a-kind, innovative, just-in-time and transformative workforce development training program that will change the face of food production in the valley. With our partner institutions, the Director will explore and develop new alternatives for assisting both traditional and incumbent agricultural workers to compete for next generation ag careers. Students in the program will learn hands-on skills and experience how food chain systems integrate and depend on each other to supply the consumer with agricultural products in a contextualized environment, and you’ll lead the way! To learn more about this once in a lifetime leadership role, visit this news article announcing Merced College at Center of New Ag Tech Job Program!

Merced College Vision

Merced College will provide transformative and empowering educational experiences to meet student and community needs.

Merced College Mission

Growing our community through education and workforce training:

• lifelong learning
• basic skills
• career technical education
• transfer
• degree/certificate programs

Ensuring student success through equitable access, continuous quality improvement, institutional effectiveness, and student achievement.

General Description:

This is an Educational Administrator position. Under the direction of the Dean of Instruction, manages and directs the District’s operations of the Fresno-Merced Future of Food (F3) Initiative’s Agrifood Technology & Engineering Collaborative (AgTEC) program. The Fresno-Merced Future of Food (F3) Initiative’s Agrifood Technology & Engineering Collaborative (AgTEC) program seeks to collectively double the annual workforce pipeline to over 8,400 job-ready workers in four years. Ag TEC will build a region wide, industry-worker- workforce council; adopt aligned curriculum, equipment, and industry-recognized skills and competencies; and establish Ag TEC Innovation Centers throughout the region to upskill incumbent workers for current and future careers in agriculture and also provide pathway opportunities to incoming college students through an Ag systems certificate.

Representative Duties:

• Provide regional leadership, oversight, and coordination for the Fresno-Merced Future of Food (F3) Initiative’s Agrifood Technology & Engineering Collaborative (AgTEC) program
• Coordinate regional initiatives, in cooperation and collaboration with other regional directors
• Assist in the development of the AgTEC region wide, industry-worker- workforce council and industry partnerships related to the project
• Assist regional development of the adoption of aligned curriculum, equipment, and industry-recognized skills and competencies for the AgTEC Program
• Provide leadership and assist in establishing Ag TEC Innovation Centers throughout the region to serve new students and increase upskilling for incumbent workers
• Work closely with discipline faculty to oversee and manage the regional AgTEC programs
• Oversee the newly developed regional innovation centers located within their respective community college districts
• Ensure the ongoing coordination of the stated objectives and goals of AgTEC programs, services, and work plans
• Serve as an internal and external liaison for the Center’s operations, integrations with other disciplines, partnerships with research and development, and other strategic efforts to prepare students for industry expectations in the AgTEC workforce
• Develop and maintain a network of contacts within the agriculture and food technology industries to support the AgTEC training and certificate program
• Support projects related to industry partnerships, contextualization of curricula, and practical integration of hands-on experiences for students within the program;
• Develop collaboration agreements with industry partners to support the AgTEC innovations and integrations
• Work collaboratively with faculty and administrators to plan, organize, develop, and evaluate the programs, activities, and curriculum of assigned programs, and services that meet accreditation/industry standards
• Promote, communicate, and facilitate partnerships with private and public businesses, industries and community or public agencies, as appropriate
• Participate in community, state and national organizations and meetings related to area or special assignments, as needed
• Maintain current knowledge of new developments and innovations in community colleges and higher education in general and recommend changes to area programs to meet student and community need
• Prepare a variety of reports and correspondence appropriate to assignment;
• Develop the budgets and manage financial resources consistent with local, state, and federal policy and sound financial management principles
• Resolve student, faculty, and staff conflicts and issues, as needed
• Evaluate staff in accordance with proper management practices and implement articles of collective bargaining agreements
• Assist CTE faculty in the development of advisory committees, provide guidance in working with advisory committees, and attend advisory committee meetings
• Coordinate the procurement and distribution of grant funds, prepare grant applications, budgets, and reports for local, state, and federal grant supported programs
• Incorporate cultural and ethnic diversity in staffing, curriculum, programs and services
• Assure adherence of operations to federal, state, and local laws and regulations
• Serve as a member on various college committees and teams
• Participate in the planning, staffing and coordination of special campus events and/or special projects
• Support and assist in recruitment and registration outreach activities
• Review contract conditions and ensure compliance with all contract terms
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students
• Perform other duties as assigned

Knowledge of:

• Higher education in community colleges, including the mission of the California Community Colleges
• Principles and practices of leadership
• Innovative approaches in education
• Successful interpersonal skills, organizational leadership, team building, staff development, and communication techniques
• District organization, operations, policies, and objectives
• Successful oral and written communication skills
• Computer-based systems for administrative, business, and educational functions
• Principles and practices of administration, supervision and training
• The changing educational needs of the diverse student base and the agriculture community
• Emerging technologies on teaching, learning, and instructional operations
• Online/distance education learning management systems
• Methods and techniques of program development and administration
• Principles and procedures of report preparation and grant management

Ability to:

• Manage assigned areas in conjunction with an instructional program
• Develop plans and make recommendations on improvements
• Supervise, train, coordinate, and evaluate assigned staff
• Effectively communicate orally and in writing
• Give clear and concise instructions
• Interpret and apply rules and regulations
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative relationships with administrators, faculty, staff, students, vendors, contractors, and the community
• Analyze situations correctly and take effective action
• Evaluate work methods and performance
• Meet schedules and timelines
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports and develop budget estimates
• Effectively utilize computer equipment in the performance of duties
• Learn specialized computer applications
• Interpret and apply District policies and procedures
• Estimate materials and labor costs
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

Education/Training/Experience:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in any discipline AND one year of formal training, internship, or leadership experience reasonably related to the administrative assignment
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students

License or Certificate: A valid California Class “C” driver’s license. Travel to locations throughout the District may be required.

Desired:

Education/Experience

• Management experience
• Work history in the areas (Agriculture Education, Agriculture Management, Education)
• Grant experience

PHYSICAL DEMAND AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

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 individual with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment:

Work is performed primarily in an office environment with some travel to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends.

Physical Ability to:

• Hear and understand speech at normal levels
• Communicate so others will be able to clearly understand normal conversation
• Read printed matter and computer screens
• Stand or sit for prolonged periods of time
• Bend, twist, stoop, kneel, crawl, push, and pull
• Reach in all directions
• Work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard

Vision:

See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing

Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

How to Apply:

• Submit a complete application by the closing date/time on the Merced College career pages at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mccd

Required Documentation:

• Letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position (cover letter)
• Resume
• List of three professional references (no reference letters permitted)
• Legible unofficial college transcripts (undergraduate and graduate); transcripts must include the degree major and date the institution granted the degree; official copies are not required unless applicant is hired
• Diversity Statement: The Merced College District has a diverse staff and student population. As such, applicants must demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and the community at large. Please describe your leadership efforts and professional experience promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in a work setting. Please do not include any personally identifying information. Limit your response to one (1) page.

If Applicable:

• Foreign transcripts must include a U.S. evaluation and translation completed by an approved organization per the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl635.pdf (Download PDF reader)
• Equivalency Review Form (Required for applicants who do not possess the stated minimum educational qualifications and are seeking consideration on the basis of equivalency) http://www.mccd.edu/offices/hr/jobs/eqforms.html

Only the required documentation as listed above will be accepted for this recruitment. Any additional documentation will be removed from your application profile.

Interview Information: Those applicants deemed highly qualified for the position will be invited to appear for oral interviews before a screening committee. A limited number of candidates will be invited to interviews. Interviews may be scheduled via Zoom or onsite. Applicants are required to ensure access to the necessary technology to participate in a Zoom interview and will be responsible for their travel expenses, if necessary.

Employee Benefits: Health benefits for the employee and all their eligible dependents cost employee’s only $12 per month and provide access to PPO medical coverage, PPO dental coverage, VSP Vision coverage, and more! Please visit our Merced College Benefits website for more details about our incredible employee benefits. In addition, sick leave and retirement benefits are also provided.

Condition of Employment: The selected candidate must be fingerprinted and tested for tuberculosis at his/her own expense prior to the start of employment. In compliance with the Immigration Reform Act of 1986, all new employees are required to verify their identity and the right to work in the United States. Merced College does not sponsor visas. All offers of employment are subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. The applicant must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Health Benefits