SuperintendentPresident

Lead Napa Valley College at a Transformative Moment

Napa Valley College invites exceptional leaders to apply for the position of Superintendent/Presidentan opportunity to guide a respected institution with deep community roots and a bold vision for the future.

About Napa Valley College

Established in 1942 Napa Valley College (NVC) is one of Californias 116 public community colleges and a proud member of the California Community College system. As an open-access accredited degree- and certificate-granting institution NVC prepares students for meaningful lives and careers in a diverse dynamic and interconnected world.

The College offers a comprehensive range of academic and workforce programs including transfer education career technical education basic skills noncredit instruction contract education and lifelong learning opportunities. Across all areas Napa Valley College is deeply committed to continuous improvement academic excellence and student achievement.

Equity and inclusion are foundational to NVCs mission. The College serves a richly diverse student population and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution with Latin students comprising more than 45 percent of support of this commitment NVC was recently awarded a five-year $5 million HSI-STEM grant expanding access and success in high-demand STEM fields.

NVC offers robust academic and student support services including TRIO Educational Talent Search MESA/STEM Puente Umoja learning communities comprehensive tutoring and vibrant math and writing success centersensuring students are supported from entry through completion.

Programs that Reflect Place and Purpose

Napa Valley College is nationally recognized for career education programs aligned with regional and statewide workforce needs. Signature programs include Viticulture and Winery Technology Hospitality Culinary and Tourism Management Nursing Respiratory Care Criminal Justice Child and Family Studies Human Services and Businessreflecting both Napa Valleys global identity and its evolving economy.

The College received a $10 million gift from the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation supporting the expansion of Viticulture Wine and Technology instructional facilities and reinforcing NVCs leadership role in this globally significant industry.

A Community-Supported Institution

As a Basic Aid district Napa Valley College benefits from strong community support and engagement. The College plays a central role in advancing regional economic vitality workforce development civic life and cultural enrichment through partnerships innovation and service.

Campus and Community

Located approximately 50 miles northeast of San Francisco Napa Valley College serves Napa County and portions of neighboring counties from multiple locations:

• A 161-acre main campus just south of downtown Napa featuring a five-acre working vineyard
• The Upper Valley Campus in St. Helena serving Calistoga and northern Napa Valley communities
• An instructional site at American Canyon High School supporting dual enrollment and community education

NVC also embarked on a major student success initiative with the development of River Trail Village an on-campus student housing project designed to serve veterans single parents international students families and other students. River Trail Village opened in August 2024 to strengthen enrollment retention and the overall student experience.

The Opportunity

The Governing Board of the Napa Valley Community College District seeks a collaborative visionary leader to serve as Superintendent/President following the resignation of Dr. Torence Powell who is leaving to assume the position of Chancellor for the Los Rios Community College District.

The Superintendent/President serves as the chief executive officer and primary spokesperson for the district reporting to a seven-member elected Board of Trustees and a student trustee. The Board is seeking a leader who will maintain a strong campus and community presence foster trust and shared governance and guide the College through its next chapter with integrity clarity and purpose.

Napa Valley College is committed to attracting and retaining leaders who reflect the diversity of its students and communities. The successful candidate will bring a clear-eyed understanding of the challenges facing community colleges todayand the optimism creativity and partnership mindset needed to build on NVCs many strengths.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a college where place purpose and possibility intersectand to make a lasting impact on students the region and the future of higher education.

Superintendent/President Duties and Responsibilities

1. Visionary and External Leadership

• Articulates and advances a compelling vision for Napa Valley College locally regionally and statewide
• Serves as a visible trusted ambassador who strengthens the Colleges reputation and community relationships
• Builds and sustains partnerships with K12 universities business industry civic leaders and government entities
• Advances regional economic development workforce alignment and philanthropic support through the College Foundation.
• Is entrepreneurial and effective in meaningful community engagement that leads to partnership commitments and enhanced resources for the institution.

2. Collaborative Governance and Organizational Leadership

• Leads effectively in partnership with an elected Board of Trustees
• Demonstrates a deep commitment to participatory governance collegial consultation and shared decision-making
• Fosters a culture of trust transparency accountability and respectful dialogue
• Communicates clearly and consistently; listens actively and values diverse perspectives
• Leads courageous conversations and manages change with integrity fairness and innovation

3. Diversity Equity Inclusion and Social Justice

• Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to equity diversity inclusion and anti-racist practices
• Leads institution-wide efforts to embed equity and race-conscious decision-making across policies and practices
• Ensures inclusive campus climate equitable hiring and retention and accountability for progress
• Respects and affirms the full diversity of identities experiences and perspectives within the College community

4. Student-Centered Learning and Academic Excellence

• Champions student success access equity and completion for all students
• Leads implementation of Guided Pathways AB 705 Vision for Success and other statewide initiatives
• Balances transfer career education basic skills noncredit and community education priorities
• Supports innovation in pedagogy technology-enhanced learning and equitable virtual instruction and services
• Maintains high academic standards and accreditation compliance

5. Strategic Management Finance and Operations

• Provides strategic leadership in planning resource allocation and fiscal stewardship
• Navigates budget uncertainty and evolving funding models with creativity and accountability
• Oversees facilities planning maintenance modernization and sustainability initiatives
• Ensures compliance with accreditation regulatory and reporting requirements
• Demonstrates commitment to employee well-being professional development and institutional sustainability

Leadership Traits and Characteristics

The Ideal Candidate

1. Integrity Character and Trustworthiness

• Demonstrates unquestioned personal and professional integrity fairness and ethical conduct
• Inspires trust and confidence through consistency reliability and follow-through

2. Interpersonal Effectiveness and Presence

• Is visible accessible and genuinely engaged across the campus and community
• Interacts positively and respectfully with students faculty staff administrators and trustees
• Engenders respect and confidence through authentic engagement and personal credibility

3. Judgment Decision-Making and Political Acumen

• Exercises sound judgment including the ability to assess political and organizational dynamics
• Makes timely decisions including difficult ones while tolerating ambiguity when necessary
• Uses data thoughtfully while balancing human cultural and contextual factors

4. Resilience and Courage

• Demonstrates resilience perseverance and courage in addressing conflict resistance and complex challenges
• Is willing to engage in difficult conversations and stay the course through adversity

5. Team Building and Motivation

• Builds strong effective teams and empowers others to perform at their highest level
• Motivates and inspires individuals and groups through clarity of purpose and example

6. Flexibility and Emotional Intelligence

• Exhibits patience flexibility empathy and self-awareness
• Brings divergent perspectives together with emotional intelligence and respect

7. Personal Commitment to the Institution

• Demonstrates genuine enthusiasm for the mission and work of Napa Valley College
• Models commitment energy and professionalism as a visible example to others

Job Qualifications Education & Experience

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters degree from an accredited institution or equivalent.
• 3 years of successful higher education senior level experience
• Experience working in a diverse academic and socioeconomic educational environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity-focused leadership responsiveness and sensitivity to every aspect of human diversity and active promotion of an inclusive educational and working environment.
• A proven track record of successful senior management experience including sound business practices and a strong demonstrated experience in fiscal management complex budget development (including position control performance-based and zero-based budgeting) and financial resource development.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and student success.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• An earned doctorate or other terminal degree from an accredited institution.
• Five or more years demonstrated experience as a successful higher education senior administrator.
• Postsecondary teaching experience preferably in community colleges.
• Experience in collegial consultation governance and demonstrated collective bargaining experience within a college environment.
• Experience in economic development.
• A strong background in instruction student services and/or business services

COMPENSATION:

The salary benefits length of contract and other terms and conditions of employment are negotiable but will be competitive. The desired start date for the new superintendent/president is tentatively set for June 1 2026. The exact date is subject to mutual agreement between the Board of Trustees and the successful candidate.

Title 8 USC Section 1324-A requires verification of eligibility for employment in the United States.

1. Applicants must complete the online application through . All elements of the application including supplemental questions must be submitted in order for the application to be considered complete.
2. Internal applicants are still required to submit a complete application packet for this position. This includes submission of transcripts and all other required application materials.

Applicants must attach the following to complete the application process:

1. A letter of interest not to exceed three pages that addresses:

a. How your skills and experience have prepared you for the duties and responsibilities of the position as outlined in this Position Announcement; and

b. How you meet the minimum and desirable qualifications for the position.

1. Current comprehensive resume and reference list.
2. Legible copies of transcripts verifying college work degrees and conferral dates.

1. Foreign Transcripts: Napa Valley College requires that individuals who have completed college or university course work at an institution in a country other than the United States must obtain a complete evaluation of foreign transcripts degrees and other relevant documents. A foreign transcript evaluation is required any time foreign course work is used to meet minimum qualifications and/or salary placement even if the foreign transcript has previously been accepted by a different college or university in the United States. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by one of the organizations approved by the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Please click here for a list of approved organizations.

CONTACT US:

Community College Search Services (CCSS) is pleased to have been selected to assist the College in this important search and selection process. Any questions or confidential inquiries you or others might have about the Napa Valley Community College District or the Napa Valley College Superintendent/President position may be directed to CCSS Search Consultant Stan A. Carrizosa Sr. at .

For questions regarding the online application portal and related software functions please contact Noreen Obiacoroat .