President

President, Saddleback College

Salary: $264,120.00 - $390,192.00 Annually

Location: Saddleback College - Mission Viejo, CA

Job Type: SC- Management (Full-Time)

Job Number:202400777

Office, Division, or School: SC - Management (Full-Time)

Opening Date: 12/16/2025

Initial Screening Date: February 6, 2026 (Open until filled)

Application Instructions:

• Complete all sections and fields on the application and attach all required documents – incomplete applications may not be considered.

• Include all relevant education, training, and/or experience on the application.

• Do not include any personally identifiable, confidential, or otherwise unrequested information that does not pertain to job related factors (e.g., social security number, date of birth, pictures, etc.) on your application or attached documents.

• For job postings with a close date, all applications received by 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) on the job posting close date, will receive consideration.

• For job postings with an initial screening date, all applications received by 11:59 PM (Pacific Time) on the job posting initial screening date, will receive priority consideration; however, typically the job posting will remain open, and continue to accept applications, until the position is filled.

Initial Screening Date: February 6, 2026

Required Documents: Resume, Cover Letter, List of Eight (8) References

References Must Include the Following:

• Two (2) Supervisors

• Two (2) Colleagues

• Two (2) Faculty Leaders

• Two (2) Direct Reports (including one (1) Classified support)

Required Supplemental Question: Respond in the text box in the online application.

Specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the position. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION

To serve as the educational leader and Chief Executive Officer of Saddleback College, one of two colleges within the South Orange County Community College District, guiding the institution with visionary, equity-centered leadership. The President ensures the delivery of inclusive, high-quality educational and support services, fosters a culture of belonging, and advances the college’s mission through strategic planning, collaborative governance, and regional partnerships.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives direction and evaluation from the Chancellor. The President is a district team member on the Chancellor’s Executive Council and on other committees and councils directed and delegated by the Chancellor.

Provides leadership and direction to the Vice President for Instruction, the Vice President for Student Services, the Vice President for College Administrative Services, other academic administrator and classified management personnel and related support staff.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

The following duties and responsibilities are typical for this position. Incumbents may not perform all the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

General

Keeps the Chancellor fully informed of significant campus developments. Prepares and submits all college-related recommendations and resolutions concerning the college and submits them to the Chancellor for final approval, subject to the Board of Trustees review as appropriate. Advises the Chancellor on personnel matters and recommends the college's organizational structure. Provides strategic leadership for instructional and student services planning, as well as overall college operations. Oversees the College’s accreditation process and fosters clear, ongoing communication with faculty, classified professional, and the management team, regarding all facets of college operations, including curriculum, instruction, budget, administrative services, institutional planning, facilities, student services, and educational planning.

Planning and Fiscal Management:

Provide leadership in the development and implementation of a sustainable master plan and integrated strategic plan grounded in institutional research, accreditation standards, and student success metrics. Ensure that planning drives budget development and resource allocation aligned with Board Policy and Administrative Regulations.

Academic Quality and Student Success:

Promote and support learning, teaching, and student success, through inclusive, culturally responsive practices. Champion efforts to close equity gaps and ensure that all students, especially those disproportionately impacted, have access to high-quality instruction and support services.

Assure optimum services to students in all areas of student life, including maintenance of student records, academic and personal counseling, recreational and sports activities, health services, student government, and other clubs and organizations, tutorial services, financial aid, and assistance programs for students with disabilities.

District Responsibilities:

Serve as a member of the Chancellor's Executive Council and participate in establishing and achieving institutional goals in accordance with the district’s strategic master plan; ensure that college short- and long-range plans for all campus functions are developed in coordination with the leadership of other district entities; assume significant responsibility to provide clear direction and leadership regarding college and district plans and goals; communicate plans and goals to the community, faculty, staff, and administrators, and assist the Chancellor to provide and communicate a plan for evaluating progress toward those goals; and, work cooperatively and collaboratively with Chancellor’s Executive Council.

Management and Administration:

Provide a participatory governance process; work closely with district and college administrators and leaders of the academic and classified senates to establish and achieve institutional goals in accordance with the district’s and college’s strategic and facilities master plan.

Provide leadership and executive direction to academic administrators and classified managers, overseeing all functions, programs, services, operations, and academic and classified personnel related to instruction, student services, and administration. Guide and evaluate the effectiveness of resources to ensure alignment with institutional goals and continuous improvement.

Motivate and mentor personnel to envision and develop new concepts, funding, approaches, and methodology in the field of community college education and related support activities.

College Advancement:

Provide visionary leadership to the college foundation, advancing fundraising efforts that reflect Saddleback's values focused on student success. Cultivate a strong alumni base and community partnerships through authentic storytelling and strategic advocacy.

Assure the timely review, analysis and evaluation of pending legislation, legal mandates, regulations, and guidelines which could affect the college’s resources, programs, functions, and activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

An earned master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, business, or public administration, or related field.

Experience:

At least five years of demonstrated and responsible senior executive administrative experience, preferably in a higher education environment, with a broad variety of instructional and student services programs, and physical, fiscal and technology resources.

At least three years of experience managing a multi-million dollar budget in higher education.

Experience in a participatory governance environment in higher education.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Teaching experience; an earned doctorate from an accredited college or university.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, AND/OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

A valid California driver's license.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Budget administration for a large, multi-faceted community college.

• Contract negotiations and employee grievances at the community college level.

• District organization, operations, and objectives.

• Interpersonal skills including tact, patience, and diplomacy.

• Local economic conditions, community leaders and service organizations.

• Local, State and federal laws, codes and regulations related to public and community college administration, including the California Education Code and the California Government Code.

ABILITY TO:

• Adhere to negotiated collective bargaining agreements as mandated for California Community Colleges.

• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.

• Assure compliance with local, state, and federal laws related to community colleges.

• Assure the development, approval and administration of a consolidated and balanced annual College budget according to legal timelines.

• Assure the preparation, maintenance, and retention of all required District reports, files, and data.

• Be fiscally responsible, resourceful and creative in ways that will generate new revenue.

• Be politically astute and communicate effectively with local, state, and federal legislators.

• Build a sense of community within the College and establish viable linkages with external communities.

• Communicate effectively with diverse constituencies within and outside the College.

• Communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing, with diverse constituencies within and outside of the District.

Employees must reside in California while employed with the SOCCCD.