The successful candidate must be a person of high energy and integrity; must have at least five years of senior-level management experience, preferably at a community college; and must hold an earned doctorate from an accredited institution.

In addition, the President of Durham Technical Community College should have the following characteristics and leadership qualities:

• Demonstrates visionary leadership focused on ensuring academic excellence, preparing an employable workforce, furthering student success, and creating a learning-centered environment;
• Possesses excellent communication skills, including verbal and written, with the ability to interact directly and positively with faculty, staff, students, Board of Trustee and Foundation Board of Director members, and external constituencies;
• Is approachable by students and employees and possesses strong interpersonal skills with the ability to relate with others at all levels and all backgrounds in ways that exhibit appreciation and respect, build consensus, and create cohesive teams;
• Understands and is committed to working collaboratively with all parts of the college and service area of Durham and Orange counties and the Triangle region of North Carolina to forward the “open-door” mission of the college and serve area adult residents and employers;
• Understands the important roles various levels of local, state, and national governments play in supporting the community college and possesses the skills important to serve as an effective advocate for the college with public servants and elected officials;
• Possesses the ability and commitment to proactively develop and maintain strong partnerships in education, in economic development, in the arts, and in the agencies and action groups of the diverse communities served;
• Understands and appreciates the college’s role in the educational continuum and supports the Middle College High School located on the main campus;
• Is familiar with the history of Durham Technical Community College and appreciates the college’s commitment to technical and occupational skills training and workforce preparation; university transfer programs; adult basic skills instruction; and noncredit courses for skills development, training for business and industry, and special interest;
• Supports and champions basic skills education as well as developmental studies instruction to provide a firm foundation and prepare students for furthering their education at the college level;
• Understands the need for global education as well as appreciates the college’s unique and diverse student body, with students from approximately 100 countries enrolled in credit courses and no majority student population;
• Is familiar with how socioeconomic circumstances can affect students and understands the challenges of special needs students, those who are the first in their family to attend college, and those who are nontraditional students, including displaced homemakers, single parents, and senior citizens;
• Demonstrates the ability to plan long range and strategically, including determining institutional priorities, developing and managing budgets to meet goals and objectives, making key decisions to ensure continued accreditation and success as a state-supported community college; and planning facilities to provide a learning-centered environment, construction and renovation of efficient buildings, energy conservation, and continuous preventative maintenance;
• Exemplifies a commitment to personally practicing, valuing, and supporting lifelong learning and professional development;
• Possesses the ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with Foundation Directors in raising financial resources from private and non-traditional sources for supporting teaching and learning as well as student success;
• Understands the need and is willing to be highly active and visible both on the college campus, in the educational community, in the business and industry environment, and throughout the college’s service area;
• Recognizes human resources as critically important to the college’s and students’ success and ensures that a process is in place for recruiting, selecting, developing, and retaining a well-qualified and diverse faculty and staff;
• Supports and forwards cooperation and interaction within and between programs, departments, and divisions of the college;
• Understands the important role technology plays in society and education and demonstrates commitment to providing leadership as well as financial resources in technology’s use to support teaching and learning and college functions; and
• Values data and research as well as supports and forwards their use in the college’s planning and decision-making processes.