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Chancellor - Job Description

THE OPPORTUNITY

North Carolina State University (NC State) is an exemplary and distinguished university respected for its exceptional quality of research, teaching, and public service.  It is the largest academic institution in the State, located in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill ‘Research Triangle,’ one of the country’s most dynamic and thriving metropolitan regions. The University is a public, land-grant institution with particular strengths in science and technology. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as one of only 31 universities nationwide with both “very high” research activity and notable community engagement.

The Chancellor is the chief administrative and executive officer, leader, and spokesperson of North Carolina State University.  The Chancellor reports to the President of the seventeen-campus University of North Carolina, and through the President to its Board of Governors, whose members are appointed by the North Carolina legislature.  The UNC system has long been held as a national model of effective state higher education.

A 13-member Board of Trustees advises the Chancellor and the UNC Board of Governors in governing the University.  Of these trustees, the Board of Governors elects eight, and four are appointed by the Governor.  The President of the Student Body of NC State also serves as a voting ex-officio member.

As stated in The UNC Code, the Chancellor has executive authority for the University, subject to the direction of the President and the Board of Trustees.  The Chancellor defines the scope of authority of faculties, councils, committees and officers of NC State, is a member of all faculties and other academic bodies of the University, and has the right to preside over the deliberations of the legislative bodies of the faculties of the institution.

The faculty is represented to the Chancellor by the Provost and through appointed and elected faculty advisory bodies, including the Faculty Senate and an elected Chair of the Faculty.  The professional and support staff are represented through the Staff Senate.

The Chancellor makes recommendations to the NC State Board of Trustees regarding the appointment, promotion and compensation of all top-tier academic and administrative officers and all tenured and tenure-track faculty positions.

Erskine Bowles, President of the University of North Carolina, has stated publicly his qualifications for the new Chancellor:

• A leader who won’t accept second best for NC State, someone who has vision to recognize the untapped potential of NC State and then the skills to drive us there.

• A leader this entire university community can support and get behind—students, faculty, alumni, staff, other leaders through North Carolina.  

• A chancellor who has passion, real passion for NC State, someone who cares, and cares deeply about this university and has the ability to articulate that passion in a contagious manner to the community.  

• Someone with experience, someone who knows first-hand how to manage and lead a really complex organization like NC State.

• Someone who is a strong administrator---someone who will instill best practices throughout every facet of NC State’s operation.

• Someone who is driven, who will push NC State upward and forward.

• A proven fundraiser – we need capital for that margin of excellence.

• Someone who understands the mission of a land grant university; someone who will support our focus on engineering, agriculture, textiles, design and humanities; someone who gets what a land grant university is and its critical importance to the economic future of the entire state.

• Someone who has strong people skills, who can relate to people in all walks of life because those are citizens of North Carolina.  

• Someone who understands that while NC State is our flagship, you can’t have a flagship without a fleet.

• Someone who will be a good partner in the UNC system with an appreciation for the greater university and for NC State’s important role in that university system, and someone who will want to work with our sister universities.  

• A community activist, someone who will work with our community leaders and our political leaders in economic and social development and realize the importance of NC State’s role and responsibility in that area.

• Someone who appreciates intercollegiate athletics and its important place, historical place at NC State.  

Currently reporting directly to the Chancellor are the following officers and Chancellor’s Office staff:

• Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor

• Vice Chancellor for Extension, Engagement and Economic Development

• Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business

• Vice Chancellor for Information Technology

• Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies

• Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

• Vice Chancellor for University Advancement

• Vice Chancellor and General Counsel

• Assistant to the Chancellor and Secretary of the University

• Assistant to the Chancellor for External Affairs

• Director of Athletics

• Director, Internal Audit

• Director, Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science

• Director, Park Scholarships Program

• Director, University Planning and Analysis

• Executive Director of Agricultural Programs

THE INSTITUTION

Mission Statement
The mission of NC State is to serve its students and the people of North Carolina as a doctoral/research-extensive, land-grant university.  Through the active integration of teaching, research, extension, and engagement, NC State creates an innovative learning environment that stresses mastery of fundamentals, intellectual discipline, creativity, problem solving, and responsibility.  Enhancing its historic strengths in agriculture, science, and engineering with a commitment to excellence in a comprehensive range of academic disciplines, NC State provides leadership for intellectual, cultural, social, economic, and technological development within the state, the nation, and the world.

An Overview
A nationally recognized leader in science, technology, and research with historic strengths in agriculture and engineering, NC State is a comprehensive university that provides a high-quality education in agriculture and life sciences, design, education, engineering, humanities and social sciences, management, natural resources, physical and mathematical sciences, textiles and veterinary medicine. Bachelor’s degrees are offered in 115 fields, master’s degrees in 169 fields and doctoral degrees in 62 fields, as well as the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.  NC State students are prepared for today’s careers and those of the future, working in emerging fields such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, genomics and proteomics, biomedical engineering, and computer science. Over the past five years, NC State students have been awarded more than 100 national scholarships, fellowships and grants.  NC State has 33,879 students (23,042 undergraduate, 7,326 graduate, 317 veterinary medicine, 2,844 non-degree seeking, and 350 two-year Agricultural Institute students) from 49 states and 111 foreign countries.

The University has more than 8,200 employees, including approximately 2,100 full- and part-time faculty as well as extension field faculty. Currently, NC State faculty include nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, eight members of the National Academy of Engineering, one member of the Institute of Medicine and numerous Fellows in a large number of professional associations.

NC State’s current annual budget is $1.1 billion, and the endowment is approximately $464 million.

Centennial Campus, NC State’s award-winning research and education park, houses more than 70 University entities including academic departments, research centers, institutes, and laboratories, as well as more than 60 corporate and government organizations that work in partnership with the University.  Working in an advanced technology community, university, industry and government partners produce scientific and technical innovations.  More than 2,100 corporate and government employees work alongside 1,000-plus faculty, staff, post-docs, and students. Major partners located at Centennial Campus include Red Hat, the Iams Company, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, GlaxoSmithKline and MeadWestVaco.  These multi-disciplinary research and development neighborhoods let students work with faculty and leaders in their chosen field of study.  Hands-on research and academic programs offer real-world experience through internships, corporate shadowing programs, and cooperative education assignments.  A magnet middle school, residential housing, planned conference center and hotel, Arnold Palmer signature golf course, town center and recreational amenities weave the 1,334-acre campus into a true community.

NC State is ranked 9th in technology strength of patents, 4th among public universities without medical schools in industry-funded research, 12th among national research universities in non-federally funded research, and has received more than 650 patents for beneficial technologies developed by our world-class faculty.  More than 70 companies have spun out of NC State since 1980, and those companies now employ almost 2,000 people in fields like textiles, pharmaceuticals, software, and environmental engineering.

Through a statewide extension network and partnerships (Cooperative Extension Service, Industrial Extension Service, Small Business & Technology Development Center) that foster economic development, NC State has shown its commitment to North Carolina’s citizens.  NC State’s extension network reaches each of North Carolina’s 100 counties and the Cherokee Reservation, working all across the state to achieve everything from better air quality to improved wood products.

Focus Areas
As the world continues to change at a rapid pace, NC State is helping to shape the future by focusing on the issues that face our global society:

• Preparing leaders for the state, nation, and world
  Through leadership and service initiatives, undergraduate research, partnerships with government and industry, and unique classroom experiences, NC State produces leaders today who are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

• Creating educational innovation
  A sufficient number of well-qualified K-12 teachers, particularly in math, science and technology, is critical to North Carolina’s future.  In partnership with schools, communities and other colleges and universities, NC State will continue to expand its teaching capacity, research programs and outreach activities to support excellence in K-12 teaching statewide.

• Improving health and well-being
  NC State’s contribution to health and well-being spans many disciplines and scientific frontiers, from social work and biomedical engineering, to antiviral fabrics and stem cell research.

• Fueling economic development
  Business and community leaders across the state and nation are adjusting to significant changes in population and economy.  From the creation of new ideas, technologies and companies to the advancement of existing businesses, NC State will engage these constituencies as partners in developing well-defined strategies for sustainable economic growth.

• Driving innovation in energy and the environment
  Energy is the world’s biggest industry. Balancing North Carolina’s energy security in the 21st century with economic growth and environmental sustainability will require technological breakthroughs in multiple areas, closely coupled with realistic economic analyses and acceptable social policy changes.

THE COMMUNITY

By any measure of competitive success, the city of Raleigh and the Research Triangle region of North Carolina are consistently ranked among the best places in the world to live, work, and do business, voted the #1 city for education (Forbes); the #1 place to live and work (Employment Review); the #1 region for biotechnology (Milken Institute), the #1 boomtown in America (Business 2.0), the # 1 high-tech region (Silicon Valley Leadership Group), the #4 strongest economy (Policom), the #5 Leading Life Sciences Clusters in the U.S. (Raleigh-Durham, NC) (Milken Institute), #1 City with Best Economic Potential (fDi Magazine), #1 City Where Americans Are Relocating (Forbes), #1 Best Place for Business and Careers (Forbes), and #1 Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Area in the Country (Raleigh-Cary) (US Census).

Education is highly valued.  More than 47.6 percent of the population in the area holds at least a bachelor's degree. One in nine holds graduate, professional, or Ph.D. degrees.  

A collaborative, supportive climate for business; vibrant clusters of innovation; world-renowned research universities (including Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill within a 30 mile radius of NC State) and a highly skilled workforce are a few of the many reasons people and businesses choose the Research Triangle region.  

Raleigh is the second-largest city in North Carolina and boasts a population of more than 380,000 residents.  Approximately 867,000 people live in Wake County, and more than 1 million people populate the municipalities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, which make up the Triangle region.  The population is expected to increase by one million by 2025.

The region is home to the Research Triangle Park, which is the largest planned research and development park in the United States.  The 7,000-acre site supports approximately 145 government and business organizations conducting cutting-edge research in a wide variety of fields. Many cooperative research ventures take place between these companies and faculty members at NC State.

Located in the central Piedmont region of North Carolina, Raleigh is situated midway between the Great Smoky Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.  A trip to the mountains takes about three hours, and great beaches are less than two hours away. The region is bolstered by a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. The annual temperature in Raleigh averages a high of  70 degrees and an average low of 50.  Summer temperatures typically range from the mid-60s to the mid-80s, and winter temperatures range from the low-30s to the mid-50s.

The mild climate makes outdoor recreation a year-round option in the city’s 5,670 acres of parkland. Many of Raleigh’s 200 major parks are connected by the city’s 41-mile greenway system, which provides walking, jogging, hiking and biking trails.  In addition to NC State’s 23 NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic teams, Raleigh is home to the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League.  Two of minor league baseball’s most recognizable teams, the Carolina Mudcats, a double-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins, and the Durham Bulls, a triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, also call the region home.

Raleigh has a diverse art scene, featuring Broadway shows, the N.C. Symphony, the Opera Company of North Carolina and the Carolina Ballet.  Raleigh is also home to three major state museums of art, history and natural science, all of which are free to the general public.  Marbles, an interactive children’s museum, is also located in downtown Raleigh and features several exhibit halls, a charter middle school, and an IMAX Theatre.

Raleigh offers a unique combination of city life with college-town charm.  A total of seven colleges and universities are located within Wake County.  In addition to NC State, Raleigh is home to four other institutions of higher learning: Meredith College, Peace College, St. Augustine’s College, and Shaw University.  North Carolina Central University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Duke University are located within a 30-minute drive of NC State.

THE ROLE OF THE POSITION

As the senior administrative officer of North Carolina State University, the Chancellor works in close consultation with the President of the University of North Carolina, and through the President, with the Board of Governors.  The Chancellor also works closely with the NC State Board of Trustees and with a wide range of internal and external constituencies to build upon the existing strengths of the University and to provide the personal and professional leadership to chart its future course.  The Chancellor is expected to nurture both the human and financial resources of the University and to advance its standing within the national and international community of higher education and research interests.

More specifically, the Chancellor is expected to:

• Formulate and articulate a vision for the University as reflected in long-range strategic plans, in consultation with the University communities, for review and approval by the Board of Trustees, President and Board of Governors, and ensure that these plans will maintain and advance NC State’s national and international reputation and keep NC State at the forefront of public research universities;

• Oversee the effective management of administrative, student, business, legal, and financial affairs; and lead the advancement functions of the University;

• Provide leadership for, and serve as a role model of, the University’s commitment to diversity;

• Strengthen partnerships with University alumni to encourage their continued involvement in all aspects in the teaching, research and service mission;

• Oversee the management and development of University real estate, including the Centennial and Biomedical campuses and remote facilities.  Ensure steady progress on University construction initiatives, including renovation and repair, and appropriate management and usage of real estate holdings;

• Regularly act as the principal public spokesperson for the University, reflecting and enhancing its standing within Triangle, the State of North Carolina, the United States, and the world;

• Take an active leadership role in fundraising efforts to expand the University’s resource base, including research grants and contracts, operating funds, and additions to endowments;

• Serve as the University’s mediator to reach consensus on major policy issues among competing or conflicting constituency groups;

• Prepare and implement an annual financial plan for the University;

• Lead the University communities in the development of shared values and a clear sense of shared mission;

• Maintain responsibility for and ensure the integrity of the athletics enterprise, as required by the NCAA and the Atlantic Coast Conference, including appropriate academic progress of student-athletes, and the sound investment in and maintenance of athletics facilities;

• Demonstrate a high level of commitment in supporting all aspects of University life and motivate others to do the same;

• Maintain a close working relationship with the Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors;

• Keep the President of the University of North Carolina and NC State Board of Trustees closely advised of developments within the University, formulate plans and policies for Board consideration and approval, and implement the resulting Board policies; and

• Meet frequently with students and faculty in order to better understand their concerns.

QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

Leading candidates for the Chancellorship of North Carolina State University will have unquestioned integrity and credibility, with a distinguished record of professional accomplishment, and will have extremely high aspirations for the University.  The preferred qualifications for the position include significant and successful academic, research,  administrative, and institutional advancement experience; a terminal degree; and a demonstrated appreciation of the objectives of a comprehensive public research university that is dedicated to a balance of teaching, research and extension and service.  Leading candidates will have demonstrated qualities of intellectual depth, wisdom, and enthusiasm for the mission of the institution and will be skilled at fully and accurately communicating the vision, needs, and achievements of the University to a wide range of internal and external constituencies.

Additionally, successful experiences of the Chancellor may include:

• Having served as a tenured faculty member and academic leader at a multi-disciplinary, research university

• Legislative relations

• Public relations

• Fundraising

• Intercollegiate athletic issues

• Business and industry relations

• Academic governance and process issues

• International relations

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

In addition to the broad intellectual perspective and strong administrative abilities that are required for effective leadership and management, the Chancellor of North Carolina State University must be:

• Able to formulate and communicate a clear academic and organizational vision for the future of both the University and its diverse units;

• An imaginative, innovative, and persuasive leader in the pursuit of that vision;

• Open, visible, accessible, trusting of (and responsive to) the ideas of others;

• Able to motivate others, to delegate authority to, and to rely on the ability of others;

• An effective negotiator and consensus builder in the context of academic and local communities;

• Willing and able to make difficult decisions and hold individuals accountable for their performance;

• Comfortable in relating to business and industry, and to local, state, and federal elected officers;

• Comfortable in a quantitative and technical community;

• Sensitive to diversity issues;

• Able to evaluate and judge character and ability;

• Willing to take measured risks in order to pursue excellence;

• Sensible, fair, compassionate and objective in decision making;

• Active, energetic and well organized, with an appreciation of the culture and history of major research universities;

• Able to demonstrate the highest degree of personal integrity;

• Able to pull together diverse and independent constituencies into a cohesive, integrated working unit;

• Respectful of the history of the University; and

• Able to implement its vision of a future of excellence in research, teaching, extension, service, and leadership preparation.

PROCEDURE FOR CANDIDACY

Applications should include a cover letter that addresses the above criteria and a full CV and should be directed to the University’s executive recruitment consultant:

Jerry H. Baker, President
Baker and Associates LLC
10 Glenlake Parkway - South Tower - Suite 140
Atlanta, GA  30328
jbaker@baasearch.com
770-395-2761

NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability. In addition, NC State welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation.