Associate Vice President

Associate Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives

Southside Virginia Community College

Job Description

Established in 1970, Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) is one of 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System, with seven locations across several counties, including Brunswick, Charlotte, Nottoway, Mecklenburg, Greensville, and Halifax. SVCC serves the largest community college region in the state, covering ten counties and one city.

SVCC is located in a beautiful rural region renowned for its rolling hills, pine and hardwood forests, and farmland, and is home to two popular lakes: Gaston and Kerr. We offer a welcoming learning environment and are accredited to award associate degrees. The college offers a diverse range of programs, including developmental studies, academic, technical, and lifelong education. SVCC empowers students to build skills, knowledge, and leadership, preparing them to thrive in a changing society.

Thank you for considering employment with Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC). We are dedicated to attracting and retaining a talented workforce, which has earned us recognition as a Great College to Work For by The Chronicle of Higher Education for several consecutive years. Committed to ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students, SVCC values the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve. For more information, please visit southside.edu

Lead with Vision. Build Partnerships. Create Lasting Regional Impact

The Associate Vice President of Strategic Initiatives provides executive leadership in advancing Southside Virginia Community Colleges strategic priorities, including institutional growth, innovation, partnerships, and regional impact. The AVP leads cross-divisional initiatives that support student success, workforce alignment, external partnerships, grant development, and long-range planning, with a particular emphasis on meeting the needs of rural communities and regional employers. This position serves as a key strategist, convener, and project leader, translating vision into actionable initiatives that strengthen the Colleges academic, workforce, and economic development mission.

The following are duties of each area of responsibility:

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning and Institutional Initiatives

• Lead the development, coordination, and execution of high-priority strategic initiatives aligned with the Colleges strategic plan, VCCS priorities, and regional workforce need
• Serve as a project lead for complex, multi-year initiatives requiring coordination across academic affairs, workforce programs, student services, finance, facilities, and external partners
• Monitor progress, outcomes, and performance metrics for strategic initiatives and prepare reports for senior leadership and governing bodies

External Partnerships and Regional Engagement

• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with industry, local governments, K-12 systems, economic development organizations, workforce boards, and nonprofit partners
• Support employer-driven initiatives, customized training efforts, and regional workforce strategies that strengthen Southside Virginias economic vitality
• Represent the College in regional, state, and system-level meetings related to strategic initiatives and special projects

Grants, Funding, and Special Projects

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to identify, pursue, and manage grant-funded and special-initiative projects aligned with institutional priorities
• Support the development of proposals, budgets, implementation plans, and performance reporting for state, federal, philanthropic, and private funding sources
• Ensure funded initiatives are implemented in compliance with grant requirements and institutional policies

Innovation and Program Development

• Support the identification, development, launch, and scaling of innovative academic and workforce programs, pilots, and delivery models
• Analyze labor market data, enrollment trends, and community needs to inform new initiatives and continuous improvement
• Facilitate change management processes to support the successful adoption of new initiatives across the College

Leadership and Collaboration

• Provide leadership, guidance, and coordination for cross-functional teams, task forces, and committees
• Work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators to foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of institutional priorities

KSA's/Required Qualifications

• Masters degree required from a regionally accredited institution in higher education leadership, public administration, business administration, workforce development, or a related field
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education, economic development, workforce development, government relations, or large-scale program management
• Documented experience leading cross-functional institutional initiatives involving multiple departments or divisions
• Demonstrated success in securing external funding, including grants, appropriations, or philanthropic support
• Experience managing complex partnerships with industry, government agencies, or community organizations
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans tied to measurable outcomes. Strong experience in project management, including oversight of timelines, budgets, and deliverables
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of executive reports, board materials, and public presentations
• Experience working in environments with multiple stakeholders, including boards, elected officials, and community leaders
• Strategic thinking and project management expertise
• Ability to analyze data and translate strategy into actionable plans
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build consensus
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Demonstrated supervisory experience leading multiple functional areas
• Knowledge of accreditation standards, institutional effectiveness, and higher education governance
• Commitment to student success, equity, and the community college mission

Additional Considerations

• Doctoral degree in a related field
• Experience with and knowledge of SVCC programs, and the advantages and that come with our service area challenges
• Familiarity with Virginia Community College System (VCCS) policies and workforce initiatives
• Demonstrated success in aligning institutional initiatives with regional workforce and economic development priorities

Required Travel

Travel to SVCC campuses, centers, meetings, and training/conferences with access to a state vehicle.

Special Instructions to Applicants

This is a full-time position with state and VCCS benefits. Applicants must apply online by submitting a state application through this site. Applicants must create a user account to apply online. If you are a state employee who has been affected by Policy 1.3 Layoff and possess a valid Inter-agency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the Card BEFORE the closing date for this position. The Card may be scanned and attached to the application or faxed to View phone number on click.appcast.io. Please include your name, the position number, and the position title on the fax cover sheet. This website will provide a confirmation of receipt when the application is submitted for consideration. Please refer to your VCCS applicant portal account for the status of your application and the status of this recruitment. For more information about this position or other vacancies within our agency, please visit our website at or contact Jennifer Davis at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Link for posting:

Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other non-merit factors. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Shannon Feinman, Vice President of Finance and Administration, 109 Campus Drive, Alberta, VA 23821, View phone number on click.appcast.io.

SVCC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA and ADAAA), to provide reasonable accommodations to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

We are a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) stage agency that provides hiring preference to Veterans and members of the Virginia National Guard in support of Executive Order 29 (2010). If you are a Veteran or a Virginia National Guard Member, we urge you to respond accordingly on your state application.

The selected candidates offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation, which may include: fingerprint checks, local agency checks, employment verification, verification of education, credit checks (relevant to employment). Additionally, selected candidates may be required to complete the Commonwealths Statement of Economic Interest. For more information, please follow this link:

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, political affiliation, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other non-merit factors.

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Acts (ADA and ADAAA), to provide, reasonable accommodation to applicants in need of access to the application, interviewing, and selection processes when requested.

VCCS uses E-Verify to check employee eligibility to work in the United States. You will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of your identity for employment purposes.