Senior Advisor for Presidential Strategic Initiatives

The Senior Advisor for Presidential Strategic Initiatives serves as a strategic advisor to the President, executing a focused portfolio of the President’s highest-priority institutional initiatives. Working on behalf of the President and across organizational boundaries, the Senior Advisor translates presidential priorities and emerging ideas into well-developed initiatives and action. The position leads this work from early concept through development, implementation, evaluation, and, when appropriate, transition to a sustainable institutional home. A defining responsibility of the position is helping build new institutional capabilities and approaches that strengthen how Frederick Community College responds to a changing environment, creates value for the community it serves, and fulfills its role as both a college and a strategic asset for Frederick County. The Senior Advisor brings together people, ideas, information, expertise, and resources needed to move complex initiatives forward. The position works closely with members of the President’s Council, and with faculty, staff, students, community leaders, external experts, and other partners. The role draws upon existing College expertise and capabilities rather than duplicating them. The Senior Advisor leads primarily through credibility, collaboration, sound judgment, relationships, and authority delegated by the President rather than through routine supervisory responsibility. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: These duties are intended only as examples of the various types of job duties to be performed. The omission of the specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is a similar, related, or logical assignment to the position. The following are the functions essential to performing this job: Presidential Strategic Initiative Development Lead presidential strategic initiatives from early concept through development, implementation, evaluation, and, when appropriate, institutionalization. Translate presidential direction into clear objectives, approaches, milestones, measures of success, and plans for implementation. Research and assess relevant models, practices, and opportunities; identify important questions, assumptions, risks, and alternatives that can strengthen initiative development. Identify and mobilize the internal and external expertise, information, relationships, resources, and capabilities needed to advance the work. In consultation with the President and appropriate College leaders, assess when initiatives are ready for testing, implementation, expansion, or other next steps. Develop pathways for mature initiatives to become sustainable institutional capabilities, including transition to an appropriate long-term organizational home when warranted. Institutional Capacity Building Build understanding, participation, and shared ownership across the College so that presidential strategic initiatives become institutional work rather than remaining dependent upon the Office of the President. Connect and leverage existing work, expertise, relationships, and capabilities across the College to strengthen initiatives and avoid unnecessary duplication. Help the College develop new ways of working and new capacities needed to advance its mission and public role. Capture and apply learning from presidential initiatives to strengthen institutional practice and the College’s capacity to take on complex, emerging work. Convening, Engagement, and Partnerships Design and facilitate convenings, forums, working sessions, and other engagements that bring together diverse perspectives for learning, dialogue, exploration, and collaborative problem‑solving. Identify, cultivate, and coordinate the internal and external relationships and partnerships needed to advance presidential strategic initiatives. Engage business, industry, government, education, nonprofit, civic, philanthropic, community, and other partners, as well as external experts and organizations, as appropriate to the work. Partner with Advancement and other College leaders to identify external support opportunities and help articulate the purpose, potential impact, and resource needs of emerging presidential strategic initiatives. Through these efforts, strengthen FCC’s role as a trusted convener and strategic partner in Frederick County and ensure engagement contributes to deeper understanding and meaningful action. Cross-College Leadership and Execution Convene and lead teams across the College and coordinate internal and external partners needed to advance presidential strategic initiatives. Establish clear objectives, roles, responsibilities, timelines, decisions, and expected outcomes, and ensure appropriate follow‑through. Build alignment and shared accountability among senior leaders and other stakeholders while respecting established organizational roles and responsibilities. Identify and address barriers, risks, unresolved issues, and other challenges that could impede progress. Keep complex initiatives moving from idea to implementation, monitor progress, and recommend adjustments as circumstances, learning, or institutional priorities evolve. Presidential Advising and Communication Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the President on presidential strategic initiatives. Identify and connect relevant information, questions, opportunities, risks, relationships, and developments; explain their significance and bring forward matters requiring presidential attention or consideration. Develop concise analyses, concept papers, recommendations, briefings, and other materials that support presidential decision‑making. Develop clear messaging, presentations, reports, and other communications that help the President and other leaders explain presidential strategic initiatives to internal and external audiences. Exercise exceptional discretion and sound judgment when working with sensitive, confidential, or not‑yet‑public matters. Required Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Higher Education, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, Public Policy, Communications Community or Economic Development, Strategic Foresight or a closely related field. Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible professional or leadership experience in higher education, government, nonprofit leadership, business, consulting, community or economic development, philanthropy, or another complex organization. Demonstrated experience developing and implementing complex initiatives from concept through execution in ambiguous, fast-paced environments where solutions are not predefined. Proven ability to lead, collaborate and influence cross-functional teams and stakeholders in support of organizational goals. Experience working directly with executive leadership, including presidents, CEOs, senior executives, or executive leadership teams. Demonstrated success driving organizational, community, or enterprise-wide change initiatives. Experience establishing and advancing new programs, partnerships, ventures, platforms, or organizational capabilities. Ability to analyze research, data, trends, and emerging insights and translate findings into actionable strategies and recommendations. Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills with the ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment. Exceptional written, verbal, and executive‑level communication skills. Desired Qualifications:

1. Doctoral degree
2. Higher education experience
3. Experience in one or more of the following is desirable:

Strategic foresight or scenario-based planning Design thinking or human‑centered design Change management Applied research or thought leadership Partnership or ecosystem development Project or portfolio management 4. Professional certifications in project management, change management, facilitation, or related disciplines #J-18808-Ljbffr Frederick Community College