Vice President Academic Affairs

Job ID:

1001967

Academic Leadership Salary Range:

$131,091.67 - $158,948.65

Pay Grade:

125

FLSA Status:

Exempt Salary Admin Plan:

A&P (annual contract)

Veterans' Preference Eligible:

No

ABOUT ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE

As Florida's first state college and one of the nation's most innovative comprehensive colleges, St. Petersburg College serves more than 35,000 students annually across multiple campuses, centers, and online learning environments. For nearly 100 years, SPC has expanded educational access, strengthened workforce development, and transformed lives through high-quality academic programs, career pathways, and community partnerships.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting directly to the President, the Vice President of Academic Affairs serves as St. Petersburg College's Chief Academic Officer and provides strategic leadership for the College's academic enterprise, including all instructional programs, faculty, academic support services, and related student outcomes. This leader will champion excellence across the Colleges academic portfolio, including liberal arts and sciences, transfer pathways, career and technical education, workforce credentials, and bachelor's degree programs. The Vice President will strengthen SPC's longstanding commitment to preparing students for successful transfer, meaningful careers, lifelong learning, and civic engagement. This leader will also help SPC navigate emerging issues in higher education, including artificial intelligence, workforce readiness, enrollment trends, and changing student demographics, while advancing opportunities in high-demand fields that drive regional prosperity and economic mobility. The Vice President is also responsible for: Advancing academic excellence, supporting faculty and student success, driving curriculum innovation, ensuring institutional effectiveness and accreditation, and overseeing academic Establishing clear performance expectations, measurable outcomes, and accountability for academic quality, student success, and program effectiveness across the College. Cultivating a culture of excellence, collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement by empowering faculty, provosts, deans, and academic administrators and aligning disciplines, campuses, and instructional delivery methods. A successful candidate will be a credible, forward-looking leader who can unite people around a clear academic vision and translate strategy into measurable results. This individual will foster confidence across the College by listening well, making sound decisions, and following through with consistency and integrity. The Vice President will help position SPC for its next era of impact by strengthening academic quality, expanding opportunity, and aligning programs and partnerships to meet the changing needs of students, employers, and the region.

LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES

The Vice President of Academic Affairs will provide strategic, institution-wide leadership for SPC's academic enterprise by strengthening academic quality, organizational alignment, and student success outcomes. This leader will unify and develop academic leadership across the College, foster a culture of trust and shared governance, and ensure that programs, pathways, and partnerships remain innovative, workforce-responsive, and aligned with regional and student needs. As a key member of the Presidents leadership team, the Vice President will help position SPC for its next era of impact through strong internal leadership and meaningful external engagement. Lead the academic enterprise with strategic clarity Provide strategic leadership for the College's academic enterprise, including academic programs, faculty affairs, curriculum, assessment, accreditation, and academic operations, with an understanding of the distinct opportunities and demands of transfer education, career and technical education, workforce development, and programmatic accreditation. Advance a culture of teaching excellence, academic rigor, innovation, and continuous improvement that strengthens faculty engagement, leadership effectiveness, and student success. Strengthen shared governance through authentic engagement with academic administrators, faculty, and college committees, and build leadership capacity across Academic Affairs through professional development, mentorship, and thoughtful succession planning. Build an aligned and high-performing leadership team Align and clarify roles decision rights, and accountability structures that strengthen coordination, clarify expectations, and support effective execution across SPC's complex, multi-campus environment. Build a cohesive Academic Affairs division grounded in collaboration, trust, accountability, and continuous improvement. Eliminate barriers that create duplication, fragmentation, or uneven student experiences, and empower academic leaders to make informed, timely decisions aligned with institutional priorities. Cultivate and mentor the next generation of academic leaders while strengthening the capacity of deans and other academic administrators to lead faculty, advance program quality, and drive student success. Advance student success Advance student success through innovative, workforce-responsive programs and transfer pathways that improve outcomes, expand economic mobility, and prepare learners for lifelong success in a changing global economy. This includes strengthening advanced learning opportunities such as the Honors College, Dual Enrollment, and Collegiate High Schools as part of SPC's broader commitment to student success and academic excellence. Position the college as a workforce and community partner Strengthen partnerships with employers, community organizations, and transfer institutions to expand opportunities, increase program relevance, and support student outcomes. Align academic programs and pathways with labor market demand and regional priorities through partnerships, innovation, and data-informed decision-making. Shape culture through trust, communication, and partnership Serve as a visible, accessible, and engaged leader throughout the College. Communicate frequently, clearly, and transparently with faculty, staff, and academic leaders. Build a culture of trust, collaboration, accountability, and mutual respect while fostering strong relationships with faculty, staff, and leaders across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Institutional Effectiveness, Workforce Development, and the broader College community. Lead with humility, authenticity, responsiveness, and a commitment to listening, learning, and empowering others. Provide strategic and external leadership that advances SPC's institutional influence and long-term strategic position Serve as a key advisor to the President on academic strategy, policy, innovation, and emerging trends affecting higher education and workforce development. Represent the College with credibility and vision across local, state, and national settings, and cultivate strong relationships with employers, community partners, policymakers, and other external stakeholders that expand opportunity, strengthen academic relevance, and enhance SPC's visibility, reputation, and impact.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE

The ideal candidate will bring: A deep commitment to student success and SPC's mission. A strong commitment to faculty engagement and shared governance Demonstrated success developing and supporting academic leaders. Skill in leading organizational change and building high-performing teams Transparency, authenticity, accountability, and sound judgment. Exceptional communication marked by clarity, direction, and follow-through. An innovative, future-focused mindset and a demonstrated ability to lead transformation. Experience aligning academic programs with workforce needs and enrollment demand. Knowledge of accreditation, policy, and higher education governance. A commitment to academic quality and strong student employment outcomes. Community and civic engagement, along with a willingness to serve as an ambassador for the College.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS N/A. MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Doctorate in a field related to assigned area; ten (10) years of related work experience in higher education, including five (5) years with top-level administrative experience in academic affairs; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

KEY PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

Earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution. Progressive senior academic leadership experience in higher education, service at the dean level or above and full-time faculty teaching experience preferred. Demonstrated success leading academic transformation, organizational change, and strategic initiatives.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Leadership principles; Comprehensive understanding of all modes of teaching and learning- traditional, online, and blended; Advanced principles and practices in assigned area of responsibility; Program development and administration principles and practices at a College-wide level; Higher education institutional operations, structures, policies, and practices; Strategic planning principles; Budgeting principles; Public relations principles; Community agencies and resources; Financial management principles; Research methods; Applicable federal, state, and local laws, and regulations; Policy and procedure development and implementation practices; and Applications of technology to academic situations.

Skills in:

Managing multiple initiatives; Directing, monitoring, and evaluating collegiate policies and procedures; Planning, coordinating, and implementing College-wide components and activities; Developing, managing, and administering budgets; Analyzing academic and administrative projects, programs, and processes for areas of improvement; Preparing and analyzing a variety of reports; Making program decisions based on financial considerations; Evaluating statistical data; Mediating conflicts; Collaborating with internal departments and external agencies; Operating a computer and related software applications; Utilizing social media tools to engage students and community stakeholders; and Modeling effective communication and using interpersonal skills when interacting with direct reports, coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. enough to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.

Ability to:

Interpret and apply applicable laws, and regulations; Successfully navigate organizational culture and implement change where needed; Implement public relations initiatives; Prioritize and assign work; Adapt to rapidly changing environments; and Develop long-term strategic and tactical plans.

CERTIFICATION, LICENSE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS N/A. PHYSICAL DEMANDS PHYSICAL DEMANDS

This work typically requires the following physical activities to be performed. A complete description of the activities below is available upon request from Human Resources. (X = Required to perform essential job functions) Physical Activities Physical Activities Balancing maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching. Pushing use upper extremities to press against objects with force, or thrust forward, downward, outward. X Climbing ascending, descending ladders, stairs, ramps, requires body agility. Reaching extending hands or arms in any direction. X Crawling moving about on hands, knees, or hands, feet. Repetitive Motion substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers. Crouching bending body forward by bending leg, spine. Speaking expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely. X Feeling perceiving attributes of objects by touch with skin, fingertips. Standing for sustained periods of time. X Fingering picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand. X Stooping bending body downward, forward at waist, with full motion of lower extremities and back. Grasping applying pressure to object with fingers, palm. Talking 1 expressing ideas by spoken word. X Handling picking, holding, or working with whole hand. X Talking 2 shouting to be heard above ambient noise. Hearing 1 perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information. X Visual Acuity 1 prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading. Hearing 2 receive detailed information, make discrimination in sound. Visual Acuity 2 color, depth perception, field of vision. Kneeling bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees. Visual Acuity 3 determine accuracy, neatness, observe facilities/structures. Lifting raising objects from lower to higher position, moving objects side to side, using upper extremities, back. X Visual Acuity 4 operate motor vehicles/heavy equipment. X Mental Acuity ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning. X Visual Acuity 5 close acuity for inspection of small defects, machines, use measurement devices, or fabricate parts. X Pulling use upper extremities to exert force, haul or tug. X Walking on foot to accomplish tasks, long distances, or site to site.

X TYPE OF WORK

Work performed is primarily:

Sedentarywork :

Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Light work : Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects. Medium work : Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Heavy work : Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Very heavy work : Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects

WORK ENVIRONMENT

May be required to work hours other than the regular schedule including nights and weekends. This position requires regular and reliable attendance and the employee's physical presence at the workplace. May be subjected to fumes, odors, dusts, gases, extreme temperatures, work space restrictions, and intense noise. Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described herein. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in a job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in a job description. St. Petersburg College has the right to revise a classification or job description at any time. St. Petersburg College has the right to revise a classification or job description at any time. The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College affirms its equal opportunity policy in accordance with the provisions of the Florida Educational Equity Act and all other relevant state and federal laws, rules and regulations. The college will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or against any qualified individual with disabilities in its employment practices or in the admission and treatment of students. Recognizing that sexual harassment constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex and violates this Rule, the college shall not tolerate such conduct. Should you experience such behavior, please contact Pamela Smith, the director of EA/EO/Title IX Coordinator at 727-341-3261; by mail at P.O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3489; or by email at eaeo_director@spcollege.edu.

Please indicated the position you wish to apply for in your request. The College shall not discriminate against a qualified individual with disabilities because of the disability of such an individual in regard to job application procedures, hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employees compensation, job training or other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. Except when undue hardship exists, the College shall endeavor to provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability. If you have questions regarding this policy please contact the Director of EA/EO by phone at (727)341-3261, by mail at PO Box 13489, St Petersburg Fl 33733-3489, or by email at eeo_director @spcollege.edu. Qualifications listed in a position description are used as a guideline to hiring. Other comparable qualifications of a candidate may be considered by the President in lieu of those suggested in a position description. (BOT rule 6hx23-2.02). To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described herein. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in a job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in a job description. Equal Access/Equal Opportunity The Board of Trustees of St. Petersburg College affirms its equal opportunity policy in accordance with the provisions of the Florida Educational Equity Act and all other relevant state and federal laws, rules and regulations. The college will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or against any qualified individual with disabilities in its employment practices or in the admission and treatment of students. Recognizing that sexual harassment constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex and violates this Rule, the college will not tolerate such conduct. Should you experience such behavior, please contact the Title IX Coordinator at 727-341-3261 ; by mail at P.O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, FL 33733-3489; or by email at eaeo_director@spcollege.edu . St. Petersburg College has the right to revise a classification or job description at any time