President – Rapid City, SD
Job Description
President
Western Dakota Technical College
Rapid City, SD
Western Dakota Technical College (WDTC) is located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The region offers an exceptional quality of life, combining access to outdoor adventures in the Black Hills National Forest, Crazy Horse Monument, Mount Rushmore, and Badlands National Park with small-city charm. The city’s strong economy provides diverse job and lifestyle opportunities.
WDTC seeks a visionary President to lead the institution into its next chapter of growth and innovation. As the sole post-secondary technical college serving western South Dakota since 1968, WDTC is positioned to transform the region into a dynamic economic engine.
The college stands at the intersection of education and industry, offering programs that align with the region’s fastest-growing economic sectors. The next leader will guide partnerships with business and community organizations while creating pathways for learner success that meet the evolving needs of the workforce. This President will have the opportunity to shape not just an educational institution, but workforce development across western South Dakota and beyond.
Professional Experience & Core Competencies
- Partnership Development & Stewardship: Demonstrated ability to act as a “connector” and cultivate strategic partnerships with local, regional, state, and national organizations. Proven track record of developing sustainable, long-term partnerships that drive organizational and community economic and social prosperity.
- Innovative Workforce/Technical Education Leadership: Proven expertise in developing and implementing future-focused workforce development initiatives. Experience leading programs that serve diverse populations, including K-12 partnerships, employer upskilling programs, underserved learner populations, and adult learners. Demonstrated success in identifying and capitalizing on emerging fields and market opportunities.
- Strategic Enrollment & Program Development: Strong background in developing revenue streams and strategic financial agreements. Ability to align programming with state, regional, and national workforce needs. Track record of launching and scaling successful educational initiatives.
- Operational Excellence: Proven ability to assess, plan, and implement strategic institutional changes, including fiscal prudence. Demonstrated success in mobilizing and leading cross-functional teams. Experience managing complex organizational transitions, including residential campus development.
- Visionary in Technical/Career-Oriented Post-Secondary Education: Comprehensive understanding of the workforce development continuum. Deep knowledge of current trends and future directions in K-12, higher education, and workforce development. Proven ability to translate industry insights into actionable strategies and programming/modality offerings.
- Learner Success: Proven ability to foster innovation around learner care and success. Experience launching and sustaining program offerings that meet learner needs. Strong background in accreditation and assessment.
- Culture of Trust: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusting relationships through empathetic leadership. Skilled in guiding collaborative decision-making. Proven success in shared governance and achieving college goals collectively.
Skills
- Visionary Leadership: Bold, strategic leader who sets clear direction and takes calculated risks to drive innovation while maintaining institutional stability
- Dynamic Communication: Polished executive presence with exceptional ability to engage, listen, and connect with all stakeholders from students to state officials
- Community Catalyst: Expert relationship builder who creates powerful partnerships with industry, government, and community stakeholders
- Strategic Team Builder: Skilled at assembling, empowering, and aligning complementary talent while fostering an inclusive culture
- Technical and Career-Oriented Champion: Deep understanding of workforce development with a forward-thinking vision for technical education’s future
- Experienced and Transformative Educator: Ability to scale innovative programming in multiple modalities and offerings, serving a diverse learner population and ever-changing workforce needs
- Resilient Results-Driven Innovator: Adaptable leader who embraces change, maintains composure under pressure, and drives continuous improvement. Results-driven executor who effectively delegates while maintaining accountability and strategic focus
- Operational and Financial Steward: Strong business acumen with proven experience in resource management and funding acquisition
- Emotional Intelligence: Authentic, empathetic leader who builds trust through ethical decision-making and transparent communication
- Student Success Advocate: Commitment to academic outcomes with an understanding of evolving learner needs in technical and career-oriented education
Compensation and Benefits
A competitive salary range based on experience and education, with competitive benefits and relocation assistance.
Position Qualifications
- A Terminal Degree (preferred) but not required;
- Long-term demonstrated success as an educational leader in Career-Focused |Technical Education institutions; and
- Relocation to the region
Application Requirements and Timeline
Please submit an application by March 31, 2025 to include;
- An electronic portfolio (no more than five pages) with evidence of competencies/skill expectations specifically aligned to this job posting;
- A professional CV and three references; and
- A one-page (12-point, double-spaced) written response to, “Western Dakota Tech First 100-Day Plan.”
Dr. Lynn Burks, Lead Associate
LynnBurks@HYAsearch.com
How to apply for this job?
- Register for an account on the HYA website. Or, log in to the HYA website if you already have an account created. Click the Login/Register button at the top of the page to get started.
- After logging in, click the Apply Now button at the top of this page.
- You will be redirected to the Frontline Education website. This website is where you will submit your application. This website also will require its own unique login and password.
